Mumbai cops send three Victoria carriage horses to hospital

Three injured horses were seized by the police with the support of Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) and a People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India veterinarian from Marine Drive on Sunday.

Three injured horses were seized by the police with the support of Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) and a People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India veterinarian from Marine Drive on Sunday.

One of the wounded Victoria horses. (PETA)

Police said the drivers of the seized carriages could not produce their licences and had three horses that were malnourished.

The horses were sent to The Bombay Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals hospital in Parel for treatment.

“The horses have multiple wounds on their bodies that were deliberately hidden with pieces of black cloth,” said Dr Santosh Sahu, veterinarian, PETA.

“They were also suffering from arthritis, cracked hooves and were not fitted with shoes, that led to laminitis — an inflammation of sensitive membrane inside the hoof,” said Sahu.

The police seized these Victorias from Netaji Subhash Marg, where their entry is prohibited, according to the directive of the joint commissioner (traffic), under the Bombay Police Act. 1951.

A total of nine unfit and suffering horses have been picked up from Mumbai roads since July by AWBI-authorised inspectors.

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