Horse in Tescos - Police and RSPCA

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RunToEarth

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Saw this, thought I would share:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tees-26047449

I know the video content has already been discussed in depth on another thread, I personally wouldn't ride into Tescos but I don't think it is the worst equine crime going.

The RSPCA are now involved to investigate whether there were any animal welfare issues.

Now I know the RSPCA are famed for spending their time and resources in all kinds of illogical ways and enjoy a political crusade once in a while - but surely out of the thousands of malnourished, abused and starved horses and other animals in this country who genuinely do need their welfare cases reviewing, this is not one. Irresponsible of the owner - but the cob I saw in the video looked very smart and well cared for, as far as cobs can do ;) He certainly didn't look like a welfare case.

Is there any possibility the RSPCA can come down to Brant river bank and take the poor tethered mare who looks absolutely emaciated and is a genuine welfare case but "has access to water", instead of pursuing this?
 
Don't have personal knowledge of either case but if all is as you say ( and I've no reason to think otherwise), then totally and utterly agree!!! What a disgrace!!! No doubt he "Tesco incident" will be much more newsworthy than a single, neglected horse with water but limited, if any, food!!!
 
I agree that the horse was hardly malnourished and looked well cared for. Although others commented that he struggled on the slippery floor he didn't look especially distressed and is obviously a calm chap.

I can see there might be a health and safety angle if Tesco want to get cross about it (not that it's the first time there have been horses in Tesco...).
 
Seems an extreme reaction for the RSPCA to get involved but it sounds like there may be 'history' there. I agree with you though RTE, there are far more pressing welfare cases that the RSPCA should be concerning themselves with!
 
Horse in the video was at Olympia in the Heavyweight Cob class so hardly ill treated. Possibly not the cleverest of moves by the owner. The RSPCA need to get their act into gear and help horses that really need it, like the poor sods who were 'rescued' from the floods in Glos to end up starving to death in Wales. As for Tesco calling the police, it's a shame they don't bother calling the police when their staff get threatened by drunk/drugged shoplifters, infact, they don't even ban them. Tesco should enjoy the publicity, they are struggling to get people through their doors and out again without complaint these days.
 
Sadly most genuine welfare cases won't generate nearly as much publicity as this, slightly daft incident.
Yes horse could have spooked but so could any horse hacking out at harvest time - we don't consider all of those welfare cases, and anyone hunting in this weather is likely to slip quite a bit - again welfare??
 
I've read the news report, and think you might be taking the report a little more seriously than either the police or the RSPCA. Obviously someone has complained, which means the police have to follow up. The only mention I could see of the RSPCA was "Discussions have taken place with the RSPCA in regards to the welfare of the horse" which I guess was a conversation along the lines of "Was this harmful to the horse's welfare" "No" . The fact that the police are obliged to follow up and sort all their paperwork out is such a waste of their time and resources.
 
It is pretty stupid but not. Welfare case at all! A bit fat maybe but a nice horse a Damon sight calmer than mine would be I was mental enough to do that. Of course it's going to be inflamed because it's a dreaded neck nomination. She did steal the Pepsi though I'd at least get a friend to pay for it!
 
Um, I think there may be some slight overreactions here. All it says in that article is that there have been discussions with the RSPCA over the welfare of the horse. Not that the RSPCA are pursuing it or even getting involved at all, just that there were discussions.

The statement from the police says that the individuals are known to the staff of the store and to themselves, so there may be some history to this. It also says that they are just trying to establish what offences might have been committed.

I guess she could be done for theft of the drink, reckless endangerment of the public??

Who knows. I was going to post that the RSPCA are only getting involved because of the press reaction to this, but given the wording of that article, I can't see that anything bad can be said about them regarding this.
 
The cob in question is in fantastic condition and I really don't think the RSPCA should be wasting their time/ money investigating. All it will do is further the media attention surrounding this silly glory hunting girl. I've been on the girl's fb page and the cheeky git has been asking for sponsors and saying people are welcome to send her and her horse presents! Disgraceful.
 
JennBags said:
I've read the news report, and think you might be taking the report a little more seriously than either the police or the RSPCA. Obviously someone has complained, which means the police have to follow up. The only mention I could see of the RSPCA was "Discussions have taken place with the RSPCA in regards to the welfare of the horse" which I guess was a conversation along the lines of "Was this harmful to the horse's welfare" "No" . The fact that the police are obliged to follow up and sort all their paperwork out is such a waste of their time and resources.
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Quoted to repeat these good points :) I don't think being known in the locality suggests anything like a history. I am 'known to the staff' of my local ASDA because I usually pop in after 10pm up to my eyeballs in mud and trailing straw. Not because I've been investigated for animal abuse ;)
 
NellRosk said:
The cob in question is in fantastic condition and I really don't think the RSPCA should be wasting their time/ money investigating. All it will do is further the media attention surrounding this silly glory hunting girl. I've been on the girl's fb page and the cheeky git has been asking for sponsors and saying people are welcome to send her and her horse presents! Disgraceful.
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But the RSPCA might not be wasting any time or money. It is just a statement from the police that they have had discussions with the RSPCA to determine if there were any welfare issues. I cannot find any mention anywhere that the RSPCA are actually doing anything so why is everyone jumping the gun and reading between the lines?

I am certainly not a fan of the RSPCA, but giving them stick for something there is no evidence of is a little daft.
 
Floxie said:
Quoted to repeat these good points :) I don't think being known in the locality suggests anything like a history. I am 'known to the staff' of my local ASDA because I usually pop in after 10pm up to my eyeballs in mud and trailing straw. Not because I've been investigated for animal abuse ;)
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Are you known to the police as well. That's the only part of the article that is actually any news really...that these people were already known to the police. Mountain out of a molehill though. Stupid, but not massively newsworthy.
 
_GG_ said:
But the RSPCA might not be wasting any time or money. It is just a statement from the police that they have had discussions with the RSPCA to determine if there were any welfare issues. I cannot find any mention anywhere that the RSPCA are actually doing anything so why is everyone jumping the gun and reading between the lines?

I am certainly not a fan of the RSPCA, but giving them stick for something there is no evidence of is a little daft.
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I never said they were, I just said I don't think they SHOULD investigate as it would be a monumental waste of time!
 
Elsiecat said:
I find the lack of research the DM does the most concerning thing here. Thoroughbred cob.. Hmmm.
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I hate the DM with a passion but I don't blame them for not bothering to "research" about horse breeds tbh. The story is about the danger or other wise of riding a horse into Tescos so the breed isn't really important. ;)

To most lay people the word "thoroughbred" just suggests pure bred, and as only pure bred dogs get to go to Crufts, non-horsey journalists would probably assume only pure bred horses go to HOYS. :D I guess they assumed that "cob" is a breed and if this one shows at a high level he must be a pedigree one. ;)
 
_GG_ said:
Are you known to the police as well. That's the only part of the article that is actually any news really...that these people were already known to the police. Mountain out of a molehill though. Stupid, but not massively newsworthy.
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Saying they're "known to the police" is a piece of very unpleasant journalism IMO. With that one phrase they imply they are in some way criminal or undesirable. In actual fact it could have been as simple as a policeman saying he knows the family, which could have been (for example) they had an uncle who had been in the police.

I hate reports which make snide suggestions like that without backing it up with evidence.

With that phrase, to many readers she goes from a silly girl who rode a horse into Tescos for a laugh, to a member of a family of criminals. :rolleyes3:
 
Touché FionaM12.
However I always thought part of the job of being a journalist was research. Lots of it. And the DM makes so many mistakes in its articles. Constantly. I can only assume they have no access to google.
 
Elsiecat said:
Touché FionaM12.
However I always thought part of the job of being a journalist was research. Lots of it. And the DM makes so many mistakes in its articles. Constantly. I can only assume they have no access to google.
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Haha. :D

Yes a GOOD journalist does research. But this is the DM. ;)
 
That is true.. I've seen an article before now where a 'dangerous dog' started off as a Staffie, changed cross breeds a few times throughout the story and winded up a Labrador.
There was that many comments complaining that they deleted it, but it really was a gem.
 
NellRosk said:
I never said they were, I just said I don't think they SHOULD investigate as it would be a monumental waste of time!
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So you did...my bad...quoted you as it was the last mention of them, first page is what got me going. Apologies!

FionaM12 said:
Saying they're "known to the police" is a piece of very unpleasant journalism IMO. With that one phrase they imply they are in some way criminal or undesirable. In actual fact it could have been as simple as a policeman saying he knows the family, which could have been (for example) they had an uncle who had been in the police.

I hate reports which make snide suggestions like that without backing it up with evidence.

With that phrase, to many readers she goes from a silly girl who rode a horse into Tescos for a laugh, to a member of a family of criminals. :rolleyes3:
Click to expand...

Yes it is unpleasant. Unpleasant and highly inflammatory for the press. It is therefore newsworthy and they will use it as they see fit as the police haven't actually specified anything. Shame. I can't say I agree with what the girl did or indeed her behaviour afterwards, but people opinions of her could be unfairly swayed by the use of such "statements".
 
The RSPCA will just be jumping on it to get a bit of fame. I don't agree with what she did but there is no need for RSPCA to be involved. A fine from the police would be sufficient.
 
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