Plea over animals in agony (From Bournemouth Echo)

Plea over animals in agony

7:00pm Thursday 26th August 2010 in

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A RECENT spate of hit-and-run collisions on New Forest roads has resulted in injured animals enduring agonising pain.

To date there have been 21 hit-and-runs this year.

Verderer Jeff Kitcher said: “The terrible thing about it is that they are left to suffer for 24 hours or more, rather than the driver notifying someone, even by an anonymous phone call.

“There have been two foals recently of mine that have been victims of hit-and-run accidents and both have still been alive but suffering terribly until found by someone.”

Head agister Jonathan Gerrelli gave an example of how colleague Robert Maton came across a mare that obviously had not had a foal suckling her for some time.

A quick search soon found the tragic reason.

“There was the foal lying in the heather. It struggled to get up, but it had a broken leg,” he said.

As in most cases, it had to be put down.

“That foal had obviously been there all night and how long would it have been there had Robert not come along?” he said.

“It’s very, very distressing and upsetting, and that foal would have suffered immensely in a situation like that.”

People sometimes telephone in to report their vehicle has been involved in a collision with an animal in the forest.

“They say, ‘It’s run off, it’s okay’. But even with a broken leg they can run off. They must report it,” he said.

“It’s tragic when you come across any accident, but when you come across one where the pony, donkey or cow has been there for several days, it is not pleasant at all.”

Verderers’ clerk Sue Westwood said: “There can be no excuse for not reporting an accident with a forest animal.”

Unless there is evidence of dangerous driving or driving without due care, prosecutions are unlikely.

“However, it is worth remembering that if subsequently identified, and several have been, drivers responsible for hit-and-run accidents will always be prosecuted.”

• If you are involved in a collision while driving, telephone 999.