Popkei’s Legacy

With lockdown restrictions set to be in place for the foreseeable future, and large, organised firework displays cancelled, more people will be looking to hold firework displays in their gardens. However, we are urging people to reconsider garden displays after the tragic event that occurred last November.

Popkei, a beautiful Friesian horse, had been poorly for a while, and was diagnosed earlier in the year with heart failure. Despite vets saying he could pass away at any moment, he fought through, and would run out to the field most mornings with his best friend, Shandy.

Tragically, over the weekend, after consecutive evenings of local residents launching fireworks, the stress took its toll on Popkei. His heart didn’t cope as well as it should have, and on 5th November 2019, we had to say goodbye to our beloved horse.

Now, we want Popkei’s shocking story to reiterate the importance of not setting fireworks off near animals. Under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, it is an offence if a) an act of his, or a failure of his to act, causes an animal to suffer; b) he knew, or ought reasonably to have known, that the act, or failure to act, would have that effect or be likely to do so; c) the animal is a protected animal, and d) the suffering is unnecessary. The offence can carry a fine of up to £20,000 and/or a prison term of up to six months.

And it’s not just livestock – thousands of animals up and down the country are petrified of the loud explosions, including dogs, cats and not to mention our native wildlife.

Please share Popkei’s tragic story. We the hope that people will think twice before setting off fireworks in their gardens.

15th October 2020