Animal Neglect...RSPCA useless, so are HAPPA

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horseguy

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My friends and I have been trying for Years to stop animal neglect and cruelty by this man.

About 2 Years ago, I reported a distressed Pony to the RSPCA and also HAPPA, I told them of the very poor condition that the Pony was in, hardly ever fed.

Neither of the organisations (which purport to be welfare organisations) even visited the poor Pony.
Within a couple of weeks I saw the Pony dead on the ground, it's owner piled rotton wood around the carcas, and it laid there 2 weeks before he burned it.

Incenced, I telephoned HAPPA and said "the Pony says thank you for NOT saving it's life" The woman at HAPPA just laughed, so I put the phone down.

I am still trying to get something done about this cruel man, and on 21st February 2009, I made this video of the state the animals are kept in.... 2 Ponys, 2 Goats, 1 Sheep, and a dog locked away 24 hours a day.

Have a look and see what you think (the RSPCA) refuse to view it, even though a serving Police Officer and the Local Press are trying to get them to act.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzrTsX4-3Tc
 
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Hmm, i think , reading between the lines, other factors may be at work here....

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Like what
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Never been any good at reading between the lines
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Echo others call WHW asap
 
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Hmm, i think , reading between the lines, other factors may be at work here....

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What other factors?

The only thing that's happening here is trying to stop animals dying in miserable conditions.

The video has been passed to the local newspaper, who within 5 hours had a reporter and photographer looking at the place.
Also the video has been sent to the local TV station who want more information about it.....

No other factors whatsoever
 
I'd never trust the RSPCA with anything (at least in the westcountry) ever again. Had too many bad dealings with them resulting again in a horse dying. Also a cat appeared one day with suspected feline AIDS, it's eye was hanging out the socket and it had various other issues, RSPCA did come out that time but spent 2 DAYS trying to catch it without sucess at which point the estate warden went out and shot it, one shot, dead. The damn RSPCA then accused us of cruelty. We all just wished ed had got him earlier....
 
Police are trying to trace the owners of the land, with a view to having this man removed......

Somehow I do not think he will hand over the animals, although when asked "who do they belong to" They are never his
 
After watching that video, yes the land is totally unsuitable to be keeping animals on it but the video seems to be concerntrating on the state of the allotments rather then the state of the animals.
If the RSPCA refuse to do anything then I would consider contacting the council and see if they can do anything even if its dealt with as an environmental health or health and safety matter.
Those poor animals that have to live there
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That's discusting, i cant believe no one will help, have you spoken to the man and asked him if he wants the animals he may be greatful for someone to take them if he just cant be bothered, im amazed any of them are alive.
The only thing I can say is call the police and all the other local and national resue centres, and like 28jen28 said if thats council run then they should be able to do something.
I had a similar experience with an allotment i used to pass on the way to work, this poor pony was locked in a shack for months and i phoned the RSPCA twice and I think other people had probably complained, the allotment was finally taken away from him and the shack taken down, I dont know if the pony was taken away though, it is very sad how people can treat any animal this way, keep trying at least you care your their only hope.
 
If the police have seen the state of the animals and are involved, presumably they believe the animals are being kept in unlawful conditions (re latest Animal Act). Surely in this case they can't just wait around until the RSPCA or HAPPA gets involved? A bit like finding children at risk of death in a home but leaving them there because they can't get hold of a social worker. If laws are being broken, they must make a bit more effort to sort it out.

Is it possible to 'release' the dog? It wouldn't be the first time that has been done. I rehomed a terribly abused sheepdog taken by two very elderly ladies fed up looking at a chained dog slowly starving to death over their back garden fence!

Well done for all you have done so far. Bless you. Keep trying.
 
The habitation of the sheep and the pony (sorry those were the only 2 animals I saw in that vid? Did I miss the others?) is obviously highly undesirable, however the pony looked healthy enough and the sheep didn't look like she was missing any feeds, although she did certainly look rather bewildered to see you. Someone looks like they tried to shear her? The rest of her wool looks like any other hill sheep whereby she is moulting. Someone must be feeding them, because they couldn't look like this on what is growing in that allotment.

I think the council would be your best bet here as not too sure what RSPCA would be able to do, apart from educate the owner about the dreadful mess of a place in which he is keeping these animals.
 
While the living conditions those animals are living in look shocking and it is not a suitable habitat for a sheep and a pony, the animals do otherwise look ok to me. The sheep's coat is in a state. It may be moulting or it may have a skin condition or parasite infestation of some sort. The pony looks in good bodyweight condition too. Primarily that is what the RSPCA will concentrate on most, as to whether or not the animals are being fed and watered correctly. The living conditions are very much secondary. Now if this was in the US and under their animal welfare rules then certainly this person would be made to clean their act up as I have viewed programmes in which people have been made to build shelters for animals ( mainly dogs) and to clean up any debris lying around if it was detrimental to the wellbeing of the said animals.
In the case of HAPPA I don't know how they operate. With WHW they will concentrate on the pony. I say pony as I can only see one in the video. I am not sure if they will get involved if the RSPCA is already involved but they are still worth contacting anyway. I thought you may have contacted them already though as other people have given you advice on another forum suggesting the same?
I have also seen photographs of a very emaciated pony which you took in 2007. You said that this pony which was on the land was rehomed by the gentleman in question?
I do also know the name and address of the man in question but won't put on here and I would suggest to you not to list it on here either as Admin will remove it believe me.
Whether or not this man is guilty of neglect is debatable. I am not usually open minded about such things as I am someone who normally jumps in with both feet when it comes to matters like this. But I am bemused by the response of the RSPCA and if the vet has been in attendance, especially over the goat you described. I cannot understand how this man was allowed to keep animals when he was inspected especially after the description you gave of the goat.
Also the ponies which have died on the premises and at least one has been burned. Surely there would be evidence of this? I don't think an average allotment fire would be enough to completely destroy a whole animal carcass. If the animal was burned on site was any evidence left behind and was it filmed or photographed? Or was this matter reported to the RSPCA and an inspection made to see if the animal was disposed of?
Where are the other animals that are residing on the plot as they are not in view on the film.
I am not trying to dismiss your claims. I am just merely puzzled.
There have been offers of help by people local to you ( I have read this) and have these people been to visit the place and report it? You need to have as many eyewitness accounts as possible for something to be done about this man. Because as horrible as this may sound at the moment there is very little to go on as the two animals don't look in need of food and besides there being rubbish everywhere, from a welfare point of view and the removal of animals I cannot see what else can be done by the animal welfare groups.
I would recommend as others have said that you go down the council route. I would imagine these allotments are council owned and as such the plots will be rented by people whose names and addresses will be held on file by the council. If this man is contravening any rules about what animals he keeps on his plot or if he is breaking any rules on pollution then you will have grounds for him to get rid of animals or be evicted from the land.
But I would have thought that as this has reportedly been going on for years ( other forum) then all avenues of enquiries have already been sought have they not? If so then this is clearly not a black and white issue and either there is not full disclosure of the full facts surrounding this issue or else there are plenty of grey areas.
 
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If the police have seen the state of the animals and are involved, presumably they believe the animals are being kept in unlawful conditions (re latest Animal Act). Surely in this case they can't just wait around until the RSPCA or HAPPA gets involved? A bit like finding children at risk of death in a home but leaving them there because they can't get hold of a social worker. If laws are being broken, they must make a bit more effort to sort it out.

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I really think you should keep the pressure on the local Police. As someone in the know, I would be satisfied from that video they are being kept in a manner 'likely to cause suffering' which is an offence under the Animals Act of 2006. If this was in my area I wouldn't hesitate to get involved, in rural areas this can be difficult but rest assured, a Police officer has sufficient powers to deal with the situation with or without the assistance of the RSPCA. Ideally the two agencies should work together as the RSPCA can give guidance with the investigation and they have helped me in the past but just keep pestering, please!
 
World Horse Welfare specialise in Horse Welfare. (The RSPCA specialise more in small animals).
The World Horse Welfareorganisation which is an international charity specialising in horses have insepctors across the U.K. most of which are ex mounted police officers so they have an in depth understanding of horses.

Phone their welfare line on Tel: 08000 480180 and they will be only to pleased to send their inspector that covers that area to investigate the matter further.

Please let us know how you get on.
 
That is a disgusting way to 'keep' animals. Its little more than a junk yard. I was so angry that I couldnt watch the full video.

I am right behind you for trying to end this neglect and starvation.

The RSPCA only want to know if there are TV cameras about, I have never found them particularly helpful.

When there are dead animals laying about, it is a matter for the local council - there were a lot of dead sheep in a field near me and after a lot of phone calls, found it was the environmental health section who deals with it. As it happens, they had other phone calls about the sheep and following my phone call were able to act and have the sheep attended to.

Have you thought of calling redwings/hillside animal sancturay in Norfolk?

Good luck and let us know what happens.
 
I have viewed the video and I have to say that although the land is a mess the animals in the video look okay condition wise. The RSPCA will primarily deal with body condition and feeding issues, the land on which they live would be a secondary consideration in a prosecution. They don't normally act based on the living area alone, you would have to show they are suffering as a result of the state of the land they are living on and although they look bewildered in the field they look healthy enough.

Regarding getting the police involved, this is not really an option. The police do not deal with cruelty cases, thats why we have the RSPCA. The police only usually attend to prevent breaches of the peace when animals are siezed or to provide the power of entry when going onto the owners land. The RSPCA are the leading prosecutors in all animal welfare cases, the police have enough to do without making this sort of thing their responsibility too, this may sound like I am heart less but believe me I am not. I know all about this area only too well as I face it on a daily basis at work. You cannot compare finding neglected children to neglected animals either- sorry!

Your best bet really is the council and local press coverage. If I had the land I would take them all in tomorrow. I have to say it is not the worst I have seen and the land looks like it possibly belongs or is used by travellers judging by the stuff dumped on there. I hope you get it sorted though.
 
All sheep and goats must be registered with DEFRA www.defra.gov.uk, try getting in touch with them. I found BHS welfare very good. we found 3 horses in a similar allotment, they were drinking their own urine cos they had no water, we took some photos and sent them to the area welfare officer and not long after that they were taken away. The lady who lived next door to them had tried for weeks to get the RSPCA to do something but they didn't, I've never had any luck with them.
 
I agree with some of the other replies, the place is an absolute dump and obviously is not an ideal place to keep animals but neither the pony or the sheep look malnourished or abused. Yes the sheep looks bad, but they will naturally shed they're wool if they are not shorn.
 
Both the pony and the sheep (the only two animals I saw, where was the dog?) looked to be reasonably well fed to me, neither of them appeared to have dreadful feet from what I could see. I agree that the condition of the land was appalling and I certainly would not keep my animals on it. If the land is really an allotment from the council or other body, there should be terms for renting and I would expect that this junkyard contravenes them. Perhaps that would be your best road to go down in order to get changes made. I can see though why welfare associations won't do much.
 
In my experience ILPH is just as bad.The horse I sent them out to have a look at was skin and bone, people even saw the pictures on here.They said she was in good body condition....yet she died less than a month later.
 
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In my experience ILPH is just as bad.The horse I sent them out to have a look at was skin and bone, people even saw the pictures on here.They said she was in good body condition....yet she died less than a month later.

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I am finding it almost impossible to get the organisations to act, and have never in the past managed to get them to ever act, even when the animals in question have died in misery at his place.

So now I am using a different approach, using the press to show the RSPCA, HAPPA etc up for what they are.

Last week an RSPCA inspector turned up at a friends placem because someone had reported a horse being kept in a muddy field, yet they will not come out for serious neglect.


I have even had death threats off the man concerned, but I am not giving up
 
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