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Living room horse is to be evicted                 25/2/14

A horse is to be evicted from its long term residence in a private house at Broadbay View, Back, Lewis.

Concerns for the adult Connemara pony - which is stabled in allegedly cramped conditions in the living room of the ex-council house -  has led to the move.

A vet has certified that the horse’s welfare is at risk and the house is presently not a suitable place to keep it.

Now it will effectively be taken into care.

After the horse is seized,  Stornoway Sheriff Court will be asked to grant a disposal order to legally rehome or sell it or give it to an animal rescue charity permanently.

Owner Stephanie Ann Noble took the animal indoors two years ago claiming it had no grazings or winter shelter.

But the supposedly temporary arrangement has continued for well over two years.

The Comhairle which has responsibility in animal welfare matters has gone through the legal steps to take possession of the animal.

But it needs a court order before it can give or sell the horse to a new owner.

Stephanie Ann Noble stays in a bedroom upstairs while the rest of her home the house is given over to the horse.

The 67-year-old converted her semi-detached home into stables. Furniture has been removed while wooden pallets form a stall in her front room which is strewn with bedding hay over heavy duty rubber mats across floor.

Animal charity SSPCA has expressed concerns for the horse’s welfare. It previously said it was being kept in “unsuitable conditions.” The charity offered to take the pony away and rehome it but Ms Noble says she can look after it better.

Ms Noble was previously issued with an official care notice to improve the welfare situation. She received a month’s period of grace in which she would not be prosecuted and a formal complaint was made to the fiscal after she failed to comply.

Contrary to rumours, the council did not order Ms Noble make alterations to her house to accommodate the horse.

There is a Scottish code of practice issued under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 which gives stable sizes, door widths, and head clearance to avoid a horse getting stressed - or trapped if there is a fire - if it is forced to live in cramped spaces.

The council is going to court to seek a disposal or rehoming order under the legislation.