Everything for
horse & rider

A Norfolk man has been ordered to pay more than £4,000 after two of his donkeys were found in an emaciated condition.

David Lucas of Bushy Common, Gressenhall, appeared before King’ s Lynn Magistrates Court yesterday (Thursday 6 October) where he pleaded guilty to two counts under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 for causing unnecessary suffering to ‘Hermione’ and ‘Dumbledore’, and pleaded guilty to two charges of failing to produce a horse passport when required relating to ‘Hermione’ and ‘Dumbledore’.

Lucas was given a two year conditional discharge and ordered to pay £1,600 in costs to Norfolk County Council Trading Standards and £2,800 to World Horse Welfare.

The court heard how World Horse Welfare received a call to our UK Welfare Hotline from a concerned member of the public on the 7^th February this year about two donkeys in a field off Litcham Road in Gressenhall.

Shortly afterwards World Horse Welfare Field Officer Jacko Jackson visited the site, accompanied by Paula Cooper, a Senior Norfolk County Council Trading Standards Officer, where they found two donkeys very underweight, with poor feet and no shelter – a two year old grey male (Dumbledore) and a three year old brown female (Hermione).

It was agreed that the donkeys should be removed from the site and on the 9^th February, ‘Hermione’ and Dumbledore’ were taken to World Horse Welfare’s Hall Farm Rescue and Rehoming Centre in Snetterton.

Jacko Jackson commented on the case by saying: “These donkeys were in a terrible condition and if it had not been for a member of the public noticing how poor they looked and contacted us, their outcome could have been much worse. It shows that the Animal Welfare Act works and gives a signal that all animals have a right to proper and correct care.

“This case is a good example of many agencies working together to get a positive result and I am pleased that Mr Lucas has been ordered to pay the costs.”

Hermione and Dumbledore continue to be rehabilitated at World Horse Welfare’s Hall Farm Rescue and Rehoming Centre.