A seven-month-old foal has been on wasteground, suffering with massive puncture wounds on his neck.
Badly infected
The Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA) received calls from concerned members of the public about a foal abandoned in Sligo town in the western province of Connacht.
ISPCA inspector Karen Lyons attended scene, where she found a colt with large puncture wounds on both sides of his neck. The wounds were badly infected and the foal was very weak.
Inspector Lyons called a local horse sanctuary and the foal was taken for emergency veterinary treatment. The wounds, which are thought to be over a week old, are only centimetres from the vertebrae in his neck.
Months of treatment
It is hoped that the vertebrae will not become infected. Now named Chance, the youngster faces many months of treatment.
As Chance was not micro-chipped the owner cannot be traced.
Anybody with any information is asked to contact the ISPCA’s national animal helpline in confidence on +33 (0)1890 515 515.