RSPCA alerted after horses tethered on roadside in Telford
Animal protection services have been called to an area of Telford after worried residents alerted them to a group of horses left tied up by the side of the road for a number of weeks.
Denise Shand from Ketley Bank alerted the RSPCA after she saw several horses tethered to land close to the roundabout near Asda Donnington.
Ms Shand said: "They have been there for approximately a fortnight and each time I have stopped, there isn't any water.
"With this hot weather set to continue, I can't help but feel concerned for their well-being."
The horses have been on the roundabout for some time, but now appear to have been moved near to Hortonwood.
Under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 there is no specific offence of tethering a horse providing the owner provides for its needs and does not tether it in a way so as to cause it unnecessary suffering.
Calie Rydings, a spokeswoman for the RSPCA, said: "We would like to assure local residents that we are aware of the tethered horses, and our inspectors have carried out checks on them to monitor their welfare and ensure their needs are being met.
"The RSPCA believes tethering is not a suitable method of long-term management of an animal as it restricts that animal's freedom to exercise itself, find food or water, or to escape from either predators or the extremes of hot or cold weather.
"We are also concerned that tethering is seen as a cheap solution to the care of equines leading to irresponsible equine ownership. We take all complaints about animal welfare very seriously
"We do try to keep animals with their owners where possible and only prosecute as a last resort. We also have to act within the law and cannot just remove animals because we have received complaints.
"Where our officers see cause for concern they will contact a veterinary surgeon and the horses can then only be seized by police on behalf of the RSPCA on the vet's advice."
