Miniature horse killed by dogs
A heartbroken Taranaki horse owner is appealing for help to catch the dogs that mauled one of her beloved animals to death and left another with serious injuries.
Donna Mann’s five miniature horses were grazing at her New Plymouth home in the early hours of Thursday when two were attacked.
‘‘My heart just completely fell through my chest,’’ Mann said, describing what she saw.
The horses are therapy horses, meaning they go to hospitals and hospices so patients can interact with them.
Neighbours on heard dogs barking at 4.30am.
Mann said she was woken by barking but had lived on the Pioneer Rd property for three years without any dog issues before.
‘‘I wouldn’t have thought in a million years that there were dogs down there attacking my ponies,’’ she said.
It didn’t hit home until she went into the paddock that morning and only four of the five horses ran up to her.
Meanwhile, 12-year-old Bubbles was covered in blood and puncture wounds.
Then Mann found seven-yearold Paris, an animal she described as having the patience of a saint, mauled to death on a bridge on the property.
Paris was surrounded by a huge amount of blood, leading Mann to believe she bled out.
‘‘She was the cuddliest, sweetest-natured little soul,’’ Mann said. ‘‘She would cuddle you until the cows came home and some a ...... f ...... dogs have ripped her throat out.
‘‘I am absolutely heartbroken. And knowing she died so horrendously because it wouldn’t have been quick for her,’’ she said through tears.
Bubbles was quickly treated by a vet but was in so much shock she didn’t even flinch when being worked on, Mann said.
She said Bubbles was likely to make a full recovery but it was unlikely the emotional trauma would ever go away for the horse.
As well as taking the horses to visit patients, in 2017 Mann started an animal therapy programme at Devon Intermediate and recently attended a kids’ birthday party with the animals dressed as unicorns.
‘‘There are a lot of kids who went through the school in the two years that I ran that animal therapy programme that know these horses really well,’ she said.
Attempts to move Paris’s body from the bottom of the paddock yesterday needed the help of the New Plymouth Fire Brigade, who turned up for free with a winch.
The vet who attended with an Animal Control Officer confirmed the injuries were caused by dogs.
The remaining horses have been moved from the property until it is safe again.
Mann said she wanted the dogs and their owners to be held responsible for the attack.
New Plymouth District Council said their animal control officers are continuing to investigate and find the dogs responsible.
It is believed the dogs may have blood on them and could have injuries. If anyone has any information they are urged to contact NPDC on 06 759 6060 or email enquiries@npdc.govt.nz.
‘‘I am absolutely heartbroken. And knowing she died so horrendously because it wouldn’t have been quick for her.’’ Donna Mann