A donkey owner has been banned from keeping equines after her animals were found underweight and living in poor conditions.
Margarite Geraldine Gibson, 76, from Yorkshire, who ran Whitby Donkeys on the local beach, pleaded guilty to four animal welfare offences when appearing before Scarborough Magistrates’ Court last week, reports Teesside Live.
The RSPCA and staff from the Donkey Sanctuary were sent to the address on February 24 last year after concerns were raised about a number of equines in her care.
RSPCA inspector Claire Little heard Gibson had 13 donkeys, 11 ponies and one mule at the site.
They were housed in a paddock with many hazards, while other mules, donkeys and ponies were crowded together in stables with little or no access to food or water.
Claire said: “It was apparent when looking at the various stables and sheds being used that there was no hay available and no water available to the animals that were inside the buildings.
“There were multiple donkeys seen in the barn / lean to area at the rear of the stables. The ground appeared to comprise a thick layer of straw and faeces.
“There was a water butt outside that appeared to be collecting rain water- this water was not available to the animals, but they were seen straining to access it.
“There were three stables all in a state of disrepair. All the doors were held together with rope or baler bind, as bolts were either missing or unable to meet due to the bowing wooden doors and the accumulation of deep wet litter bedding. There was no hard standing and the overcrowded stables contained multiple animals.”
A number of donkeys inside the stables were found to be underweight, with their spine and pelvis clearly visible; while others had poor coats, with visible scabs and lice on their bodies.
Lameness and dental issues were some of their other health concerns.
Some of the donkeys were struggling to walk due to overgrown hooves, while others had a hoof infection known as thrush, which was so severe it caused their feet to bleed.
Eight ponies in a field appeared in poor condition, with very little grazing available and no visible supplementary hay.
Gibson said she had struggled with veterinary and farrier treatment due to Covid-19.
A GoFundMe page had previously raised £22,000 to help towards her financial struggles, and Gibson said she still had some of that money left but was trying to make it last.
She was offered relinquishment as an option to reduce the number of animals in her care and related costs, but declined the offer.
Gibson was advised by the RSPCA that she would need veterinary care for some of the equines as well as farrier care, and was given a chance to improve the care of the animals and their living conditions.
Further help and on-going support was offered but it soon became clear that further intervention was needed.
On a return visit it was found that no improvements had been made.
Gibson signed over 25 equines into the care of the RSPCA and The Donkey Sanctuary.
The court heard how the RSPCA, The Donkey Sanctuary and World Horse Welfare have been involved with the defendant since 2016 on an ongoing basis in an effort to improve equine welfare.
Gibson’s solicitor added it was a sad end to a very long history of working with equines.
As well as the life ban on keeping animals, Gibson was given a 14 week prison sentence suspended for two years and ordered to pay £350 costs and a £128 victim surcharge.
The RSPCA's Fell Edge Animal Centre and The Donkey Sanctuary have been taking care of the equines and they will soon be rehomed.
Claire added: “We often work with partner charities to tackle animal welfare issues and we are so grateful to The Donkey Sanctuary for all their wonderful work and support in this matter. It is heartening to see how well the animals now look and one went on to have a gorgeous foal too.”
Hannah Bryer, head of welfare at The Donkey Sanctuary, said: “Owning donkeys and mules is an incredible privilege but one which comes with a responsibility to ensure they live healthy and enriched lives.
“In this case the needs of donkeys and ponies far outstripped what the owner was able provide for them. The situation was complex, and the welfare issues were further compounded by the large numbers of equines kept on a small site.
“Without this intervention, their suffering would have only continued. Thanks to our supporters, we have been able to provide all the donkeys and mules with a safe and secure future, either on our rehoming scheme or at one of our sanctuaries.”
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