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Petition June 2011

http://www.assemblywales.org/gethome/e-petitions/sign-petition.htm

THE SOCIETY FOR THE WELFARE OF HORSES AND PONIES

Registered Charity 266247

Coxstone, St. Maughans. Monmouth NP25 5QF Tel: 01600 750 233

PRESS RELEASE

SWHP LAUNCHES PETITION TO WELSH GOVERNMENT

The Society for the Welfare of horses and Ponies, the Monmouth based Horse Hospital has experienced one of its busiest and most difficult winters on record. Not just feeding large groups of abandoned horses and ponies in fields; as many as 70 at a time, but are being called out to loose horses on roads and those in a state of neglect.

As these young horses are not microchipped it is impossible to establish ownership. It has been a legal requirement to microchip any foal born after July 2009 and every horse requires an Equine passport.

Monmouthshire AM Nick Ramsay is supporting the campaign launched on 1st June at the Horse Hospital to ask the Welsh Government to implement the Microchipping laws and bring to justice those that flout them

Nick Ramsay said "It's a great campaign and I'm glad to be involved as the situation first came to my attention during my canvassing for the recent Welsh Assembly elections.

I hadn't realised the scale of the problem of horses not being microchipped with the less scrupulous owners getting away with it without being prosecuted.It leaves places like the Monmouth based Society for the Welfare of Horses and Ponies caring for these neglected animals and footing the bill to provide each horse with a passport and a microchip.

I feel that this is worthy of being a national campaign and I am prepared to receive a mountain of postcards supporting the petition to implement the microchipping laws that already exist. The Welsh Assembly Government has a duty to follow through and I am sure we will be successful in our campaign.

While this area suffers greatly from the horses not having their own identity, I am sure its not just a Welsh problem, it is a British wide problem that needs a UK wide solution to solve this issue"

There is a post card campaign with post cards available from SWHP, local vets and feed merchants or an oline petition at the Welsh Assembly Government which is linked via www.swhp.co.uk.

Chairman and founder of SWHP Mrs. Jenny MacGregor MBE said" These reckless owners have no regard for the law which needs enforcing and we hope that all those who care for the welfare of horses and ponies everywhere will support our petition as something really must be done"

For further information www.swhp.co.uk or press enquiries 01873 890532

LINK TO ONLINE PETITION BELOW

http://www.assemblywales.org/gethome/e-petitions/sign-petition.htm