As members of Animal Welfare Network Wales we are well aware of what is happening in Wales and do correspond with the minister at regular intervals. Is correspondence satisfactory, well that is another matter and too long to go into, lets just say we are not convinced enough is being done .

As for CCC dismissing evidence, they do and have done so for years, ask any campaigner.

Unfortunately we do lack the resources to take a case further and we do lack the expertise to prosecute puppy farmers ourselves. However, often at risk, we do gather evidence, evidence that we carefully format into an admissible form that, we think, is clear and concise. Also bear in mind we are self funding unlike RSPCA who if they really wanted to could have unearthed all this cruelty themselves years ago and taken positive steps to stop it . They published a report in 1996 stating that the puppy farming industry gave grave cause for concern and then nothing, in fact they gave up campaigning in 1999

We gathered evidence of the neglect of a puppy farmer. Vet reports, statements, etc were collated and handed, (as requested), into the RSPCA. We were assured the evidence supplied for proving the puppy farmer’s guilt for neglect and cruelty was evident. Yet despite regular requests for updates we hear nothing only that the case is still ongoing. This evidence was presented to them in Aug 2009.

We have no intention of turning this into an anti-RSPCA rant, however the RSPCA are basically the governing body in animal welfare, were there another rival organisation we wonder if the RSPCA would continue along the same path, or step up to the mark? They are always pleading poverty, and yet have plenty of funds in their coffers.

We are in touch with WA and will be meeting with them soon, so you see we are doing all the things you suggest with no positive outcome as yet, so perhaps you can appreciate why we feel the dogs are being let down yet again?

Positive suggestions gratefully accepted.

http://awnwales.org/viewnetwork.asp?networkID=150

Civil servants and public employess should all be answerable for their actions or lack of. The CCC spokesman mentioned on your website cannot just dismiss evidence out of hand , however there are rules on how you present evidence.

There is the right of private individuals enshrined in law to start legal proceedings against other individuals for certain offences so provided you had the evidence in an admissable form , the resources to take a case and someone who is willing to go to the Court and ‘lay’ information to generate a summons then you could prosecute the puppy farmers yourself.

Perhaps you can forward all your evidence including your correspondence from CCC to the Rural Affairs Minister for Wales Mr Elin Jones who is mentioned in your article and ask that he look into the matter for you.Copied into 10 Downing Street.

I don’t want people to turn my post into an anti RSPCA rant as for all their faults they do a good job and unlike the one species charities have to focus on every thing. In my time I closed down exotic pet shops and dealt with possible CITES offences, dealt with Dangerous Wild Animals Act legislation, Transport Offences, cruelty to livestock, Wildlife and Countryside Act Offences, Trapping Offences, Stolen animals, animal dealers, International transport of dogs just to start and that doesn’t include all the collections of sick and injured animals, animal rescues and other duties I had to undertake. To illustrate a point in the area I covered there were perhaps a 100 Police Officers, 4-5 dog wardens from different Councils and who knows how many Trading Standards Officers to name but a few people who also had the power to undertake investigations against the people who neglect and abuse animals.All funded by the Government and tax payer.

It’s easy to knock the RSPCA but I think things need to move forward and effective campaigning for change to take place.

Have you guys contacted anyone in the Welsh Assembly yet ? If you are serious about solving the issue have you looked at getting an expert Veterinary Surgeon to review the evidence ? or a Solicitor to review your evidence to see if it appears Offences have taken place ? You are probably out of time now to start proceedings but if you had a professional review your evidence and conclude that the animals were being caused uneccessary suffering then questions could be asked as to why CCC didn’t take action at the time it was brought to their attention.

Obviously fresh evidence would be much preferable as you could start from scratch and force the issue while there is still time to prosecute.

On a final note prosecutions are never straightforward and while there are Solicitors and ‘expert’ Veterinary Surgeons travelling the Country making money from defending as many RSPCA cases as possible (even though invariably they lose most of these cases) it will always be an uphill struggle.

Try to keep the posts positive and offer suggestions !

Thanks and keep up the good work.

Glyn

Sad to say things have not changed in Wales from our experiences in the last couple of years. We have heard all the excuse in the book from councils in England and Wales regarding puppy farming, we think if they cannot police the puppy farms then they should close them down?

We know and understand that RSPCA inspectors are thin on the ground and out numbered by office staff ,what we don’t understand is why, they are such a rich charity and could easily employ more people at ground level.

Its frightening that RSPCA are the only animal welfare organization we have to turn to in times of cruelty as with regard to puppy farming they have seriously let the dogs down for years. They could have pushed ahead with the issue in many ways but they haven’t, why?

Also in these days of litigation they are loath to shut down bad breeders and pet shops for fear of getting sued for loss of earnings etc .

RSPCA Inspectors usually have a large workload and can’t really focus on much more than firefighting. If I picked up a large prosecution and was tied up for a few days no-one was covering my ‘normal’ complaints of neglect that were coming in. Only the most serious were being passed on to a neighbouring Inspector to follow up whilst I was unavailable.

The RSPCA are still the only real port of call for animal cruelty complaints.