More than 20,000 horses could have suffered at the hands of the meat trader arrested amid grotesque scenes of animal suffering this week. Jamie Gray, 44, has been dealing in horses, ponies and donkeys for at least 25 years, according to sources close to the investigation, who yesterday described the scene at his farm as an “equine Belsen”.
Throughout much of that time, the RSPCA claims to have been looking at his case, concerned about the conditions of the animals destined for Continental dinner Over the last few days 111 creatures have been rescued from the smallholding Last night the charity was under fire for failing to act quickly enough to end the suffering of scores of creatures trapped in hellish conditions at Spindles Farm in Hyde Heath, Buckinghamshire.
Spindles Farm has now had it’s name changed to Old Home Farmhouse. There are horses on site now as there have been for many months. As far as can be told from a distance they appear to be in good condition. Hopefully they are under the watchful eye of the RSPCA.
HORSE carcasses rot on a farm in shocking images shown to a court yesterday. Up to 24 bodies were filmed by the RSPCA, probing one of its “worst ever” cruelty cases.
Seven skulls were found. And more than 100 emaciated horses and donkeys were videoed still alive, allegedly penned in with carcasses at their feet, no food and a water trough with their own mess in it.
The British Horse Society today (Monday 15 December) expressed distress at the collection of RSPCA footage shot at Spindle Farm, which was released today by Andrew Vickers, sitting at Bicester Magistrates’ Court.
BHS Senior Executive, Welfare, Lee Hackett said: “The pictures and video footage that have been released today are both shocking and disturbing and clearly show the horrific conditions that these horses, ponies and donkeys were being forced to survive in.
“While the pictures make for extremely harrowing viewing, they serve as an important reminder that we must learn lessons from this case and do whatever we can to avoid any repeat of this kind of distressing scenario in the future.
“Whatever the outcome of the trial, we have to be grateful that so many animals were successfully rescued and are recuperating thanks to the sterling work done by a number of equine welfare charities.”
