These 60 horses were abandoned and discovered in a swampy field — half-dead.

In a field in Limerick, Ireland, volunteers for an animal welfare organization found an unexpected sight: 60 horses, unattended, in the middle of swamp land, starving to death.

Immediately, the organization went into action mode, trying to rescue the animals and making desperate appeals to raise cash for all the urgent veterinary care needed. But it's unclear what will happen to these dozens of famished horses — and many are already dying, especially the babies. It's heartbreaking that this ever happened to begin with. It's even more heartbreaking that the volunteers trying to care for them are on the verge of not coming up with the money.

Sign the petition to demand that the local government of Limerick, Ireland step in and help feed these starving animals! They must provide emergency funding for local animal relief services!

The abandoned horses could have wound up out there, alone and starving, due to a number of reasons. First, human construction and development in the Limerick area is tearing up huge swaths of land that one were grazing areas for animals like horses and cows. The land left available is often relatively desolate, such as the swampy field where these animals were discovered — leaving nothing for them to eat and sustain themselves.

On top of that, the COVID-19 pandemic has worsened animal cruelty all over the world. Farmers and other animal-owners have been abandoning their livestock and pets in record numbers, leaving them for "someone else" to hopefully find and take care of. In 2020, as horse fairs and trade shows temporarily shut down due to health concerns, owners had little need for the horses they had. And no one wanted to buy newly-bred baby foals.

Unfortunately, once they're abandoned, it's hard to identify who these animals' original owners were. That leaves the culprits still at large, potentially ready to commit cruelty against other horses or pets in the future.

Tell the Limerick City Council to release emergency funding to help the volunteer-run Limerick Animal Welfare organization feed and care for these 60 starving horses, as well as other animals abused or neglected during the pandemic!