Working with animals myself, this is so shocking and saddening to read. What makes some 'humans' so depraved, as to do something like this? When will people realise animals are not "things"! They feel fear, hunger, sadness and pain etc, just like the rest of us. The laws need to be strengthened AND upheld. This is simply not acceptable.

Ah, Thisname, I couldn't agree with you more. Thank God every day that you don't live in Africa. People in the 'civilized' world would cringe in horror at the plight of animals on this continent. One of the worst is a cultural practice of the Zulus where a bull is slaughtered. The object is to inflict as much pain and torment as possible. A spear is thrust slowly into its guts as it bellows in agony. This is 'condoned' because it's a cultural ritual. I volunteer at our local Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and you would platz if you saw what 'human beings' inflict on 'other nations' of this world.

PS/ Animals such as owls, snakes, chamelions(sic), tortoises etc., are particularly disliked by the black population because of their negative spiritual connotations and they are singled out for brutality. Tortoises are particularly badly mangled, burned and mutilated. It breaks ones heart.

I've done rescue work in southern Europe. The street dogs and cats there are so many and SO abused. They are beaten, run over (on purpose), burnt with boiling water or acid. The newest "fad" is to tie a large bunch of fireworks to the stomach of dogs and ... well, you can guess the rest. Chained dogs, donkeys with broken legs. The horrors never end. It breaks my heart, it truly does.

The preceding examples quoted are truly awful and I would like to say here in defence of my countrymen that instances of this nature are very rare here. They shock and disgust us all.

I ran an animal rescue for a number of years...we took in any type of animal, domestic, wild life, reptiles, etc (believe it or not fish too) There is never a reason to abuse any animal, and the people who do anger me. Personally the person who did this to these horses should be drawn and quartered by the horses they abused!