Rescued Bliss illustrates need for scheme
After a previous life of uncertainty and danger, life is bliss for a pony now living at Redwings.
Norfolk Constabulary contacted Redwings last year after Bliss, so named due to her kind nature, was reported by a member of the public to be wandering on a busy road. Redwings brought Bliss back to the sanctuary to safety. Just five years old, Bliss was virtually wild – unused to human contact and having never been ridden. Every effort was made to find her owner, but nobody came forward so the Constabulary signed ownership over to Redwings.
Today Bliss is at Redwings’ rehoming centre and is enjoying lots of human company and is taking to being ridden like a duck to water!
“Bliss is a sweetie,” explained Redwings chief executive Lynn Cutress. “There is no reason why she will not find an active and happy home when she is ready, and enjoy a full and safe life. She’s a success story, but other ponies left to wander may get hit by traffic, with awful consequences to both equine and motorist.”
This is something Lynn and her colleagues at Redwings are well aware of, as Redwings has entered into an agreement with Norfolk Constabulary and the sanctuary will now deal with the problem of stray horses found on public carriageways in the county.
The owners of stray horses are frequently identified very quickly by officers or control room staff using local knowledge. However, in many cases officers have been unable to identify the animals’ owners and have had to corral the horses into the nearest enclosed area with potentially a risk that the animal will hurt itself or damage its surroundings.
Norfolk Constabulary is believed to be the first force in the country to proactively approach an organisation such as Redwings to instigate a scheme for stray horses.
Redwings Head of Welfare Nicolas De Brauwere (left) meets Inspector Gary Crowther and Sue Ansell from Norfolk Police plus Redwings resident Ramar.
The one-year contract with Redwings will be used as a last resort after all other avenues to help identify the owner of the creature have been explored. There is a clear procedure to be followed and the initiative just deals with stray horses.
“We are delighted to be working with the Norfolk Constabulary to protect equines and promote animal welfare in such a practical way,” concludes Lynn. “We hope this agreement will be beneficial for both parties and it can only serve to increase the safety of equines and the public in Norfolk.”
As well as the horses and ponies in Redwings’ direct care, the sanctuary works to help hundreds more equines every year by giving advice, support and encouragement to their owners and carers. As a registered charity the work of Redwings is entirely funded by donation. However, the Norfolk Constabulary will reimburse Redwings for any costs incurred in collecting these stray ponies and this cost will then be passed on to the owner of the animal in question.
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