RSPCA officers in rescue swoop on pony kept in shed

A pony was kept in a garden shed with no natural light and fed potato peelings and apple cores, a court heard. RSPCA officers swooped on the home of Lisa and Wayne Badger to rescue the two-year-old dark bay cob.

The pony was kept in the back yard of their previous address in Nelson Road, Dudley, magistrates were told yesterday.

The pair, now of Fens Crescent, Brierley Hill, admitted causing unnecessary suffering to an animal and failing to take reasonable steps to ensure its needs were met.

Mr Nick Sutton, prosecuting for the RSPCA, said: "The pony was kept in a yard with a recently laid piece of turf.

"It was kept in a garden shed with no natural light and fed on potato peelings, apple cores and hay. The only appropriate feed for the pony was the hay."

Mr Sutton said the animal had been seized by RSPCA officials but Wayne Badger and two others had attempted to prevent them from taking the animal.

He said police had been called to help the officers carry out their work.

"The pony was taken to a vet and found to have lice and was emaciated," he said.

Mr Sutton said the animal had previously been kept at Fens Pool, in Brierley Hill, before being moved to the address which had also been an "inappropriate" location.

Miss Nicole Steers, defending, said it was the first time either of her clients had been in trouble with the courts. Magistrates adjourned the hearing until September 5.