A retired racehorse surrendered to an animal shelter after becoming severely malnourished on a Hunter property has died despite best efforts to nurse him back to health.
As the Newcastle Herald reported last week, Jet's condition prompted criticism of the NSW RSPCA by Hunter Horse Haven - which took Jet in - and the Animal Justice Party's lead senate candidate Darren Brollo who claimed the horse was left to deteriorate on a Weston property for a year.
The RSPCA has strenuously denied the allegations, saying 17-year-old Jet had been improving over several months while the agency worked with his owner, but they were not notified when he took a turn for the worse in March.
Jet died of heart failure in the early hours of Sunday at the Anna Bay sanctuary.
"He deserved better and was the kindest, most beautiful, loving horse I have met in 40 years," Hunter Horse Haven spokesperson Deb Barber said.
"Jet's case should be the last and utilised to force all the required changes to ensure, in the future, it won't happen again.
"The continual chronic systemic failure of our animal welfare system should be an issue for all - not just the few that fight for positive change for all animals."
An RSPCA spokesperson told the Herald last week the agency had conducted several checks on Jet and another horse and that the owner had complied with directions to seek vet help and had put a feed plan in place.
She said Jet's owner did not contact RSPCA after a check on March 4 when his condition "drastically deteriorated".
