Target: Devon Councillor, John Hart
Goal: Ban the sale of Dartmoor ponies at allegedly abusive auction.
Dartmoor ponies are mini horses known for their resiliency and determination. Upsettingly, there’s recent video evidence appearing to show these ponies being abused and tormented while they are sold off at auction.
Sellers of the animals apparently don’t see these creatures in their own right, but instead as cargo to make a profit off of. The freely-roaming animals are rounded up in the fall, then taken to an annual pony auction in Dartmoor, where the little horses are traded away for a massive profit.
Recent footage shows that after the ponies were rounded up this past autumn, their captors seemingly left many of the animals without food or water, putting them in danger of death, and tormenting them with dehydration and malnutrition. For those that survived until auction, further videos reportedly show handlers picking up ponies by their tails, and at least one apparently kicked a pony to force the animal onto a trailer.
Even worse, after being sold ponies face an uncertain fate. While some join loving families, others are sold to slaughterhouses, butchered for scientific research, or become meat for both human and animal consumption. Some pony meat winds up in pet food, while some hunks and slabs wind up in zoo animals’ dinners.
More than 300 horses were listed for sale this past season, which means hundreds of animals could have been abused or neglected; we simply don’t know the full scope of the alleged cruelty yet. While a spokesperson for the auction said that the organization was “looking into the matter,” that’s just not enough. These ponies don’t deserve to become meat. They don’t deserve to be kicked and hurt. And they don’t deserve to be sold off in the first place.
Thankfully, many people in the Dartmoor area agree. A group called People 4 Ponies runs an animal sanctuary nearby and they’re fighting to shut down the auction. It’s time for us to stand with them. Sign the petition to demand an end to the annual sale of ponies in Dartmoor.
PETITION LETTER
Dear Councillor Hart,
Each year hundreds of Dartmoor ponies are rounded up in “the drift,” and taken to be sold at auction. Recent videos appear to show the sellers and auctioneers abusing these animals, leaving them without food and water, kicking them, and pulling them by their tails.
After they are sold they may face an even worse fate. While some are kept as pets, others are allegedly sent to slaughterhouses as food for pets or zoo animals. More than 300 horses were listed for sale just this year, which means that hundreds of these creatures could have been abused. These ponies do not deserve to be sold off, abused, or killed. It is time to end the sale of ponies in Dartmoor. Please, end this awful practice.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: lostajy
Ignorant humans at it again … no animal should be taken for this the humans responsible should be shot!!!!!
This is all heartbreaking! God bless People 4…
Devon Councillor, John Hart The only thing to do is your job to protect all these ponies and give them their justice by charging and fining ALL involved in these tortures and auctions of little ponies!!!
Please do everything humanly possible to shut down these actions. Animal cruelty laws should be so that all involved in these actions should be charged with animal cruelty and get long jail time and huge fines.
There is no reason why on God’s earth a little pony or any animal should be butchered for scientific research. Disgusting humans eating meat and pony meat!!!!!
Please tell me what the hell has happened to people of this country. It’s worse then sodam and gormarie
THIS IS ANIMAL CRUELTY. THE MORONS RESPONSIBLE SHOULD BE TRIED, CONVICTED, AND PUT TO DEATH.
TOTALLY AGREE MICHAEL BAVARO!!!! OR THEY SHOULD BE TORTURED TILL THEY DIE A LONG LONG PAINFUL DEATH AND BURN IN HELL!!!!
This is very disturbing!!
This is absolutely disgusting and evil…let’s close this evil place down and lock up the evil bastards responsible
The human being is the most cruel and evil of all species.
Yes! No heart – just profit
This planet would be far better off without many that call themselves humans.
The local authority needs to act on this terrible cruelty these poor animals should be protected
This is an absolute disgrace and outrage — and it has got to stop — NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Everyday I learn to hate humans more.
I’m absolutely horrified to read what is going on with these ponies. Where are the laws protecting these little animals!! Someone needs to take a stand and say NO More! Do the right thing and end this immediately.
I feel the same way.
My family all came from Devon and lived on the edge of Dartmoor. Seeing these beautiful ponies grazing on the moor in the wild was a Childhood memory I will never forget. To think that this cruelty is going on makes me sick. Ban it immediately.
If this treatment is ongoing then how is it the RSPCA is not involved?!
It is so sickening what humans do to innocent animals just for profit. These monsters should be beaten and tortured just like they do to the ponies. The death penalty for those cretins!!
I hope the people responsible for harming and slaughtering these ponies gets incurable brain cancer
I TOTALLY AGREE WITH “Maria Bertrand
This is all heartbreaking! God bless People 4…
Devon Councillor, John Hart The only thing to do is your job to protect all these ponies and give them their justice by charging and fining ALL involved in these tortures and auctions of little ponies!!!
Please do everything humanly possible to shut down these actions. Animal cruelty laws should be so that all involved in these actions should be charged with animal cruelty and get long jail time and huge fines.
There is no reason why on God’s earth a little pony or any animal should be butchered for scientific research. Disgusting humans eating meat and pony meat!!!!! “ ALSO THOSE WHO ABUSED THESE PRECIOUS SOUL’S ,,,,MUST SEVERELY SUFFER FOR SUCH HORRIBLE EVIL TREATMENT THEMSELVES !!! KARMA…..
I can’t believe how cruel the human race is, these poor beautiful creatures at the mercy of the evil ones in the human race. Thank God for the ones fighting for them. Animals could teach us so much about love and loyalty that it would our us to shame. Please save these beautiful helpless creatures! If I could have my way, I would auction these evil people to crocodiles in a lake, first fine first serve!!!
This is beyond evil, cruel, and disgusting!!! Put these scumbags behind bars now!
How absolutely bloody terrible that this is happening in our country. I use to live in Devon as a child and use to go to dartmoor solely to see the ponies. This needs to stop now!!! Human beings are disgusting and cruel!!!
I hope the people in charge of selling and slaughtering these ponies gets brain cancer
CLOSE ALL THESE CRUEL PLACES DOWN IMMEDIATELY!!!! CHARGE EVERYONE WHO HAS BEATEN THESE INNOCENT PONIES EVEN ONE TIME WITH ANIMAL CRUELTY!!! THEIR PUNISHMENT SHOULD BE TO BE BEATEN CRUELLY TO THEIR DEATHS & SAVE ALL THE TAXPAYERS’ SOME MONEY!!