Over 1,000 horses will starve to death because of the extreme weather conditions and a lack of food, the Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals warned today.
The society demanded the Government ban any further breeding until neglected and distressed horses are rescued and re-homed.
The body claimed owners could not afford supplementary feed for the animals resulting in a potential equine tragedy unless action is taken to stop unlicensed breeding.
DSPCA chief executive Jimmy Cahill said the weather conditions and lack of supplementary feed is resulting in horses around the country starving to death.
“Animals need supplementary feed at this time of year and it would appear that their owners simply can not afford to give it to them,” he said. “When times were good, people had horses as pets, now they are failing to feed them and these innocent animals are paying the price.”
The DSPCA said it was forced to put down three horses in the last week.
PA