Vicky Finnemore, manager of Benoni SPCA, said they commend the National Council of SPCA’s (NSPCA) removal of 69 horses from South African National Defence Force (SANDF) this week.
The horses were removed from the Potchefstroom Base of the SANDF where they had been in the care of the South African Army Special Infantry Capability (SAASIC) Unit.
Following major welfare concerns, the NSPCA was granted ownership of the horses.
“We support them 100 per cent and we believe if the horses were removed it was for a good reason,’ Finnemore said.
“We applaud and commend the NSPCA for taking this action,” she said.
In April it was discovered the horses were not being well taken care of as the SAASIC Unit had failed to procure feed to ensure their upkeep.
According to the NSPCA, the horses were found to be “dying of starvation” and were “forced to eat soil and their own faeces”.
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The NSPCA says the condition of the animals had deteriorated and due to their condition 25 horses were euthanised.
The animals were transported from the base to a farm in Gauteng.
According to the NSPCA, the horses are now in an environment that caters to their needs.
The farm has ample space and allows for natural grazing as well as access to other natural resources.
“It was an emotional and moving experience to watch the horses exiting the truck and familiarising themselves with their new environment,” said NSPCA executive director Marcelle Meredith.
“The most humbling moment was when they allowed us to witness their delight by playing and splashing in water and rolling around in the grass as if to acknowledge their freedom to be horses,” she said.
The horses are up for adoption and interested individuals can email nspca@nspca.co.za to apply.
The NSPCA noted that these are wild horses and not all of them are in good condition.
Members of the public who would like to contribute to the upkeep of these horses can visit https://nspca.co.za/donate/ and use the reference: Army Horses.
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