 |
 |
 |
 
|
Thank you for all your supportThe petition to prevent the return of animals to the Amersham farm is now closedMore than 19,000 people signed the petition, organised by the National Equine Welfare Council, to prevent the return of 29 ponies and donkeys to Spindle Farm in Amersham (click here to view >>>>>). The petition is now closed and has been sent to the Rt Hon Jack Straw MP, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice for his immediate attention. A huge thank you to everyone who has shown their support, we have been overwhelmed at the response and just hope it is not in vain. Our primary concern is, as always, for the welfare of the horses and ponies and we do not believe that the return of any animals to Spindle Farm is in their best interest until the full court case has been resolved. On 9 January, Redwings was involved in a large rescue of horses from Buckinghamshire; we took in 21 horses, ponies and donkeys that day for veterinary care including donkey foal Esther. This was an RSPCA-led case involving local Police and other charities including the ILPH, the Horse Trust and the Blue Cross. All organisations concerned worked as a team, and Redwings was pleased to involve 30 of its staff and eight horseboxes. Five people now face 12 charges relating to the Animal Wefare Act as a result, and the court case is set to begin on 28 April. However, on April 4 a judge at Oxford Magistrate's Court ruled that in the meantime, 29 ponies and donkeys should be returned to the family's care, whilst another 80 or so are to be sold at auction in May. A High Court hearing took place on Friday April 11th to have the animals returned even sooner but residing judge Mr Justice Wyn Williams refused to force the animals to be returned to the owners, instead referring the case back to Deputy District Judge Sandeep Kainth, who made the original decision. We understand this is hearing is to take place this afternoon (Monday 14th April) at the original court. If you have missed the petition deadline but would still like to register your concern, you can still write to your local MP and the MP for Amersham, Mrs Cheryl Gillian MP. Simply download this letter template to get started >>>>>. Or alternatively follow this link: http://www.writetothem.com
The equines currently in our care are a combination of those to be returned to the farm we collected them from and those to be sold at auction. The donkeys we are expecting to return to the farm are Mary, Martha, Esther, Carmel, Leah, Deborah, Jemima & Caleb. Since arriving Mary gave birth to Timothy, so he is due to leave us as well. The Shetland ponies that are due to be returned to the farm are Pinocchio, Miss Muffet, Rapunzel, Gretel, Snow White, Elsie, Cinders & Thumbelina. Since they have been in our care and in the last few weeks, Elsie has given birth to a foal called Tinkerbell and Gretel also has a young foal at foot called Belle. These foals are also to leave us and our care. When they came these equines had numbers; we have since named them as is our practice with all the hundreds of equines that have come into our care over the years. Redwings has a lot of experience in sending veterinary and horse handling staff, and vehicles, to rescue operations but this has been described by many of the 30 Redwings staff present on 9 January as one of the saddest cases that they have witnessed. The news of the animals' possible return is thereforeunderstandably difficult for all our veterinary, welfare, horse care, administration and management teams, and we fully support the RSPCA in their efforts to prevent this from happening. Redwings’ two senior vets have between them over 35 years of dedicated equine welfare experience and have in this time encountered many complex cases. Their concern particularly extends to the donkeys, the most sensitive of equines. Despite their despair, Redwings staff will naturally continue to provide the dedicated and specialist care these horses, ponies and donkeys need every day. We thanked you in January from the bottom of our hearts for your words of support and encouragement, and we thank you again. As always, the future of the equines is our priority as it is yours. Thank you. >back | 
    |
