World Horse Welfare assists in the rescue of more than 450 neglected animals as owner is jailed and banned from keeping animals

We have supported the RSPCA in rescuing more than 450 neglected animals, including around 70 horses and donkeys, from appalling conditions. Now, their owner has been jailed and permanently banned from keeping animals. 

The large-scale rescue, named Operation Teal, saw 100 staff from The Donkey Sanctuary, Redwings, World Horse Welfare, Bransby Horses, British Horse Society, Dogs Trust and Beauties’ Legacy, work alongside the RSPCA, together with vets and the police. 

In all, 455 animals of 19 different species, including around 70 horses and donkeys, over 50 dogs and puppies and over 170 guinea pigs were seized. Ferrets, rabbits and small rodents were also rescued along with cats, poultry, exotics, birds, reptiles and one llama. 

Almost all of the animals had been denied proper veterinary care. Many of the horses were suffering from severe thrush, and one donkey was so badly lame that she had to be put to sleep to end her suffering. Barns and enclosures were knee-deep in faeces, with rotting, mouldy forage underfoot. Mares had been left to mix with stallions, leaving many already pregnant and adding to the growing numbers of horses.  

Six of our Field Officers worked tirelessly to round up the ponies to safety, ensuring they could begin their journey toward recovery and a better life.  

World Horse Welfare Field Officer Charlotte Melvin said:

“We were there for two days in November 2023 to coordinate the removal of all the horses from a site in Mansfield. As a team, we all had different jobs, from handling to form filling, being vet assistants and helping to load. With a lot of the ponies and donkeys unhandled, we used our charity’s mobile fence panels to safely rescue them. 

“The conditions they were being kept in were shocking and it was sadly not a surprise that so many of the equines on site were suffering with lots of leg and foot issues, including probably some of the worst cases of thrush I’ve ever seen. In one of the barns, we were wading over our wellies in filth and flooded water.” 

The case first came to light after claims about a stolen dog led a dog charity to visit the location and Nottinghamshire Police raised concerns about the conditions the animals were being kept in. 

Charlotte said:

“I have never seen so many animals of so many different species in one place. The conditions that all the animals were being kept in were horrendous, and the amount of suffering was off the scale.  

“I’ve been working in welfare organisations for 12 years and due to the sheer number of animals involved and the prolonged suffering they had experienced, I think this was one of the worst places I’ve ever seen.  

“Despite the scale of the operation, it went really well and it was inspiring to see so many charities working so efficiently to get all the different animals removed to safety in just two days. Each animal species had its own team and each team had its own vet. Without partnership working it would have been absolutely impossible to pull off. It was incredible to see it in action on the ground and gave me a huge sense of pride that World Horse Welfare was a part of it.” 

After a prosecution by the RSPCA, the owner of the farm was sentenced to a 12-month prison sentence and a lifetime ban on keeping animals after pleading guilty to 25 offences under the Animal Welfare Act. 

All photos are credited to the RSPCA.