Rare breeds goat and miniature Shetland pony found dead as police probe fears they may have been poisoned

An animal lover who started her own sanctuary in the Borders with a friend, after being gifted three orphaned lambs as an early birthday present to help keep the grass down, has been left heartbroken after two of the farm animals died in mysterious circumstances.

Joanna Leishman, from Newtown St Boswells, fears her four-year-old rare breeds goat, named Charlie, and 12-year-old Shetland pony, Clara, may have been poisioned.

Both animals were found less than a week apart at Ark Field Farm, just off the A68 near Grange Hall.

Anyone with information is being urged to call police.

Charlie was first to be found last Monday, March 18th.

"Charlie’s a Golden Guernsey," Joanna told Greatest Hits Radio. "There are only around 1,200 left; he was foaming at the mouth, bloated and making awful noises.

"We got a vet out and they said he could potentially have been poisoned, but he was perfectly fine just 12 hours earlier."

Clara was found in the same field just five days later - on Saturday, March 23rd.

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Recalling the grim discovery, Joanna said: "We went to do the last check and put hens away, and she didn’t come up with the rest, so I went to look for her. She was perfectly fine that morning.

"I have never felt as heartbroken as I have this past week. Those animals had names and personalities; they were our pets, and very much loved.

"It’s just very strange for two healthy animals to die within a week of each other. Both my children sobbed when I told them about their pony."

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Police have confirmed they are aware of the deaths and are investigating.

A spokesperson for the force said: "Enquiries are being carried out after a goat and a pony were found dead in the Scottish Borders."

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