Ponies ‘Rodney’ and ‘Del Boy’ having lovely jubbly time after rescue
PONIES Delboy and Rodney are having a lovely jubbly time at the National Animal Centre after being rescued by the ISPCA near Bray in Feburary.
The two ponies were seized by Chief Inspector Conor Dowling in February after he responded to a report made to the National Animal Cruelty Helpline on 1890 515515. The ponies were in a wooded area without access to food or water.
At the time, Mr Dowling thanked gardai in Bray for their help with the rescue. ‘When I first saw Delboy and Rodney they were not in good shape,’ said Conor. ‘ Rodney was tied to a tree on bare earth and, even with his heavy coat, it was obvious he was severely underweight.
‘Delboy was also thin and had a rope around his face that was cutting into his skin. Neither of them had anything at all to eat.’
Chief Inspector Dowling arranged for transport to be brought to the scene and, with the assistance of Gardaí from Bray Station, the two ponies were loaded.
They were taken to the ISPCA’s National Animal Centre in Longford where they have been receiving special attention ever since.
‘It’s great to see Delboy and Rodney doing so well,’ said Conor, ‘ They are gaining weight and Delboy’s wound has healed completely.
‘It is testament to the great work that our centre staff do in rehabilitating animals that have been subjected to cruelty and neglect. In these uncertain times there is one definite and that is that animals in the care of the ISPCA will continue to get the best of care.’
The ISPCA is greatly concerned to already see a shortfall in fundraising income due to the Covid-19 crisis, with vital services dangerously stretched and fundraising activities cancelled or postponed.
Donations to the animal welfare charity can be made at ispca.ie.