The grave of ’Blackie the war horse’, an equine hero who fought and survived the battles of the First World War, was given grade II listed status, which protected the site at the RSPCA centre in Halewood, Liverpool, in 2017. The charity has since announced the centre is set to close at the end of May.
Blackie served at the battles of Arras, Somme, Ypres and Cambrai before returning to Britain where he lived into his late 30s. His was the first war horse grave to be granted heritage protection by Historic England after a member of the public contacted them with concerns that it was threatened by proposed building work.
A spokesman for the RSPCA said the decision to close the centre was made because Knowsley Council had "redesignated the land" for residential development.
But the council said the charity made the decision to close the branch due to financial reasons.