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Dr Hugh Wirth, President RSPCA
August 23, 2006
Dear Dr Wirth,
Re: RSPCA negligence of sick and dying horses in Tolmie
The current situation of horses in dire circumstances on a property in Tolmie who have been under RSPCA 'care' and attention since March this year is appalling. This is no longer a matter where the RSPCA needs to investigate and help these horses, indeed - it is now a matter where the RSPCA needs to be investigated for gross dereliction of their duty of care to these animals. I am aware that some six to seven horses (maybe more) have already died, including one I witnessed being euthanised on June 3 this year. And if the Clydesdale (pictured below) now needs to be euthanised after her ordeal down a ravine for almost two months, her death will be the fault of the RSPCA.
My email sent to the RSPCA on July 2 detailing this sorry saga and asking for help remains unanswered. This email is copied below which explains what these horses have been going through. The captions I've written for the photos I took yesterday that follow below will give you an up-to-date report on what we found at Tolmie yesterday. You are aware of this situation as the local complainant, Kay Sundborn informed me in June that you personally rang her about it and then proceeded to yell at her.
Since March the RSPCA has put several compliance notices on this property to ensure these horses no longer suffer, yet the horses remain in poor condition with some near death. I've been informed that just today yet another compliance notice was issued giving Heide a further month to bring the horses up to condition. Why is the RSPCA allowing these horses to further deteriorate and why did the RSCPA knowingly let that Clydesdale become weaker and weaker down that ravine for over six weeks?
The RSPCA adds insult to the suffering of these horses it is neglecting by featuring "Horses in jeopardy" in its latest newsletter and current fundraising appeal letter. It's misleading of the RSPCA to use images of sick and starving horses (similiar to the images below taken yesterday) and then showing, as you did in a fold out leaflet a 'before and after' photo of a 'horse' in good condition. It's fraudulent of the RSPCA to encourage the public to send money for horses you are 'supposedly looking after', when the last thing the RSPCA is doing (at least for the Tolmie horses) is helping them.
You may continue to ignore ALV's appeals for animals in need, but we won't turn our back on these horses and neither will the multitude of locals who have been begging for help for these animals from anyone who will listen.
for animals,
Patty Mark, President
Animal Liberation Victoria
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