We have all heard of how families are not only finding it difficult to make ends meet, but in many cases, living with relations after losing their house or searching through rubbish bins for food, but if there is one thing that can force a groan of sympathy from Northern Europeans, especially the British, it is the suffering of animals; especially horses.

The amount of horses being put down because their owners can’t afford to keep them is growing alarmingly.

Andalucia is the region of Spain where the figure has risen the most: 3,403 horses were put down the first three months of the 2012. That, Ladies and Gentlemen, represents a 264% increase on the same period last year. Bear in mind that the total figure for the whole of Spain is almost 5,000.

(News: Andalucia)