Watery Lane Sidcup: Injured pony tied up and abandoned

The chestnut coloured female Shetland was found abandoned and in a lot of pain at the car park in Watery Lane, at Foots Cray, yesterday (June 9).

She was found wearing a tight-fitting headcollar, which wounded her and caused her severe pain.

The RSPCA and police were called to the scene, and a vet who examined the pony found the neck wound was very deep and infected with maggots.

More wounds were also found to her legs and feet.

A pony had to be euthanised after being left in pain (Image: RSPCA) The pony’s heart rate was abnormally high, likely due to the infection, and the vet found she had prominent mobility issues concerning her back legs.

Sadly, the vet concluded the pony was suffering and made the decision that the kindest course of action was to euthanise her as a result.

RSPCA animal rescue officer Adam Tasker said: “It was incredibly sad to find this poor pony in such a bad way.

 “When I arrived, officers from Kent Police had untied the pony and provided her with some water, but it was clear that the wound to her head caused by the tight-fitting headcollar was very severe, and we had no doubt she was in a lot of pain. It was also clear she was very underweight too.”

A pony had to be euthanised after being left in pain (Image: RSPCA) He added: “It’s really sad that this pony’s wounds and condition were so severe that she couldn’t be saved. We fear someone deliberately left her tied to the fence in the car park which is such a sad thing to do to an already suffering pony.

 “During 2024, my RSPCA colleagues across England and Wales attended 22,503 incidents involving an abandoned animal, just like this pony. It’s never okay to abandon an animal, and I am keen to hear from anyone with more information about how this pony ended up like this.”

Anyone with information contact the RSPCA inspectorate appeal line in confidence by calling 0300 123 8018.