The 'grotesque' treatment of more than 100 horses and donkeys at a family farm was the worst case of animal cruelty ever witnessed by experienced vets, a court heard yesterday.
Hardened RSPCA officers discovered severely emaciated animals cooped up in pens with rotting carcasses when they raided the farm in January 2008, it is alleged.
As they crossed the fields owned by meat trader Jamie Gray, they were greeted with 'the repugnant smell' of rotting flesh.
In another part of the farm, vets allegedly found a mound of skulls, bones and hooves from horses, ponies and donkeys at Spindles Farm at Hyde Heath in Amersham, Buckinghamshire.
Many of the surviving animals were so malnourished that they could not stand and were discovered collapsed in the faeces of other horses, a judge was told.
Witness Helen Evans saw the meat trader drag a horse to a trailer using a rope tied around its neck and tail as it winced in agony, it was said.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1093175/The-grotesque-cruelty-meat-trader-left-100-horses-donkeys-starving-living-filth.html
A horse trader was found guilty of Britain's worst animal cruelty case yesterday - but he is still keeping animals in appalling conditions on his farm.
James Gray's 'grotesque' treatment of his horses and donkeys led to the death of dozens of the animals, while survivors were forced to live in rotting remains.
But despite the conviction of Gray and his family yesterday, a delay in sentencing means authorities are powerless to prevent him from buying more horses.
And if Gray, 45, appeals against his punishment, he will be able to continue the sick trade of bedraggled horses - many of which end up on French dinner plates - until legal process runs its course.
The RSPCA raided Spindles Farm in Hyde Heath, Buckinghamshire, in January 2008, and has spent over £850,000 caring for the 115 animals it rescued.
But the charity has since been forced to visit the farm on several occasions after being alerted to further cases of alleged cruelty.
Their inspectors discovered dozens of horses, some said to be severely
malnourished. At least three have since died.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1179058/Trader-guilty-Britains-worst-animal-cruelty-case-horses.html
Please sign this petition if you agree that the Gray family should be banned from keeping any animals ever and those responsible should be punished accordingly for the abusive crimes committed.
