Do we need animal police.....?

G

Greylegs

Well-Known Member
Joined
29 December 2011
Messages
3,257
Visit site
.... As in a proper emergency service, properly funded with stations nationwide and properly trained people and proper facilities? So that when you come across an animal emergency of any kind you dial 999 and ask for the animal service like you would if you needed an ambulance, the police or the fire service? And someone with authority arrives ASAP and actually does something!

So that instead of relying on charities (this isn't an RSPCA bash, by the way...) there would be real, rapid action and a level of accountability.

Injured animals, cruelty cases, welfare issues, wildlife in danger or distress, proper policing of markets and sales ... All the things where we now rely on the police (not their specialty) or charities (limited powers and accountability) would be dealt with properly. Legislation would be properly enforced and perpetrators of cruelty etc properly brought to book as part of a national legal process.

Let's start a campaign ....!! Anyone in?
 
They have 'Animal Cops' in America, always seems like a great idea to me but can't imagine it taking off over here!
 
I think 'animal cops' in America are run on donations and fund raising, not state funded

No I don't think we need animal police here, what we need is people to take responsibility for themselves and their animals and society to realise that there is a problem and put pressure on those that don't do the right thing
 
When everyone has a job, when the deficit is running at zero and when families aren't having to make the choice between feeding their children or putting petrol in the car, I think then we can start thinking about an animal police service.
 
There's not enough funding for the people police of the people hospital... I'd rather have them than animal stuff. I know animals are important, but I honestly could not put a mistreated animal needing attention over a person who needed help.

With privately funded, you'll just end up with another RSPCA and it'll take from the work they do. I think all the animal welfare charities need to get together, and make one large one with sub-branches. Consolidate their funding and apply it across the board...
 
Totally agree with Bigrob here, as much as I'd like world peace and everyone to be at one with everything, I have to wake up and smell reality, there is no funding for cancer patients, my oh has a cousin who is in her early twenties with a young baby, she can't get cancer drugs, even after the local paper did a story on it! In all honesty there are more serious issues. Before I get fired at, animals deserve the right to a good life, I provide my boy with everything I can, I'd really give up a lot, but for the health of my family. So you must think...our own national health system is in crisis, animals must come secondto that. But then I look at funding being drained by silly artworks to make city centres more cosmopolitan, yet around the corner there is derelict houses, families living in dire straits, kids with holes in their shoes....yeah it sucks, so do people. Great idea but it, like everything else is down to business. (ducks behind couch to avoid the shots....)x
 
Sorry but no. At the minute, there are too many other things to do with the quality of the people's health service to worry about. IMO I think it's quite naive to think that we are in need of an animal emergency service when there are families that don't have enough food, water, medical help, education...the list goes on. Maybe if all of that is ever solved then we can think about it, but definitely not now. I am an animal lover, but not to that extent, sorry.
 
twiggy2 said:
how would it be funded?
Click to expand...

By the tax payer .
I strongly believe that is you commit an acy that is unlawful according to acts passed by parliament in the animal welfare area then tax payer funded and regulated organisations should prosecute it.
But I dont believe we should try to fund some sort of animal A and E that would be an expensive disaster.
 
In an ideal world I'd think it was a great idea.

In reality, what is feasible is that the police supervise the investigation and let the CPS take over the prosecution of any offenders rather then leaving it to a private charity that doesn't have the check and balances and accountability that an official agency has.

I'm sorry but I don't think that private prosecutions are a good idea in cases where people can end up with prison sentences. In saying that it does need a change of attitude for the police as at the moment, they can leave animal cruelty issues to charities and it is too easy for the authorities to dodge their responsibilities.
 
I have seen the Animal Police once in America a long time ago. I was so surprised to see them carry guns too (I suppose all US police carry guns). I think they also have the same the Netherlands only recently...
 
Having had to report a woman for child neglect twice knowing there are not enough resources in the social services to deal with these things then no. Having then helped these children by giving them basic hygiene lessons to try and give them some dignity. We should all try to help people and animals ourselves in someway. It's not always about money and passing everything for others to deal with.
 
In an ideal world I agree too but with things as they are I think humane culling of unwanted animals that cannot be homed is the only way forward. I do not agree with charities funding costly lifetime drugs for animals once they are homed, if no one wants to take the animal on (warts and all so to speak) then humane destruction is the sensible option.
the same for animals that show any aggression in re-homing kennels. i am fully aware that if people put in the time the majority of these animals will be fine but you will always get the odd one that wont and it gives the rehoming centers a bad name.
i know it is people that create the problem but after many years as a dog trainer i also know how the vast majority of the human race read animals so wrongly creating nervous anxious dogs that cannot get their message across how ever hard they try, and some people with never be able to read animals how ever hard they try to.
we will reach crisis point there are too many animals and not enough homes.there are too many people getting bitten and bans on dogs in certain areas will increase as will the areas where dogs have to be kept on a lead.
stray dogs are becoming more common again and the amount of street puppies will increase, we all know the designer breeding is out of control.

maybe if everyone (on here would be a start) stopped buying poorly bred/raised animals from parents that are kept badly/not health checked/used as money machines and stopped breeding their own animals unless reliable homes were waiting the issue would not exist but i for one will help any animal i see that needs it, i have raised money for various animal charities and obtained funding for more than one animal to have major surgery so it can go to a promised home, i also have taken on animals needing surgery, paid for the surgery, nursed through the recovery and kept them-but these were my choices when i have had spare time and cash (sort of) to do it.
IMO taxpayers money should be to support the humans that need it not prop up bad breeding/care of animals-if people stopped putting money into those that keep producing these animals it will at some point stop
 
Bigrob34 said:
When everyone has a job, when the deficit is running at zero and when families aren't having to make the choice between feeding their children or putting petrol in the car, I think then we can start thinking about an animal police service.
Click to expand...

this tbh ^^

i think its a lovely idea op but coming from someone who cant justify putting money away for charities......!....not going to happen just yet when i have more pressing bills to pay!
 
OK, so I fully understand and sympathise with the views that there are much better things to spend public funds on - better health service, education etc etc. And, of course, all those things are important.

However, I think its fanciful to say that we just need to educate everyone who ever owns and animal to ensure they don't neglect/abuse it. Its never going to happen.

I'm not advocating a whole new structure, which would, of course, be impractical in the current economic climate. But if this "animal" squad were a sub-set of the existing police force it could be feasible. After all, we have traffic police and specialist police sections for other things. So why not a group of animal officers in every police force who are trained to recognise animals in distressed or abusive situations, or being neglected? They could also be trained to handle such distressed animals and would have the powers to act immediately, removing animals from poor situations and working with the rescue charities and their support networks.

We also already have a substantial network of vets, rescue charities, sanctuaries, farms and private individuals who are willing and able to step in and help care for and eventually re-home animals, where this is appropriate. Having a specialist "police" squad to support this

What I'd like to see is some sort of service where the "animal squad" can be contacted directly by the public as a first port you call, not the ones who get dragged in by the rescue charities after the event to intervene, break down doors, impose possession orders etc.

Surely this would only require some extra training for the officers involved and (importantly) a shift in administrative arrangements and operational relationships with the charities so that members of the public can call on either the police or the rescue charities and they are mutually supportive, working together for the good of the animals concerned. This wouldn't cost a huge amount, surely??
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top