Pet owners have been urged to ask for help if they are struggling to look after their animals after a pony was found abandoned on a footpath.
The RSPCA said the pony was found trapped between two gates in Owston Ferry in North Lincolnshire by a member of the public on 27 November.
Olivia Farrar, an animal rescue officer with the charity, said: “We know these are challenging times for many people, and some may be struggling with the cost of animal care, however abandoning pets is never the answer.”
The charity said incidents of animal abandonment were on track to reach a six-year high and the organisation was “braced” for a rise in reports this winter.
The pony, who the charity has named Niko, has been examined by a vet and is now being cared for.
Ms Farrar said: “We found Niko in a particularly poor condition – not only was he extremely frightened but he was also very underweight, and his coat was badly matted and soiled.
“It’s always upsetting to find abandoned animals, especially when they are in such a vulnerable state.”
In the UK, under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, the abandonment of animals can result in a prison sentence and a fine.
The RSPCA said up to the end of October, the charity had received 24,270 reports of an abandoned animal to its national emergency line.
This represented an increase compared to 19,727 in the first 10 months of 2024.
“It’s been a difficult year for many animals, including horses and ponies, and with the temperatures set to drop over the coming months, we are concerned that the situation could become even more challenging,” Ms Farrar said.
She asked anyone with information about the abandonment of the pony to contact the charity.
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