Biosecurity Queensland denies telling animal charity to stop feeding starved horses

Biosecurity Queensland has rejected an animal rescue charity's claim that one of its officers tried to prevent the feeding of eight malnourished horses on a Darling Downs property.

Australian Farm Animal Rescue Matters founder Marjorie Pagani said she had been told to stop feeding the animals as this would strengthen Biosecurity Queensland's case against the owner of the horses.

However, a Biosecurity Queensland spokesperson described this as "false", saying the horses were being fed under a vet-designed regime "aimed at returning them to full health".

Ms Pagani had expressed outrage at what she regarded as inaction on the case, saying the carcasses of 35 horses that starved to death last month were yet to be removed from the farm at Charlton, outside Toowoomba.

Her charity raised the issue with the ABC about two weeks ago.

Warning: This story contains images some people may find distressing.

Ms Pagani said she had funded the feeding of the remaining horses because they were still not being adequately looked after.

"[I was] advised that we shouldn't feed them because then their condition will deteriorate further and they will make a better case against the owner," she said.

"They did not try and prevent us feeding, they simply told us not to feed because the horses would further deteriorate and assist their case.

"I have personally told the head of Biosecurity Queensland that I will be in shackles before I will stop feeding these horses.

"The condition of the horses can best be described as stable, no more have died."

Ms Pagani said the "body count" was now at 35 horses dead and eight still critical, "what's the magic number" for Biosecurity Queensland?

The Biosecurity Queensland spokesperson said animal owners were responsible for the care of their pets and livestock.

"When our inspectors and a veterinarian were first on the property, they issued an animal welfare direction to the owner of the eight remaining horses regarding their ongoing care and feeding," the spokesperson said.

"Since then, the owner has been cooperating and appropriate feed is being provided to the horses in line with the animal welfare direction.

"Biosecurity Queensland continues to monitor the care of the horses. Further veterinary assessment of the horses is scheduled for this week.

"While the recovery process will take some time, we are pleased to report the horses are gaining strength and are better able to deal with all weather conditions."

However, Ms Pagani also said Animal Farm Rescue Matters and volunteers had been feeding the remaining horses on a regime recommended by a vet.

"Our feeders go out at least twice a day to drop feed, appropriate feed, in accordance with our veterinary examination of the horses," she said.

"The only reason they're alive — and two of them barely — is because of what we are doing. The owner is not complying.

"One of them, the little grey mare, is now deteriorating. She's spending more time on the ground then she is on her feet."

Ms Pagani condemned authorities for not removing the dead horses from the property.

"[There is] lots of meat and flesh, whole horses, these are very recent deaths," she said.

"The smell is just outrageous. There are homes nearby. There's always, of course, the possibility of disease."

Biosecurity Queensland told the ABC the carcasses of the horses "have been assessed as not posing a disease risk".

Source: ABC News (AU)

Powered by NewsAPI.org

Keywords:

Biosecurity • Queensland • Starvation • Biosecurity • Queensland • Animal welfare • Malnutrition • Darling Downs • Property • Livestock • Animal welfare • Biosecurity • Queensland • Ownership • Biosecurity • Queensland • Pagani (company) • Toowoomba • Australian Broadcasting Corporation • Biosecurity • Queensland • Body Count • Magic number (physics) • Biosecurity • Queensland • Biosecurity • Queensland • Ethics of care • Pet • Livestock • Veterinary physician • Property • Animal welfare • Ownership • Animal welfare • Biosecurity • Queensland • Veterinary medicine • Pagani (company) • Animal Farm • Veterinary medicine • They're Alive! • Death • Biosecurity • Queensland • Australian Broadcasting Corporation • Cadaver •