Braveheart
Rescued: October 23, 2015
Death: June 6, 2018

In November 2015 we were contacted by a resident concerned about the skeletal state of a mare and donkey on a property near Valencia, and we immediately encouraged the woman to report the matter to the police so we could act.

After a coordinated effort between Seprona animal welfare officials in Valencia and our local branch in Guardamar, Rod was officially given permission to seize both the horse and donkey.

Rod rushed the 150 kilometres from Rojales to Rotglà y Corberà on October 23 in a bid to save the pair, who had been left to forage rubbish on a piece of wasteland.

Sadly, our rescue came too late for the mare, named New Betty, who was extremely malnourished and three months’ pregnant – she collapsed and died just two days later.

But we were able to save 7-year-old Braveheart, as he had only been at the place for two weeks so he wasn’t in such an extreme state of starvation.

Braveheart had been kept in a grotty little area surrounded by chain-link fencing. He was standing on a concrete circle and couldn’t move off of it because he was surrounded by branches and metal.

Back home at our rescue centre, a veterinary inspection revealed one of Braveheart’s testicles has not dropped in the normal way and was up in his abdomen, posing a cancer risk. So in early November 2015, we sent him to the Alicante horse hospital for an operation, which was a complete success.

Braveheart then went on to live happily outdoors in our busy donkey field with his many friends for three wonderful years of love and companionship.

Sadly, one winter’s morning, we woke to find Braveheart dead in his field. Our veterinarian wasn’t able to determine the cause of death, but we suspect it was related to his poor past treatment.

When an equine hasn’t received proper food or care for a long while, they may look OK on the outside, but we cannot see what damage has been done internally.

Rest in peace, dear Braveheart.