Thursday's letter
As an invited consultee in the RSPCA's Animal Welfare Act consultation, I have frequently put forward my doubts in regard to how it has failed.
There has been no provision in the Act to address abandonment, neglect or cruelty and this is put beyond doubt by the recent horrendous story of Phoebe and how she was kicked to death by nothing less than a callous coward.
To read the RSPCA's statement regarding this unacceptable action, the charity explained: "Evidence of suffering is necessary for cruelty to be proven in the courts".
This decision has caused obvious outrage, yet the animal charity said: "The death was so quick that the little dog did not suffer – and therefore no cruelty charge could be brought."
This case has seriously compromised animal welfare in the UK and has to be seen as a green light to others angered by their pets or who no longer want to keep them to just kick them to death.
According to the RSCPA, if killed with one blow, no act of cruelty has taken place.
How blinkered the RSPCA is when wearing its animal rights hat and denouncing fox hunting as cruel when the fox was usually killed by one bite. How bizarre they accept the casualties of fireworks each year with hardly a response.
Perhaps it is time there was a serious re-think regarding animal welfare in the UK and who sets down the guidelines and who enforces it.
It is obvious that an animal rights charity is not the most suitable animal welfare enforcer.
Andrew Meads
Safewings Wildlife Conservation Projects
Isham
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Weather for Kettering
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: East
