Horses killed in arson attack and pony stabbed so many times it was put down

Two dead horses and a Shetland pony that was stabbed so bad it had to be put down were found by police after a suspected arson attack, this morning.

Murphy the pony was left with stab injuries all over his body, and one deep wound on his back left knee was so deep the damage was beyond repair.

The RSPCA is appealing for information after it was called to the Downhill Road Allotments, in Sunderland, at around 1am, by emergency services who attended a suspected arson attack of a car that spread to a nearby stable.

Police found one horse dead in the stable and another one outside as well as the badly injured pony.

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RSPCA inspector Terri Ann Fannon, who went to the scene, said: ‘It was an absolutely terrible thing to have to deal with.

‘Murphy was in an awful state. He was very distressed, as you’d expect.

‘He had numerous slash and stab injuries all over his body. One stab wound on his back left knee was so deep the damage was irreparable.

‘Very sadly the vet decided that there was no other option but to put him to sleep.’

A Northumbria Police spokesman said: ‘At 1.36am today, police received a report of a fire at a stable in Rhodesia Road, Sunderland.

‘Emergency services attended and found a car alight. The fire had also spread to a nearby stable, where a horse was found deceased within. Police are treating the fire as suspected arson.

‘A second horse was found deceased outside the stable. It is believed that it was killed as a result of being attacked with a knife.

There were a number of people at the scene, but Murphy’s owner remains unknown to the animal welfare charity, who is urging them to get in touch to help with its investigation.

Murphy is described as an appaloosa Shetland pony stallion, but his age is unknown.

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RSPCA Inspector Trevor Walker who has now taken on the investigation said: ‘Clearly this was a deliberate attack. It’s absolutely shocking that someone would do something like this.

‘Anyone with any information, or who saw anything that might help me to find who is responsible, should call our appeal line on 0300 123 8018 and ask to leave a message for me.’

Enquiries are ongoing. Anyone who saw anything suspicious is asked to contact police on 101 quoting reference 051 070918.