Amersham horses - the DRTV
The RSPCA are commonly known for the great work they do with cats and dogs but some people don't realise they care for all animals - including horses.
This week we launched an integrated campaign to help the RSPCA raise funds to cover the cost of rehabilitating the 140 horses, ponies and donkeys rescued from Spindles Farm, near Amersham last year, which you may have read about in the press. The investigation and prosecution has been one of the RSPCA's biggest ever, and the cost of providing care and treatment for the animals has been over £850,000. Officers from World Horse Welfare, Redwings Horse Sanctuary, The Horse Trust, vets and Thames Valley Police worked alongside the RSPCA in very difficult conditions to rescue and care for the surviving animals from the terrible scene.
Our campaign includes DRTV and online as well as press ads and was co-ordinated to tie-in with editorial coverage of the court's verdict and sentencing. All elements of the campaign therefore needed to be turned around at high speed because of the short-term nature of broadcast news.
Like our Biggest Animal Rescue campaign, the DRTV ad is fronted by the RSPCA's Chief Officer Inspectorate Tim Wass. It also features RSPCA Inspector Kirsty Hampton, who was first on the scene at Amersham and who describes how many of the animals had little food or dry bedding and were crammed into pens ankle-deep in their own faeces. Other horses had simply been left to die where they fell.
It's an upsetting case but clearly demonstrates the unique nature of RSPCA and why there will always be a need for them. Why don't you take a look at the ad for yourselves?
Hayley Canning



