TD warns of growing ‘scourge’ of wild horses
HORSES are being left to roam wild on bogs, motorways, farms and deserted factories across the country and the problem is getting worse, the Fianna Fáil vice-chair of the Agriculture Committee has warned.
Jackie Cahill was commenting on figures provided by the Agriculture Minister Michael Creed, which reveal that reports of cruelty to horses have increased.
In the first nine months of this year there were 377 complaints, and if trends continue that figure looks set to reach 500 by the end of the year.
The Tipperary TD said: ‘Horses are being abandoned everywhere. They are a scourge to farmers and a real danger to people.’
Mr Cahill added: ‘People keeping a horse should have to show they have the necessary resources and knowledge.’
Prosecutions continue to be comparatively low, with 1,587 calls on horse cruelty since 2014, resulting in nine prosecutions.