Abused donkeys had to be put down
SECRETLY-FILMED footage showing Blackpool beach donkeys being violently abused has led to three people being convicted after a massive RSPCA operation.
Two of the animals had to be put down after inspectors found them living in miserable conditions on a Lancashire farm.
The RSPCA were alerted after a neighbour collected film from his security cameras – vowing to make it public once he had moved safely away from the area.
The sickening footage shows donkeys being abused with sticks and whips, while one animal is repeatedly punched in the head as it is being loaded into a horsebox for its daily trip to the Golden Mile.
Suzzana Taylor, 48, of Fir Tree Farm, near Preston, and her daughter Grace Taylor, 18, were given suspended sentences and banned from keeping animals for three years.
Taylor’s former partner Andrew Lomas – who was caught on film punching a donkey – has previous convictions for violence. Lomas, 43, of Central Drive, Blackpool, was also given a suspended sentence and banned from keeping animals.
Blackpool magistrates court was told the Taylors continue to deny they did anything wrong. They have given up the lease on the farm and now live in a horsebox parked on the farm land.
Carmel Wilde, prosecuting for the RSPCA, told the court: “The videos show on different dates the donkeys suffering violent abuse – being kicked, punched, whipped and hit with sticks.”
Two of the 29 seized donkeys, Bethany and Floppy, had to be put down by vets. The Taylors had licences issued by Blackpool council to have donkeys on the beach and give rides to children – and had passed an inspection by a town hallemployed vet earlier in the year.
The RSPCA also seized 16 dogs from the farm.
Suzzana Taylor admitted seven offences of inflicting blunt force trauma and physical violence to donkeys. She was found guilty of 11 further offences of failing to provide a proper environment for her donkeys and failing to provide them with proper welfare – by caring for their feet, teeth, skin and other equine illnesses, causing the donkeys pain and suffering.
She was also found guilty of three offences of causing unnecessary suffering to Pomeranian dogs which she bred on the farm.
Her daughter was found guilty of 13 charges of cruelty to the donkeys and dogs. Lomas admitted inflicting blunt force trauma and physical violence to donkeys and was found guilty of 10 other cruelty charges. He was also disqualified from keeping animals for three years.