A pony who wandered into a garden and around the streets of a Lincolnshire village highlights the importance of microchipping
Oblivious to the mayhem he was causing, we recently took in a pony, following reports of him frequently escaping from his tether and even following the postman on his rounds.
West Pinchbeck residents called the police after repeatedly finding the brown and white (skewbald) pony in their garden or walking along busy roads and expressed concern over the field he was tethered in.
The manager of a children’s home in the village said: “The children loved Spitfire and are sad he’s gone but we were so worried about him. He was tethered to a post where he had no shelter and would be there in all weathers.
“He was great at escaping and would often be in our garden. In fact, one day I’m sure he was trying to get on a swing.
“We were so pleased when Bransby Horses came to help. We were sad to see him go but glad he is not on his own anymore and in a field rather than just being tied to a post.”
Despite numerous appeals for his owner to come forward, no one claimed him.
Welfare Manager, Rachel Jenkinson, said: “When we arrived the pony was relaxed and munching on some flowers in the school playground. He was very straight forward to catch and happily loaded onto our trailer. As we are not allowed by law to take any animal without the owner’s consent the police placed an Abandonment Notice where he was found, and he boarded with us for the duration.”
On average Bransby Horses are called to deal with an escaped equine at least once a month and in most cases the animal can be scanned for a microchip, containing the owner’s details, and returned home.
In this case however, the pony’s owners failed to abide by the law and microchip their animal or provide a safe environment for him to live in.
As no owner responded to the Abandonment Notice within the necessary timeframe, Spitfire is now in our ownership where he will be cared for in a safe and loving environment for the rest of his life.
Spitfire will complete a short quarantine period during which his individual needs will be assessed by a vet and care team, who will ensure he gets the medication, treatment, nutrition, companionship and exercise he needs.
Bransby Horses provide care and support for vulnerable equines like Spitfire thanks to generous donations from the public and receive no Government funding.
