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Croydon
Woman Convicted of Cruelty to Pony
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Today,
Tuesday 17 June, at Dorking Magistrates Court, Surrey, Christine
Mahoney, 58, of 50, Searchwood Road, Warlingham, Croydon was found
guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to Freddie a Shetland type
pony in her possession. She was fined £250 and ordered to
pay £5,150 costs.
Following
a complaint to the ILPH (International League for the Protection
of Horses) their Field Officer, Ted Barnes, visited Freddie in Warlingham
on 9 May 2001. He was found to be lame and to have extremely long
feet. The ILPH paid for a farrier to visit to trim his feet. On
19 December that year the ILPH received a further complaint about
Freddie. His feet were again found to be very long, the ILPH again
paid for his treatment.
Following
a third visit on 10 June last year Freddie's feet were found to
be worse than before, he was lame on all 4 feet and x-rays showed
pedal bone rotation in all his feet. At this point he could not
get up and spent his time lying down. It was only from this position
that he could eat, clearly illustrated by the circular area of grass
eaten around him.
Comments
Ted Barnes, "Mahoney had no excuse, she was perfectly aware
that the pony needed to have his feet trimmed regularly, he must
have been in agony. This conviction sends out all the right messages
the element of cruelty in this case was proven by the owner's neglect
in assuring that the pony had his feet trimmed regularly. She has
got what she deserved, and the pony's future is assured as he will
now spend the rest of his life in ILPH ownership."
www.ilph.org
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