As a nation we love to have a good moan, be it complaining about the weather to the sorry state our country's finances are in. But just pause for a moment and think about the animals that are suffering as pet owners can no longer afford the 'luxury' of keeping them.
One of the most expensive animals to look after are horses and consequently they are most likely to be given up. A charity which looks after unwanted horses have been overwhelmed with calls from equestrians who can no longer afford their upkeep. In the past month 640 requests to retire horses has been received by The Horse Trust. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7714802.stm
I am shocked at the sheer scale of it. It is a sad state of affairs when people are cutting back their expenditure and decide that their horses are the first to go. Why not get rid of that gas guzzling 4x4 and replace it with a smaller, cheaper car or even better buy a bicycle? Why not cut back on the amount of holidays or long weekend breaks taken? Why not sell some of your bric-a-brac on ebay?
I may sound cynical but I am under the impression that if you can afford to buy a horse, stables, riding lessons and everything that goes with it you are not short of a bob or two. Animals should be a commitment for life, become part of the family, not given away because money is tight.
There will come a point where the Horse Trust cannot cope and will have to turn away these lovely creatures and then where will they go? Some may have to be shot if they cannot be re- homed. Of all the blunders and mismanagement of the financial crisis surely this abandonment of horses is one of the worst?
One of the most expensive animals to look after are horses and consequently they are most likely to be given up. A charity which looks after unwanted horses have been overwhelmed with calls from equestrians who can no longer afford their upkeep. In the past month 640 requests to retire horses has been received by The Horse Trust. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7714802.stm
I am shocked at the sheer scale of it. It is a sad state of affairs when people are cutting back their expenditure and decide that their horses are the first to go. Why not get rid of that gas guzzling 4x4 and replace it with a smaller, cheaper car or even better buy a bicycle? Why not cut back on the amount of holidays or long weekend breaks taken? Why not sell some of your bric-a-brac on ebay?
I may sound cynical but I am under the impression that if you can afford to buy a horse, stables, riding lessons and everything that goes with it you are not short of a bob or two. Animals should be a commitment for life, become part of the family, not given away because money is tight.
There will come a point where the Horse Trust cannot cope and will have to turn away these lovely creatures and then where will they go? Some may have to be shot if they cannot be re- homed. Of all the blunders and mismanagement of the financial crisis surely this abandonment of horses is one of the worst?
2 comments:
I agree whole heartedly with your view of animals being pets for life, and horses are a huge commitment which should not be taken on lightly. However horses are not just bought for spoilt children with a passing wish for a pony. Many familys will have kept horses as a way of life for many years, unsuspectant victims of the recent credit crunch themselves. Despite their best intentions, the financial burden of the general cost of living and keeping the horses may not be solved with the downgrading of a car or selling of personal items. Therefore the owners of horses whom have no option but to give up their horses should be sympathised with, as they are as much of a victim as the horses.
Good blog. I do believe that animals are often forgotten in times like this. I do think that a lot of people forget that there may be times when they will need extra money for their animals as well.
I can also appreciate aurora's sentiments. However, I would prefer to do without myself than to get rid of one of my animals as they are a part of my family and giving them away would be tantamount to getting rid of one of my children because I can't afford to feed and care for them. The animal didn't ask to be bought, it was a lifestyle choice and it would be my fear that the animal wouldn't be cared for as ti should be.
I don't really think there's an easy answer.
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