Where do I go from here with RSPCA?

[Dollope]

I have gone round and round in circles and need help as to where I go from here.
In 2008 I dealt with a woman who was breeding Appaloosas in a small way, the horses were poor looking wormy and like they needed a good feed because it was heading into winter I was worried at their general condition. There were two yearlings, three mares with foals at foot and a barren mare.
Sometime passed and nothing had changed with the horses steadily geting poorer. Unfortunately the two yearling died though vet treatment was sought it was after some time. I then realised I must contact someone to help.
After speaking to the BHS welfare department they did a visit and were concerned enough to involve the RSPCA. They were concerned not only by the foals condition but also of one part bred mare and a pure bred mare.
I was kept in touch with proceedings and was told in time they had removed the young horses ( foals nearly yearlings) by emergency evacuation. I was relieved they would now be cared for and nursed back to health. I was somewhat suprised that the mares remained as they were now heavily pregnant. I was told by the inspector the vet had advised one particular( pure bred) mare was removed yet she wasnt.
I was devastated to here this mare died very shortly afterwards in her field. The mares ranged from 5 to 6yrs old.
After discussing and quite plainly saying how disgusted I was at this mares death while under their' protection' I asked how the youngster were coming along. WIth good basic care, feeding and worming they were improving so well and were out of danger.
I spoke regularly with the inspectors and at one point the male inspector had said he was dreading interviewing the owners as they had already threatened to sue and obviously had the means to do so. He felt threatened by them and hoped all would go well.
All went very quiet after our statements were given and then I was told they were happy they had a good strong case against the owners with full vet reports and statements.
Then I heard the now yearlings had been returned and no case was to be brought against them as they had tried to make improvements and they didnt have enough evidence!
I followed this up with an official complaint and was fobbed off with a cursory letter saying there was not enough evidence.
I spoke with Defra and they confirmed I couldn't take this further as the RsPCA have no governing body and he suggested to continue to ask for aswers to my questions.
Does anyone have any ideas of where to go now? I feel disgusted that the case despite having vets report and many statements didnt even go to court. How can a mare die when being watched over by to welfare societies.
Any help in this matter would be of great help.

 

[AlexSali]

With past experiances with the RSPCA I can say I'm not suprised.
I can't help with where to go next, I would have thought that there would be little that you could do if they are trying to fob you off with saying there was not enough evidence. Although I also wouldn't be suprised if I'm wrong about that!
I would say, however, next time.. go with WHW or whatever they call themselves these days.

 

[tasteofchristmaschaos]

Speak to WHW and Redwings about the yearlings that have been returned if they go downhill. But don't tell them the RSPCA have been out to see them - technically they are not allowed to come out if the RSPCA have been, but if it helps out animals in need, I ignore technicalities.
I find the RSPCA are less use than a chocolate teapot when it comes to horses (and sometimes other animals too)
Unless a horse is obviously dying right in front of their eyes, at the time they happen to be there, they do nothing. Zilch. Nada.
Sadly, the court system reflects this. I have seen a case where a mare was starved to within an inch of her life, the only reason she survived is because the YM stepped in and started feeding her when she saw how poor she had become. Did the owner get convicted? Nope. Slap on the wrist and don't do it again.
America is much better than us when it comes to dealing with animal cruelty. They realise how serious it is. Shameful, when you think we consider ourselves a nation of animal lovers.
Sadly, I think there is nothing you can do regarding the RSPCA.

 

[gails]

GRRRRRRRR, no help from me I am afraid, just soo sorry that the RSPCA cant act on negletic, horses, but can ban a man for 10 years from keeping any animal becausr he allowed his dog to become massivley overweight. Still cruel, but only cruel down to his over loving his animal and being ignorant.

Hopefully these horses will now be cared for after the welfare people got involved

 

[joeanne]

RSPCA.....Spud and Carrot, need I say any more?
Save the cost of the phonecall and get hold of BHS instead.

 

[somethingorother]

OP said they spoke to BHS who then got rspca out.

They're useless. I would ring WHW in future. If you don't tell them the RSPCA have been out they will come out pretty quickly. Are the horses still with the dodgy breeders?

 

[Dollope]

ok thanks one of the yearlings now dead, broken leg three different stories as to how he died either way an accident but lets hope she took less than a fortnight to get to him. She has admitted to third partie she didnt see three of the horses for two weeks. Mares now loaned out thank god and remaining younsters for sale....she wanted mares loaned out and keep the youngster for now as they are cheaper to keep...erm WHAT?
There has to be SOMETHING I can do surely. Yes BHS the first people I spoke to and got the impression they were devasted at end result.

 

[Minxie]

Hi Dollope. I could be totally off the mark here but thought it might be an avenue not already explored. Also the law could be different in England than it is here in Scotland.

But I'd phone your local authority and the police as STATUTORY bodies and not ones from the third sector.

We have an Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006. Which states that


Promotion of welfare
24 Ensuring welfare of animals
(1)A person commits an offence if the person does not take such steps as are reasonable in the circumstances to ensure that the needs of an animal for which the person is responsible are met to the extent required by good practice.
(2)The circumstances to which, for the purposes of subsection (1), regard is to be had include—
(a)any lawful purpose for which the animal is kept,
(b)any lawful activity undertaken in relation to the animal.
(3)For the purposes of subsection (1), an animal’s needs include—
(a)its need for a suitable environment,
(b)its need for a suitable diet,
(c)its need to be able to exhibit normal behaviour patterns,
(d)any need it has to be housed with, or apart from, other animals,
(e)its need to be protected from suffering, injury and disease.

They go on to say that the 'inspector' would be the person legally entrusted to make these decisions if these are being met. I've had a look through this and it states

(2)In this Part, an “inspector” is, in the context of any particular provision, a person—
(a)appointed as an inspector by the Scottish Ministers, or authorised by them, for the purposes of the provision, or
(b)appointed as an inspector by a local authority for the purposes of the provision.

But also goes on to state

In this Part, a “constable” means a constable of a police force.
(7)Schedule 1 makes provision in relation to powers of inspectors and constables for the purposes of and in connection with this Part.

So basically if it works the same way you should be able to get hold of the person who is the inspector within your local council / authority and / or phone the police. Both these could be done under the terms of the Welfare Act which they ARE STATUTORY OBLIGED TO FOLLOW UP.

The only other thing is maybe to call someone like The Equine and Animal Lawyers Association and see if they can offer advice - as long as its free that is.

animal lawyers

It an horrendous situation and one i really wish you all the best with.

 

[Dollope]

OOh thank you Minxie at least it may be something I can work on....as it states now livery yard owners etc are just as responisble for that animals welfare so maybe I can work on that angle. Thank you I suppose I do feel responsible for those two youngsters dying in the first place maybe I shoud have acted sooner but its the usual scenario you are frightened to put yourself and your own at risk.

 

[mickey]

I can't provide any guidance because I haven't been in such a situation, but I really hope you get the badly needed action/help with this. Well done for caring and not giving up

 

[AmyMay]

Go back to the BHS they seem to be the only people who take any action.

You need to speak to Lee Hackett.


.

 

[Dollope]

Sadly SallySmith It was Lee hacket I originally dealt with and they basically said there was no more they could do once the RSPCA decided it wouldnt be taken to court.

 

[Dollope]

I have tried to contact the RSPCA again and funnily enough they wont accept the message on facebook. I have spoken to a lady who is heavily involved in the police( not in a bad way ha ha!) and she said they will only refer me again to the RSPCA.