Distressing Discovery in County Tyrone
A horse was euthanised after being found experiencing seizures in a muddy field in the Dungannon area of County Tyrone. The incident unfolded on Wednesday when Jacqui Short Boyce noticed the yearling lying on its back while passing by the field.
Volunteers spent what they described as a "traumatic night" trying to comfort the horse. During their efforts, they also found two additional dead horses near a wet ditch at the rear of the field. They are now urging for the remains of all three horses to be removed promptly.
The local council confirmed that its animal welfare team received a report regarding a horse dying in the area and that an investigation is currently underway.
Initial Response and Attempts to Help
"You could clearly see this horse, that he was suffering, so I tended to him,"Boyce said.
"When I actually came to the field at the start he actually whinnied at me. He was crying out for help."
Boyce contacted a veterinarian, but was informed that euthanasia could not be performed without the owner's consent. After unsuccessful attempts to locate the owner and no response from police, she reached out to the animal welfare charity My Lovely Horse Animal Rescue, which issued an appeal for assistance.
"I actually left in tears. There are so many local people around here somebody was bound to see these horses in the field. Why was it not reported?"
Approximately six volunteers responded to the appeal, bringing blankets and warm water to aid the yearling. They remained with the horse for several hours. When no owner was found, a veterinarian agreed to humanely euthanise the distressed animal.
Concerns Over Abandonment and Animal Welfare
Martina Kenny, co-founder of My Lovely Horse Animal Rescue, suggested the horses may have been abandoned by their owner after becoming sick or injured.
"Why would they pay for a vet? Why would they be bothered? They just leave them. It's happening all over,"she said.
The cost of humane euthanasia for horses varies depending on factors such as method, time, and location. An animal pet insurance company estimates the average cost for euthanasia by injection in the UK is approximately £143, excluding transportation and cremation fees. Removal costs can exceed £200.
"Every day we get reports of, horses, dogs, pigs, goats, everything. So many animals being either stranded, abandoned, locked up and chained,"Kenny added.
She praised the volunteers for their efforts during what she described as a "sad, horrible traumatic night."
Community Response and Volunteer Efforts
Hayley Doak, who operates a dog rescue charity in Ballygawley, travelled to the field after seeing the appeal online.
"I'm usually dealing with dogs so I see a lot of cruelty and neglect. I don't have much experience with equines but I felt I had to go and help,"she said.
Doak and other volunteers named the yearling "Cookie."
Another volunteer, Fiona Harrison, expressed frustration with the difficulty in obtaining assistance for animals in distress and felt authorities were reluctant to take responsibility.
"It was absolutely horrific to see an animal in such distress, it was just awful,"she said.
The volunteers left flowers at the field on Thursday as a tribute.
Legal and Official Responses
In the UK, causing unnecessary suffering or neglecting an animal's welfare is a criminal offence. The Police Service of Northern Ireland confirmed attendance at the scene and stated the matter was referred to the local council for enforcement.
Mid Ulster Council declined to comment on the case, citing it as an ongoing investigation.
