Doomed Romanian horses stir emotions

The fate of 49 abandoned horse – destined for the slaughterhouse – is causing a stir in Romania.

The animals – many of them sick or maltreated – were rounded up after being abandoned in a Danube Delta forest where they were apparently damaging the ecosystem.

The plan was to sell them to an Italian firm for meat. But animal protection groups stepped in and alerted the public.

That lead to a flashmob demonstration outside government headquarters on Friday night.

Several people were arrested as the protest was ruled illegal.

But animal lovers in Romania say abandoned horses are becoming commonplace since the government outlawed the use of the horse and cart on the country’s roads.

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