An animal and environmental organisation in the Axarquía has warned of a spike in the number of abandoned horses, donkeys and mules in the area since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
APISMAM, which investigates and monitors ill treatment of animals, said that six ill and malnourished equines have been rescued from different towns in villages in the Axarquía in the last month.
The organisation works with several associations and shelters in Malaga province to care for the animals that have been abandoned.
The horses and donkeys rescued during the last month have been taken to the Andalusian Rescue Centre for Horses (ARCH) in Alhaurín el Grande.
APISMAM, run by Jill Newman-Rogers, has been operating for nearly 11 years.
"We are all volunteers from a variety of countries. We're not a refuge, rather an emergency centre," said Newman-Rogers who is originally from the UK.
"We take in ill-treated and abandoned horses and donkeys. The majority come to us after being found by the Seprona unit of the Guardia Civil and the Local Police," she said.