He looks like he doesn’t have a care in the world as he rolls around on his back in a dusty paddock — but Dazzy the pony could be put down within days if a new owner is not found for him.

The five-year-old chestnut-and-black racing pony was rescued from neglect by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) several months ago — but the $1,000-a-month cost of keeping him at Spicelands Riding Centre in Warwick is proving too much for the charity.

SPCA Inspector Beaman Smith, who warned his previous owner to surrender him or face criminal charges of animal neglect, told The Royal Gazette yesterdaythat a decision was likely to be made on Dazzy’s future in a matter of days by charity bosses.

“I would like to see him go to a nice home,” said Mr. Smith.

“He doesn’t need to be put down, he just needs somebody to help him. That’s what we are all about but the resources are just not there.”

Dazzy was bred and born on the Island for racing purposes but proved unsuccessful on the track so was given to a female owner as a gift. Mr. Smith said the woman failed to look after him, keeping him in cramped conditions in Pembroke, rarely visiting him and failing to ensure he was adequately fed and watered.

“He was receiving the minimum of care,” said Mr. Smith. “He was neglected. He wasn’t being cleaned out. Who knew when he got water? Water wasn’t there all the time for him. Every time you would go there he was hungry. He never got handled ever so he was pretty wild. He was up in the bushes with nobody around but it wasn’t safe.

“If he made a mistake he would hurt himself and his stable was just a makeshift barn which leaked. It wasn’t correct, it wasn’t even legal.”

Mr. Smith has had trouble finding Dazzy a new home because the neglect he suffered means he has a tendency to bite, kick out and be generally unpredictable. He is too small for an adult to ride but is not safe around children.

“He doesn’t know how to behave but his attitude has changed since we got him and he’s not as bad as he was,” said Mr. Smith. “But we can’t seem to find him a home.

“I have had some promises and then they turn me down. We can’t keep him forever; we will have to put him down.

“I want to give him away but I can’t give him away. Whoever wants him can come and take him at no cost to them. But I can’t get anybody to do that.”

Ideally, anyone willing to care for Dazzy, whose height Mr. Smith estimates as about 13 hands, would have a lot of time to spend with him.

He could be used to drive a cart and is fine around other horses. Mr. Smith said he feared that a current fad for racing ponies on the Island could lead to more cases like Dazzy.

Anyone who thinks they might be able to offer Dazzy a home should call the SPCA as soon as possible on 236-7333.