Registered Charity No: 1053351
ANNUAL REPORT
2007/2008
Directors and Trustees:
Professor D.C. Knottenbelt O.B.E., BVM&S, DVM&S, MRCVS; J.T. Waters Esq. BVMS,MRCVS;
Mrs G.L. Charles; Mrs J.A. Gaynor, Cert.Ed., dipHM; Mrs S.M.Pike, BEM.
The Annual Report is a resume of SPEAR’s work throughout the year. The Directors and Trustees extend their most grateful thanks to all those Charitable Trusts and their Administrators, to all our generous donors and to the many people who support our work. It is due only to their kindness and generosity that we can fulfil the aims and objectives of this Charity.
As with many other charities, the so called ‘credit crunch’ has started to manifest itself in our fundraising and in the donations given to us. It is becoming obvious that costs are rising rapidly which may in the future affect the level of work we can do. Like everyone else, the cost of food, wages and all other expenses are rising rapidly and dramatically and as we have an ageing population of animals, we have to budget unfortunately for the costs of disposal when the end of their lives is reached. Over the last year our fundraising activities have increased greatly but like every other Charity we are competing for a smaller slice of available funding and this undoubtedly will affect our finances as the projected cost of winter food and bedding is possibly double what we paid last year. The Trustees are extremely grateful for the continuing support we receive throughout the year and attendance at Open Days.
A new fundraising venture that we have started this year is taking the many and varied items we collect to car boot sales locally. This has proved to be a very well worthwhile exercise and we would be very grateful to receive any items that are suitable to sell in this way. Recent press had an article which was querying the use of professional fundraisers and administration. At SPEAR all this type of activity is done by volunteers out of the goodness of their hearts at no expense to the charity. Annually, the Charity Commission asks us for our expenses and these are always run at less than 2% of our annual turnover. Expenses are for essential items like stationery, telephone, postage etc. No remuneration is taken out by any of the Trustees and Directors of this charity. As ever, the Trustees are grateful to all those who give their time and effort to raise money to help with our horses and ponies; without these people SPEAR could no longer operate in the way we wish to maintain our standards of care.
UPDATE FROM 2007
POPPY 14 year old Bay Welsh Section D Cob Mare
Poppy was admitted to SPEAR for Veterinary and nursing care in August 2005, her case subject to prosecution by the RSPCA. Poppy’s owner pleaded guilty to causing her unnecessary suffering and was fined with heavy costs against and deprived of ownership, with the Court awarding ownership of the mare to SPEAR. Her owner decided to appeal against sentence and the case was eventually heard two years later. The appeal failed though fine and costs were reduced and Poppy was ordered to remain the property of SPEAR.
ADMISSIONS 2007/8
AUGUST 2007
BOBBY 28 year old 12 hh grey gelding
Once again Bobby came to us so that his nursing care could be continued for 2 weeks whilst his owners went on holiday. We are always pleased to see him as he is a delightful pony to look after; as usual, he settled in immediately.
OCTOBER 2007
WILLIAM 5 year old 12 hh dapple grey Registered Welsh Section A gelding
William was signed over to the RSPCA and brought to SPEAR for Veterinary and nursing care as his owner no longer wanted him. It was three years since William’s feet had been trimmed. They were overgrown and during that time he had suffered laminitis. He was lame all round with evidence of a foot abscess having burst through the coronary band at the top of one of his hind feet. William also had a badly infected left eye which was painful and discharging pus. William received veterinary treatment on site until he was fit to travel, when he was sedated and brought to SPEAR. On admission, it was apparent that he had received very little handling. His overgrown feet were trimmed under sedation and he was given antibiotic cover as it was impossible to poultice his infected hind hoof. There was considerable laminal separation in all four feet and evidence of old abscesses. To prevent foot infections and to enable him to be handled, he was kept on a small all-weather surface until he became sound. William’s feet were trimmed 6 weeks later, again under sedation. He was sound by then and able to go out onto restricted grazing to prevent a recurrence of laminitis.
The infection in his left eye cleared after many weeks of being treated with different antibiotic eye ointments and drops; as his eye was still weeping non-infected clear fluid suggestive of a blocked tear duct, the decision was made to anaesthetise him to investigate the problem. This procedure was carried out in March under general anaesthetic, when it was discovered that William did not have a tear duct in that eye – a rare condition. We were advised to keep wiping his eye when it wept and to put a barrier cream on his face where the tears ran. The problem was managed successfully in this way.
William responded well to kind, consistent handling, becoming more confident in all that was asked of him. He is a kind pony and a good example of his breed. William was offered a foster home not long after admission where he would be broken and backed, ready to begin a showing career under saddle when all his health problems had been dealt with. Following a discussion between our two Veterinary Trustees it was decided that William should take advantage of this kind offer, knowing that his eye problem would be well managed in his new home. He left us in April and settled happily into his foster home where he has made excellent progress and has now been broken, backed and ridden away. William has been taken to several shows already to be introduced to new surroundings and has been successfully shown in hand, behaving beautifully which resulted in his young handler gaining first prize for the Best Young Handler at King’s Heath Show. We are delighted with his progress and extremely grateful to his foster owners for giving William the chance in life that he deserves.
NOVEMBER 2007
30 Assorted Rare Breed Bantams admitted to SPEAR on behalf of the Warwickshire RSPCA, which were part of a multiple animal cruelty case. The Bantams arrived in small groups of no more than 4 birds and as such had to be housed in this way. All were hungry and thirsty, having been kept in tiny filthy pens. Many had large heavy clods of dried mud hanging on their leg feathers and balled up on their feet. Diseases such as scaly leg, mites and bumble foot were found on most of the birds. One died and three were humanely destroyed. The remainder, following a lengthy Veterinary examination and treatment were nursed back to health and have since been successfully rehomed in their small groups. SPEAR retained 2 tiny bantams that settled down well, living happily with our other poultry.
FEBRUARY 2008
SARAH 24 year old 16.1 hh Bay Thoroughbred X Mare
Sarah is privately owned and suffered an accident in which she fractured the splint bones of both hind legs. She was referred to an Equine Hospital for surgery under general anaesthetic to remove the lower 1/3 of the splint bones and the many associated bone fragments. Following lengthy but successful surgery, Sarah experienced a post-operative complication in that she was unable to pass droppings or lift her tail due to temporary paralysis of her rectum and the top of her tail. Sarah was hospitalised for two weeks and when discharged, admitted to SPEAR so that her nursing care could be continued. She has made excellent progress and is now able to pass droppings normally and her wounds have healed beautifully. She lives out at grass with Pansy Donkey as her companion, happily sharing their field shelter.
MARCH 2008
5 young White Bantam Silkie Cockerels
A sealed box containing the Bantam cockerels was abandoned on the platform of a nearby railway station. When livestock was discovered inside, the birds were kindly given water by the railway staff. SPEAR was contacted and agreed to admit them immediately. They were brought by taxi to Cotswold House and housed separately from our own poultry. Although hungry, hot and thirsty, they were all in good condition. We waited to see if an owner came forward to claim them but without success. Eventually we were able to rehome all five.
MAY 2008
SARAH CHICKEN
Sarah was rescued from Melton Mowbray poultry market where she was taken to be sold for meat. She was bought out of pity and rehomed with SPEAR 2 days later. On arrival, Sarah was hungry and thirsty; she had refused to eat or drink at her temporary home. With other poultry nearby she quickly settled down in her own house and run, but it was obvious that she had been denied exercise as walking tired her out – she spent a lot of her time sitting resting. When trying to scratch ground in the normal way, she could only perform this normal function by walking backwards. She has strengthened considerably over the last months and can now leave her run to enjoy a natural, free way of life roaming the land and yard with our other chickens. She has also begun to lay eggs every other day.
JUNE 2008
SAM Black Lamb, approx 8-12 weeks old
SPEAR was originally asked to admit a goat that had been reported to the RSPCA as being in distress in a block of inner-city flats occupied by immigrants. When the Inspector arrived, the ‘goat’ had disappeared, ‘rescued’ by those who had reported their concerns. One month later, the ‘goat’ was discovered in the same city living outside in an alley way of a house. The goat turned out to be a black lamb, male, neutered and with two ear punch holes in one and one in the other suggesting he had been removed from a well managed flock. Sam had survived in an alien environment by being bottle fed on goats’ milk. He had run with dogs and showed no fear of them on arrival, and was completely used to humans. Sam had a full Veterinary examination on admission, was assessed at being between 8 to 12 weeks old. He was treated for a minor chest infection, given anti-tetanus cover and an injection of vitamins. We continued to bottle feed him with goats’ milk four times a day and gradually introduced him to grass with our two remaining elderly sheep, which ignored him and he them but gradually Sam began to recognise them as his own species.
Disaster struck 10 days later. Sam suffered bloat and received immediate Veterinary treatment. He appeared to respond but suffered a relapse 3 hours later. Despite further treatment Sam died suddenly and unexpectedly. We had no knowledge of his past history in relation to immunity from disease. His symptoms of bloat were not typical of this condition, suggestive of a larger underlying problem associated with lack of immunity that he would have had if he had been left on his mother to feed naturally. Sam was adorable and it was very upsetting to lose him at such a young age.
JULY 2008
WILLOW 10 year old 13 hh Dapple grey Registered Part Bred Welsh Mare
Willow was admitted c/o the Warwickshire RSPCA having been signed over to them and admitted to SPEAR for Veterinary and nursing care. She was the cause of concern because of long term foot neglect and laminitis. Willow underwent a full Veterinary examination on admission when she was wormed, vaccinated against tetanus and her feet examined, with the advice that it would take a year to repair the damage with consistent remedial farriery. As with her feet, her teeth showed evidence of long term neglect which could not be dealt with by normal rasping. Once settled, Willow was sedated to enable the many sharp edges to be removed using an electric rasp. Her overgrown feet were trimmed showing evidence of old abscesses in all four, pedal rotation through laminitis, considerable bruising of her soles and laminal separation. Willow appeared more comfortable on her feet following her farrier’s visit in which all four feet were treated with antibiotic spray to try to prevent infection. She makes full use of the soft, all weather foot areas which means we can minimise the amount of pain-killing drugs she was given prior to admission. Willow is extremely well bred; she is a quiet pony and has a very kind and sweet nature. We hope to repair the damage to her feet and in time to provide her with the happy future she deserves.
LUKE 9 year old 16.2 hh Chestnut Gelding
This large, quiet and extremely charming horse is privately owned. He is currently being box rested and receiving treatment for lameness. Because his devoted owner lives nearby, Luke was moved so that his owner can continue to care for him on a daily basis.
PERMANENT RESIDENTS
Bodie )
Ginger )
Pansy Donkey ) see Adoption Report
Sergeant Lemon )
Teddy )
Barney Goat )
BRIAN 30 year old Black Shetland Gelding
Brian was diagnosed with a degree of liver failure in Autumn and subsequently received treatment to boost his liver function and periodically this is repeated. He wintered well, living happily with Whisker. In Spring his sweet itch begins to be troublesome but so far this year the daily medication and frequent topical treatment have proved effective. He like Whisker is fed three times a day and has managed to maintain good bodily condition despite having lost several molars. He and Whisker are a delightful pair of extremely sweet old ponies who still enjoy life, happily settled in a quiet daily routine. Brian is cared for devotedly by Manda, our part-time groom.