Horses left on a vacant block on the northern beaches investigated by RSPCA
Two horses left on a former public library site in Sydney’s northern beaches have become the centre of community attention and the focus of an RSPCA investigation.
Manly
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Community concern is growing about the fate of two horses left on a vacant block for nearly a week in the wake of the recent statewide bushfire emergency.
The horses are behind makeshift security fencing on the site of the former Belrose public library that is slated for demolition.
RSPCA NSW has confirmed that the “situation is currently under investigation” after receiving complaints that the horses — a stallion and a mare — were not being properly looked after.
Rangers from Northern Beaches Council will also be visiting the site today to check on the condition of the animals.
Community Facebook pages have received dozens of comments about the state of the horses on the block — sold by the council in 2017 — just off Glenrose Pl.
Facebook posts have suggested the horses’ owner has another nine horses and was struggling to find transport to move the horses.
A resident suggested the hoofs on one of the horses needed immediate attention.
One local commented: “It’s so sad. There is no shelter, rusty fences, rubbish all throughout site. These horses shouldn’t be there. Hope the owner sorts it out soon.”
Another said she saw the brown horse “lose its footing on the paving and slipped.”
A resident wrote: “I rang the owner to understand more and offer assistance of any kind. Says she has had the okay by a vet and farrier has seen the horses and the issues are under control … the horses will be moving within the week apparently.”
But some members of the community say the horses appear to be in good condition and were being regularly fed and watered by locals and by people linked to their owner.
It is understood the horses were taken to the abandoned library site, which still contains the library building and childrens' playground equipment, on Tuesday last week — the day of the statewide “catastrophic” bushfire warning across Sydney.
The Council had opened up nearby Frenchs Forest Showground as a livestock and large animal evacuation centre on Tuesday and urged people to remove their animals from potential bushfire danger zones.
It ended up accommodating more than 60 horses.
There are now no horses at the showground, but residents are giving the horses on the library site buckets of water and food including carrots and apples.
A spokesman for RSPCA NSW said it was aware of the two horses.
“This situation is currently under investigation,” the spokesman said.
“Everything that the RSPCA NSW Inspectorate can do, which is appropriate and in accordance with the law, is being done.
“This is an ongoing matter, and privacy and legal considerations do not allow us to provide further information at this time”.
The RSPCA urged members of the public who have information should contact the local police, or RSPCA NSW on 1300 278 3589) or online via rspcansw.org/reportcruelty.