LITTLE is being done to address the issue of wandering and ill-treated horses and this must change said local Sinn Féin TD Maurice Quinlivan following the abandoning of a dead horse in an urban estate in Limerick.
Addressing the matter with the Minister for Agriculture in the Dáil, Deputy Quinlivan said the issue of stray, wandering, and ill-treated horses remains an ongoing, worsening concern in Limerick and other areas.
“Recently, a horse was euthanised on a green area in a local estate in Limerick City. The very ill horse was abandoned on Friday 13th March, unable to rise itself from the ground, a vet finally arrived on Sunday and euthanised the horse and the carcass of the horse was removed the following day on Monday 16th March, four days after the poor animal had been abandoned,” he revealed.
Highlighting the lack of enforcement of chip and pin legislation, the Sinn Féin TD said: “The owner of the animal has not been identified and most likely will not be. There are no consequences for those who mistreat their animals. Legislation that is not enforced, is not worth having at all.”
“Successive ministers in the Department of Agriculture have stated the Control of Horses Act is under review. They have been telling me this for years.
“When this legislation is finally amended it must have a more robust method of enforcing the legislation. Allowing those who abuse, misuse and assault their animals to simply replace a dead horse with a new foal must not be allowed to continue. Allowing people to purchase horses and ponies without adhering to chip and pin legislation must end.”
Deputy Quinlivan continued: “These animals are being abandoned on public land and tendered on green spaces that children should be able to play on. This happens consistently on land in working class areas and if this was to occur in more affluent areas, it would not be tolerated. Why are those in urban working-class estates expected to tolerate this?”
Concluding his remarks, the Sinn Féin Deputy stated that: “It is time now for the Department to work with local councils to ensure a solution to this issue. The Minister must bring together all the stakeholders, such as horse owners, An Garda SÃochána, Limerick Council, Animal Welfare Organisations, projects like My Lovely Horse and work to a set time frame, I’d suggest six months, where horses will then not roam public areas in Limerick City. 2026 had to be the year where we finally take the necessary action to address this issue.”