Ponies Found Dead At The Bottom Of A Cliff

[smooch]

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/breaking-news/police-find-25-dead-ponies-at-a-cliff-nea-glenn-innes/story-e6freonf-1226225561867

"POLICE have appealed to the community for anyone with information to come forward after 25 horses were found deceased near Glen Innes in New South Wales.

Police from the New England Local Area Command received information about a large number of deceased ponies just before 1pm on December 16.

Officers patrolled an area off the New England Highway on the Ben Lomond Range and eventually found the remains in a truck parking bay approximately 3km south of Old Ben Lomond Rd.

The officers followed tracks to a nearby cliff and saw the bodies of 25 dead ponies of various colours and ages in the early stages of decomposition.

An initial examination of the animals did not reveal any obvious wounds or indicate a cause of death.

There were no brands, tags or any other form of identifying marks that could be seen to assist the officers in locating an owner.

In one area police located 22 ponies while three others were found approximately 10m away.

Police photographed the animals which were then buried at the location.

Police believe that a small to medium-sized truck would have been used to dump the ponies and are appealing for anyone with information to come forward.

Anyone with information about the incident or who saw suspicious or unusual behaviour in the area is urged to contact Glen Innes Police or Crime Stoppers on 1 800 333 000. "

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/8394011/man-to-face-court-over-pony-deaths

" A man will face court after the bodies of 25 ponies were found dumped near a cliff in northern NSW.

Police received a call on Saturday afternoon that a large number of dead ponies had been seen.

The tip-off led police to a truck parking bay, south of Old Ben Lomond Road near Glen Innes.

After following tracks to a nearby cliff, officers discovered the bodies of 25 ponies of various colours and ages in the early stages of decomposition.

An investigation into the deaths have led police to believe the animals were part of a group of 35 ponies that were loaded into a removalist truck in the Kingstown district.

Police allege the truck was going to the north coast, but a lack of ventilation attributed to the death of the ponies.

Two ponies survived the journey and have since been inspected by police in the northern part of the state.

But the other eight ponies have yet to be found.

On Thursday afternoon a 39-year-old Pottsville man was interviewed by police at his home.

He was issued with a Future Court Attendance Notice for 25 counts of committing an act of aggravated cruelty upon an animal.

The man will appear in Glen Innes Local Court on February 14 next year."

[megan_]

Can we please move this to the abuse thread? I know we don't know whether there was abuse, but there are many horse lovers on this forum and it will show up in their "unread" views.

[Fuzzycuddles]

I don't know if I should hold out hope for the remaining 8 but if two were fortunate enough to make it perhaps they did too.

[PAX]

I heard about this on the radio, apparently charged with the death of 25 horses.

So very sad, such ignorance.