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A PONY WHICH is suspected as being used as “dog bait” is fighting for its life after being rescued by an animal charity.
Mikey, a miniature pony, was found tied to a gate close to a housing estate in the north inner city of Cork by a member of the public on Wednesday afternoon.
The concerned person contacted the My Lovely Horse Rescue charity, which has a centre in Cork.
It is one of the worst cases of sustained abuse that volunteers at the charity, have dealt with.
Gardaí in Cork have been notified along with the Department of Agriculture veterinary officials.
“The abuse of the little boy, whom we’ve named Mikey has been taking place over a long period of time,” Kelly Mellerick of My Lovely Horse Rescue said.
We believe that if he hadn’t have been found by the member of the public when he was he would be dead in a day or two.
He was actually starting to rot and the smell from him was horrific.
Mellerick said that it is suspected he “might have been used as dog bait” because he had so many old and new bites, cuts and bruises.
There are also numerous rope burns to his neck.
“There is so much infection, and build up of puss around his neck that he’s struggling to breath,” Mellerick said.
We just have to question how people can do such acts to a defenceless little animal like this.
“He’s doing his best to live and he has eaten a little but the next few days are critical,” she said.
Mellerick added that the pony’s mouth is in “a horrendous state” and as a result it is difficult to put an exact age on him. However, they believe he is, at most, five-years-old.
“Even the vets which help us, such as Jim Hegarty and Dave Canty, are so appalled by the level of abuse. They have been and are doing wonderful work with him,” Mellerick said.
The pony had to be sedated and many of the healed puncture wounds re-opened in a bid to drain all the puss away.
Mellerick said that it is going to be a “costly process trying to save his life” and has called for “as many donations as we can possibly get”.
“He’s a brave little boy, we promise to do everything in our power to give him a life worth living.”
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move the dogs, blame is with the ‘owner’
@Cornelius Murphy: Here’s a report from a few months ago:
The neighbour who was attacked luckily was not injured:
“He said it lasted 20 – 30 seconds but he did not suffer physical injuries. However, he described it as a very traumatic event, adding that it was lucky no children were in the vicinity.”
Mr Hamdi wasn’t at home when his dogs escape his house:
“The court also heard, that went Mr Hamdi was away, they attended the scene and found the front door to his house open.”
Gardai arrived after the attack:
“The court heard that after complaints, Gardai found the door to Hamdy’s home was open, and no one came out for 20 minutes.”
Somehow the door to his house was left opened, or was opened, while Mr Hamdi was away.
“However, he did not see what happened and told Gardai that the dogs must have opened the front door to get out. Later, he claimed there had been a break-in at his home, which caused the German Shepherds to escape.”
“Hamdy said he reported it to Gardai when he noticed damage to his door and objects missing from his house”
1. He left his door open when he left and his dogs escaped
2. Somehow his dog opened the door and his dogs escaped
2. His house was burgled and his dogs escaped.
There is a long running neighbour dispute over the dogs, they previously escaped after a storm blow down a fence.
@Cornelius Murphy: It’s the only sure deterrent to other dogs. Capital punishment works.
Strange choice of terminology: dogs aren’t executed, and they certainly aren’t put on death row. If this is meant to be humorous, it’s not in the best taste.
@Brendan O’Brien: I… agree… with… Brendan. See? We can all get along – we don’t have to agree on EVERYTHING. The terminology used in this article is indeed very strange, and immature, that’s at best – it’s deliberately provocative at worst. I’m almost surprised they didn’t call the Judge the ‘Governor’, or mention the Electric Chair. WEIRD.
Dogs are amazing creatures who thrive on human interaction. As usual people are blaming the wrong end of the lead.
Most amazing breed in the right hands, like all dogs. Had to put my beloved GSD down after 10 years last month. Adopted a 7 month old GSD last week. Very loyal and protective breeds. I blame their owner here! Probably never did any proper obedience training and probably couldn’t handle two large dogs either..
Just shoot them. It could be a child next time.
@John Mulligan: We don’t shoot dogs in this country. They are euthanised in a humane manner.
@Michael Burke: A bullet can be humane. It is quick and painless.
@Honey Badger: Fake account.
They were caught easily as Gardai had several leads to follow
Hardly suitable living surroundings for two large German Shepherds.Other residents with children will certainly be anxious. If they attack children an apology won’t cut it.
Why postpone the correct decisions once a dog attacks they will do so again
German Shepherds are not aggressive by nature. They are made that way by the owners. I write this as mine is laid next to me with his head in my lap. The judge is wrong. These dogs could be retrained and rehomed.
@Andrew Harrington: A dog is like children # there only as good as the People around them. End
Put them down ffs end of
‘sentenced to death’, ‘execution’, ‘death row’. A bit dramatic?
just deport them to South Korea they’ll find a nice home there
Comments open on a court case?!
A chilli pepper lorean sauce called gochujang goes well with their meat.
@Coc Caled: Sick
Is this for real ? Put these beasts down…imagine the victim was a little child….
Hate those dogs. Oh but they are clever.
Yeh clever that they need muzzles
@louise ryan: why do you hate them????
Its time for a one way trip to the glue factory.
@Paul: Your barking up the wrong tree
Dogs are being treated quite ruff-ly
So we’re even bestowing the partner partner onto dogs now. When will this i dio cy every end?
There’s no such thing as an alsation.
have your say