Just as it was getting dark on a Saturday night in Dublin, Ireland, an observant passerby spotted her -- head hung low and showing signs of distress, Jenna the pony was suffering. He contacted rescuers, but since night had set in, they couldn't even find the poor, tiny thing until Sunday morning. In the daylight hours, it became immediately clear why poor Jenna was so distressed.
The pony was covered head to toe in bruises, cuts, and lumps. It was obvious that, even though her external condition was heartbreaking, her internal injuries were far worse. Her face was swollen, and her body language exhibited nothing but confusion and pain. After receiving care and affection, along with medical treatment and pain killers, Jenna died peacefully in a pile of hay that rescuers had gathered to make her comfortable. Witnesses would later confirm what the rescuers feared -- Jenna had been beaten to death.
Please sign the petition and implore the Dublin Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (DSPCA) Inspectorate to find those responsible for Jenna's condition, and get them the help they need so that they don't hurt another living thing.
Two separate witnesses spotted Jenna's attackers, and they both told authorities the gruesome tale. A young child was seen riding on the pony's back, treating her "very aggressively." Jenna was not a large animal -- as a pony, she stood low to the ground and would have been the perfect companion for a child who knew how precious animals' lives are. But this child was clearly troubled, and took it out on the small pony. Even more troubling are the reports that an older child also participated by striking and beating Jenna over and over with a heavy object on her back and sides. The vet who treated her once she'd been found said her injuries looked like she was trampled. Obviously, the witness reports only tell a small portion of the horrific, nightmarish ordeal this innocent animal went through.
Jenna the pony, who was living in Clondalkin, Ireland, was only three years old. She had a long life ahead of her. But so do the children who did this to her. No matter what their stories are, there is a reason they felt compelled to harm an animal in such a brutal way. Minors can commit animal abuse for any number of reasons, including being victims of abuse themselves, not having their own basic human needs yet, peer pressure or bullying -- the list goes on and on. What these kids did was horrific, but it's also a cry for help. If they are offered the right support and care, this could be the last time they do something like this, and they could be given the opportunity to finally get the assistance they urgently need. If not, more animals will suffer. And as we know, animal abuse is so often a precursor to abuse of other people. It is clear that the kids that beat Jenna need help, and they need it quickly.
That's why we are calling on the DSPCA Inspectorate to swiftly find these two kids, and assess the situation so that they can receive the help they so desperately need! We know where the pony was living, and along with witness accounts, it should not be hard to find these individuals. Sign the petition today if you agree.
Photo: My Lovely Horse Rescue
