Justice for Marvin at last

Redwings are delighted that the owner of a young colt reported to us more than 18 months ago has finally been brought to court and found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to his pony.

Way back in December 2006, Redwings received a call from a member of the public who was worried about a pony that she saw each day on her way to work. The pony did not look healthy and the reporter was worried that he would not cope over Winter. As the pony was just a few miles from Redwings’ Ada Cole Rescue Centre, our Field Officer for the area, Jo, immediately went to check things out.

Jo found the young colt, now named Marvin, was indeed underweight and also had wounds on his head and nose. The wounds had been caused by Marvin’s headcollar, which was padlocked to a very heavy chain staked to the ground. Tethering itself is not illegal, but if the way in which an equine is tethered causes suffering, then the owner is breach of animal welfare laws. Jo’s concern for Marvin prompted her to contact the local RSPCA Inspector and together they arranged for a vet to assess Marvin’s condition. The vet agreed that Marvin was suffering as a result of his poor weight, untreated wounds and unsuitable method of tethering. Marvin’s owner was contacted and Marvin was transferred under police supervision to our Ada Cole Rescue Centre for recovery and much needed TLC.

Marvin's fluffy Winter coat disguised his poor condition to some extent.
Here he is, taking a turn around the yard at the Ada Cole Rescue Centre
a few weeks after his rescue.

Marvin's fluffy Winter coat disguised his poor condition to some extent. Here he is, taking a turn around the yard at the Ada Cole Rescue Centre a few weeks after his rescue.

Marvin’s owner refused to sign his pony into our care, or admit that he was guilty of causing suffering to Marvin. This left the RSPCA no choice but to begin legal proceedings against him to ensure that Marvin did not have to be returned. Because the new ‘Animal Welfare Act’ did not come into force until April 2007, Marvin’s owner was prosecuted under the previous ‘Protection of Animals Act’.

Being an 18 month old colt when he was rescued, as Marvin regained health and strength he became quite a lively, headstrong character! We cannot integrate entire males with other equines as they will fight with geldings and want to be a little tooooo friendly with females! For this reason we were really hoping that the case would be resolved quickly so that Marvin could be gelded and live a more normal, relaxed life. Frustratingly, one thing after another seemed to delay proceedings, from legal technicalities to poorly judges! We were all relieved when the hearing finally came to court in July 2008 and the judge agreed that Marvin’s owner was guilty of causing his pony unnecessary suffering. Marvin was passed into Redwings’ permanent ownership, and his owner was fined £3,000 and given a 3 year conditional discharge. Marvin is now happily gelded and enjoying life with friends at last! As a healthy young man, we hope that in the not too distant future he will be suitable for Redwings popular Guardianship scheme, but for now, he is such a sweetie that we just like having him here with us!

• Archive stories
• Welfare leaflets