AS the economic situation worsens, is anyone thinking about the animals?

Animal charities are being bombarded with requests from owners who cannot afford proper care.

The greatest impact is on those charities devoted to horses and ponies because of their high cost in feed and veterinary attention. To make matters worse; charities are receiving fewer donations.

An increasing number of horses are being neglected or abandoned by owners who have simply run out of money.

Our charity takes in sick, injured and abused horses and ponies but the numbner which we can accommodate is limited.

Furthermore, as each one costs around £100 a week in care, we have to make very difficult decisions as to which we can and connot help.

Most distressing are the many cases where we have no option other than to advise an owner that the right thing fo rthem to do is to have their animal put to sleep, a course of action which, in addition to the misery, is itself expensive.

However, the alternative of selling a well-loved horse or pony at a time when prices are at rock bottom can, all too often, launch the animal on to a slippery slope.

It may end up going for meat or as a serious case of neglect needing urgent help from a charity such as ours.

Our sincere hope is that intelligent and responsible breeders will not put their mares in foal this season and add to an already flooded market.

Mrs J S MacGregor, MBE, SWHP Horse Hospital, Monmouth.