The owners of a pony which has gone missing from a field in Wigan think she was stolen.
Lottie, a Bright Bay mare, has been gone for 11 days after disappearing from Hemfield Road, Wigan, where she was grazing with other horses.
Police are investigating the incident but representatives of the Horses and Ponies Protection Association (HAPPA) think it could have been a targeted theft.
Tracy Heaton, who works as an inspector for the charity, explained: “Lottie was grazing with her field companions and is the only one who has gone missing.
"It appears that the fence has been cut and then shoddily put back in place. As you can imagine this has left her family distraught and her equine companions are missing her too.”
Lottie originally came to live in Wigan after being a rescue animal and there is some concern that she might struggle to live somewhere else.
Amanda Berry, Head of Equine Operations at Happa, said the situation was "very distressing" for the pony's owners.
"We cannot comprehend how someone would deliberately target and remove a pony from its home," she said.
"What is more distressing is Lottie is a rescue animal who hadn’t had the best start in life and has a number of vices, which would make it very difficult to settle just anywhere.
"I would appeal to anyone who knows of her whereabouts, or anyone who is offered this pony to get in contact with us or the police immediately. Let’s get Lottie back home."
HAPPA is appealing to veterinary practices and other equine practitioners to keep their eyes out for a pony matching Lottie’s description and has circulated images of the horse on social media.
GMP have been contacted for comment.
Anyone who knows anything about this incident should call the police on 101, quoting crime reference number CRI/06LL/0012989/20.
Alternatively, yo u can contact HAPPA on 01282 455992 or Inspector Tracy Capper on 07736040978.
