RSPCA killed healthy horses

THE RSPCA ordered the killing of 11 healthy horses after they were rescued from appalling conditions, despite the fact some could have been rehomed.

Leaked documents seen by The Mail on Sunday show Britain’s largest animal charity had the horses shot – but then claimed thousands of pounds for stabling expenses as well as veterinary bills for animals already dead. The scandal is the latest in a series of controversies to engulf the charity, which critics say has lost sight of its core mission to protect animals.

In total, 12 out of 14 horses were killed after being ‘signed over’ to the ownership of the RSPCA when they were rescued from a farm in Lancashire in March 2013, raising fears that it is now the charity’s policy to kill large numbers of such horses.

Our investigation found four were put down despite veterinary assessments diagnosing them with no life-threatening conditions. Most were killed after they were assessed by a vet as being ‘bright, alert and responsive’. Of 14 horses signed over to the RSPCA’s care, only two were rehomed – the rest were slaughtered.

A mare was shot on arrival after breaking its leg while being transported to a ‘rescue yard’ by the RSPCA. The charity then claimed £200,000 in prosecution costs including more than £10,000 in spurious stabling charges, but later withdrew the claim.

In several cases the charity claimed more than 100 days’ costs for stabling some of the horses – although they were already dead.

Its spokesman said yesterday: ‘The accusation that the RSPCA tried to keep the fate of the horses secret is strongly refuted.’