Brzoskwinka and Belmondo – these are the names of the horses that the head of one of the towns in the Olkusz commune (Lesser Poland) kept in the refrigerator of a delivery van. The mare was supposed to be a gift for the children, but after a few months she foaled. Its condition is so bad that, despite its young age, it may not survive the next year. The village head may be held liable for bullying.
A shocking discovery was made at the end of October by a person who went mushroom picking in one of the towns near Olkusz. The sight of a lying mare aroused her concern, so she called the Krakow Animal Welfare Society to report it.
Inspectors arrived on site and quickly determined why the mare was having problems getting up. The animal had bent hooves. At first glance it was obvious that the mare was sick and suffering. According to KTOZ representatives, the owner – the village head – purchased the horse about a year ago as a gift for children and never once called a vet or a blacksmith. In addition, he did not provide her with adequate nutrition.
The mare was sick, but she had not been seen by a veterinarian for at least a yearKTOZ
First it's a waste of the horse, then it's a waste of money
– The village head claimed that he bought the horse from a place with bad conditions. He didn't want the mare to go to the slaughterhouse because he felt sorry for her. And then he apparently didn't have enough money to call a blacksmith and a vet. He even said that he plowed a field with it. And she could barely walk, it must have been a huge suffering – KTOZ inspector Magdalena Jarzyna told us.
The mare was sick, but she had not been seen by a veterinarian for at least a yearKTOZ
The man gave the animal to KTOZ inspectors, who took the mare to a veterinarian. He diagnosed advanced laminitis. What is this disease?
– It's an inflammation of the musculoskeletal system. The hoof may even fall off. Serous and bloody exudates may be visible in the lace. An animal with this disease suffers. It is caused primarily by improper nutrition – explained Lech Pankiewicz, Małopolska provincial veterinarian, in an interview with tvn24.pl.
The mare was sick, but she had not been seen by a veterinarian for at least a yearKTOZ
– There are practically no bones left in the hoof box (part of the hoof – ed.) of this mare. Her condition is incurable and the disease is progressing. It is possible that we will have to say goodbye to her even within the next year, and she is relatively young, because she is about five years old – emphasized Magdalena Jarzyna. The average life expectancy of a horse is five times longer and is approximately 25 years.
The direct cause of the disease, as Jarzyna told us, was most likely inadequate nutrition and neglect.
The police are investigating the case
There was also a foal on the property – the condition of its hooves also left much to be desired. What's more, both horses lived not in a stable, but in… an old refrigerated container dismantled from a delivery truck.
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The horses were kept in an old cold storage room used by a delivery truckKTOZ
KTOZ representatives called police officers to the scene who assisted the inspectors in collecting the neglected horses. As commissioner Katarzyna Matras, press officer of the Olkusz police, informed us, the man voluntarily gave up the animals.
“Currently, checking activities are being carried out at the District Police Headquarters in Olkusz in accordance with Article 35(1a) of the Act of August 21, 1997 on animal protection,” Matras said. This provision deals with animal abuse. The village head may now face up to three years in prison.
There are over 30 horses under the care of the Krakow Animal Welfare Society. The horses taken from the village head now have new names: Brzoskwinka and Belmondo. They can be supported thanks to “virtual adoption” – information about this form of assistance can be found on the KTOZ website.
Main photo source: KTOZ