Owner seeks help to find missing pony
A ‘‘distraught’’ horse owner is appealing for the public’s help to find her beloved pet pony, which she believes was stolen from a Taranaki paddock last week.
Hawk, a two-year-old miniature horse, was last seen on Thursday evening in a paddock on Nugent St, Bell Block, where he grazes.
When owner Ayla Mcgowan arrived at the property on Friday morning the palomino pinto gelding, which she has owned for one year, was nowhere in sight.
‘‘I’m absolutely distraught,’’ she said yesterday, following a weekend of frantic searching for Hawk. ‘‘I can’t believe anybody would do that . . . it’s completely nasty.’’
Mcgowan believes somebody has lifted Hawk, around one-metre in height, over the property’s gates and made off with him.
But as for why, she has no idea. He could not breed, is too small to ride and she didn’t think he could be sold for much.
‘‘I don’t really know why they have taken him,’’ she said of the white and golden pony. ‘‘Except for that he’s pretty.’’
At the time of the alleged theft, a second of her four horses was sharing the paddock with Hawk and remains at the property.
She said there were no signs of a struggle and all of the gates were closed. He has also not been spotted loose in the area.
‘‘We’ve grazed there for years and not had any problems.’’
Mcgowan has filed a police report, contacted local animal organisations and made a number of appeals to social media for help in finding Hawk.
However, despite nearly 3000 shares of one plea to Facebook there are no strong leads.
‘‘He’s just gone – he’s disappeared.’’ A police spokesperson confirmed in an emailed statement a report had been made about the missing horse.
‘‘Police attended and conducted forensic inquiries,’’ the statement said. ‘‘Unfortunately, at this time there are no further lines of inquiry. However, if anyone has any information they can contact police.’’
Mcgowan vowed she would not stop looking for him.