Guest guest Posted November 23, 2008 Report Share Posted November 23, 2008 Cape carthorses pay price of cheap metal November 21 2008 at 11:10AM By Michelle JonesCarthorses used to transport scrap metal are increasingly being abandoned by their owners because of a sharp decline in the industry.With the prices of metal falling sharply, many owners can no longer afford to shoe, feed or continue working with the horses.The Cart Horse Protection Association has seized at least 13 horses in the past week, its general manager, Dee Terblanche, says.The horses were "laid off" when the owners could no longer afford shoes or feed. "But when they were not able to work they can't just be parked on the side of the road," Terblanche said.The condition of horses had been deteriorating since July, and there had been a "major decline" in their condition in the past two months. On Thursday, the association picked up two horses whose conditions were so bad the owners should be prosecuted, Terblanche said.The SPCA had also seen an increase in the number of abandoned horses, said spokesperson Sarah Scarth."We issued a warning earlier this week to (owners of) carthorses tethered on the side of the N2. "On further investigation, we established they weren't working as much because the cost of metal had come down so significantly."Terblanche said there were 2 000 horses on the Cape Flats, at least 477 of which were working horses.The first priority of the SPCA was to educate the owners as it recognised the carthorses were working animals that provided a service, Scarth said.Terblanche said the association had a "zero tolerance policy" - any animal that did not meet standards was taken from the driver and rehabilitated.She said the association would like to be able to assist the industry by supplying shoes and food."These people are genuinely trying to earn a living and are genuinely not able to."The association would become more "severe" in dealing with the drivers and owners who did not comply with its standards, Terblanche said.Five scrap dealers questioned on Thursday said the prices of scrap metal had fallen drastically in recent months.michelle.jones This article was originally published on page 4 of Cape Times on November 21, 2008 http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1 & click_id=14 & art_id=vn20081121060244163C137358 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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