Abandoned horses in Kharkiv region: police took custody of the animals

In Kharkiv region, 28 thoroughbred horses were left virtually without an owner. Police officers of Starosaltivska village community Dmytro Novitsky and Denis Kerpek help to get food for them, and a stable boy takes care of them. About it reports the communication Department of the police of the Kharkiv region.

Russian occupiers destroyed everything: houses, kindergartens, shops. Under fire more than 30 times hit and the equestrian complex. As a result, one stable was completely destroyed and another was damaged. A small foal was killed and a mare was wounded by shrapnel," the police said.

Police officers from August 2023 began to work officially in the community and immediately learnt about the abandoned animals of the equestrian club. The frightened and injured horses managed to return to normal life.

After the occupation, the owner left the farm and went to the Russian Federation. There are 28 horses left here and we have been helping them since August," says community police officer Dmytro Novitsky.

Only the stable boy Alexei, who is with the horses all the time, is left with the animals. He cleans the animals, walks them, feeds them. Alexei has been working here for 12 years.

I couldn't leave the animals to die, but it was hard to cope myself. Luckily, Denis and Dima took over the farm and started to help. They make arrangements with local farmers, volunteers. They bring hay, oats, salt," says Alexei.

He said that the hardest time here is in winter. The stables used to be heated, but now there is no wood. Because of the hit, the room is partially destroyed, there are a lot of cracks.

One animal wounded during the shelling has not yet fully recovered because of the shrapnel left in its body. Community police officers Dmytro Novitsky and Denis Kerpek have already found a veterinarian who has agreed to examine the animal.

Police officers say that legally it is not possible to solve the issue with the horses yet, because they have an owner. He took all the documents for the animals and does not contact them.

People offered to take the horses one or two at a time, but it is impossible to give them to someone just like that. So Dmitry and Denis decided that the only way out was to look after them.

The law enforcers get some food and household items for the equestrian club themselves, but in most cases they turn to volunteers and farmers and do everything to ensure that these animals do not die.