'Beyond inhumane': RSPCA investigates Melbourne nightclub for having live pony at opening night
A Melbourne nightclub is under an animal welfare investigation for having a live pony inside its venue as part of an opening night promotion.
Partygoers posed with Tori the pony, dressed in a pink cowboy hat, at Little Bourke Street's La Di Da club, in Melbourne's CBD on Saturday.
The animal also had the words "Pony is back b***h" written in pink on the back of its white body.
Tori was meant to stand outside, but was brought in because of bad weather.
Despite the club and pony owners, Ponies for Parties, claiming the horse was never in distress or at risk, the stunt caused public outrage on social media.
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One person wrote on social media the company should "be ashamed" of the "disgusting act" which is "beyond inhumane".
“[It’s] probably a pony’s worst nightmare to be stuck in a club full of drunk people to harass it all night then be chucked outside in the rain on concrete,” a social media comment read.
A La Di Da spokesperson told the Herald Sun the pony was moved into a "non public access area with no speakers for ten minutes as a storm hit outside...until they retrieved the pony trailer from around the corner".
RSPCA Victoria's Sharna Fitt confirmed the organisation was investigating whether any breaches to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act were made.
“RSPCA Victoria is opposed to the use of animals for any kind of entertainment, exhibition or performance where injury, pain, suffering or distress is likely to be caused,” Ms Fitt said.
“Animals used in performances must be treated with respect and not objectified or subjected to indignity or ridicule."
