Cops seize mistreated horses from Victoria owners

Mumbai: Acting on a complaint from the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI), Marine Drive police on Sunday seized three unfit horses from owners of three Victoria carriages who did not have required licenses for commercial use of the animals. However, Bombay Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (BSPCA), which was part of the raiding party said that the horses were not in a bad condition and seizure could have been owing to lack of proper licences with owners of the Victoria carriages.

Jaywant Babar of Marine Drive police station said that they had received a complaint from AWBI officers that the latter seized three Victoria carriages and three horses from owners as they could not produce necessary licenses. One of the animal activists said that a complaint was lodged after Dr Santosh Sahu who inspected the horses on behalf of AWBI gave an adverse report about their condition. “The seized horses were malnourished, suffering from multiple fresh wounds on their bodies that were deliberately hidden with black material, painful arthritis, cracked hooves and not fitted with shoes because of which the soles of their feet were worn down, predisposing them to painful foot conditions such as laminitis (inflammation of sensitive membrane inside the hoof),” the activist said.

When contacted, Dr Chinni Krishna, vice-chairman, AWBI, said, “We are happy that police has finally taken action against ill-treatment of horses. Our co-opted officials brought it to the notice of the police and action was initiated against the guilty.”

However, Col Dr J.C. Khanna of BSPCA, where the horses were shifted after seizure, said, “The horses are not in such a bad condition as is being made out by the veterinary report that prompted seizure. We have found two horses in good condition while one is in a fair condition. The horses will be provided food and basic medical aid and handed back to the Marine Drive police station.”