Way back we posted on the wee pony incarcerated in a large metal shed opposite the house.
This shed,we now know, was erected without planning permission; the relevant authorities have been informed.
It may take a while as the Enforcement Officer is snowed under; so many build without applying etc, and in wrong places. This shed is too near the house to keep animals in.
This is so common in Ireland.
For six months this wee one has been in there.
This imprisonment was an Irish custom called "putting manners on"; tied up also by the head " to get him used to the rope."
The pony, a bright and lively black and white critter, hated this and would scream and kick for hours on end.
On concrete, no sky or air or grass.
Deprivation.
Whenever the man tried to get him out, all he would do was kick and scream. So there he would stay, week after week, month after month.
In the last six months, we have pestered and plagued every welfare organisation we can.
Irish law is antiquated. As long as an animal has food, water and shelter, there is nothing the SPCA can do. That is the law unchanged since 1911.
Every time we had it checked, the man would rally his whole family there; showing what a good family man he is..
The Dept of Ag emailed re a query from a year back in another house...
And no release for the wee fellow.
A couple of weeks ago, strangers there who looked official; and again last weekend; a whole gathering of cars.
And, two days ago, there he was, outside.
We had expected to be joyful. But tears ran free to see him. Thin, and walking slowly; cowed, head down.
A noble creature abused and degraded.
A lovely boy; so beautiful.
At least he has sky and air and grass.
But now they leave him out with no shelter. In drenching rain, hunched against it. No trees in that field.
We learned then that there have been other complaints. And that as we had kept the pressure on month after month, finally the dam broke and he was forced to let him out.
He lied; said that the pony had been out often. As he lied before, saying that the goat, who still is on the road every day, had never been loose.
A young Irish man with small children.
Thankfully our testimony is good.
A horse can be a friend and companion; not a subjugated creature, emptied of all life, hollowed out.
He has chickens too; free range and running around on the road. Yesterday he came up twice, searching the bushes and reeds for eggs. And finding none.
He is ignorant! There has been no egglaying heard for days; the hens will all be broody as hens left too free will do , and will all be sitting on eggs hidden well from him.
We would know where and how to look.. and hear..and smell...
So we watch him puzzling now.
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And new problems.
We heard what we thought was shooting every night from the mountains. Between 2 and 6 am.
Collie of course is traumatised and terrified, so no sleep to be had. Appalling to see her thus when she has been doing so well.
We finally spoke to the Gardai, and later learned that this is in fact a "crowbanger"; a machine that fires loudly every 30 seconds to scare birds off seeds.
At 2 am?
Now it is set off at random; today at 1 am until around 9 am, and our beloved collie in a terrible state.
It is over the ridge and no road there, so we cannot find the source. If we did it would be removed. Without any hesitation.
Today we have put appeals on the two local radio stations to try to make contact with this.... person. Who seems to be playing with a new toy, disregarding the effect on anyone else.
Need a quiet place is all; is that too much to ask in Ireland? It seems so. Our last two houses were made impossible by loud, illegal noise.
Just need a quiet place is all...
Please God tonight is quiet; need to be out selling tomorrow. Punchdrunk with lack of sleep...
Blessings and peace this night.. I mean day..
