[Molly'smum]

01.02.10

On December 22nd, a concerned volunteer from a local rescue centre – Tony Locke - emailed greyhound protection groups asking for help and advice regarding four greyhounds kept in filthy conditions on a council allotment.



The dogs are confined to a small muddy area, strewn with rubbish and dangerous objects and fed on what can best be described as ‘runny porridge’.



One greyhound can be seen unable to place any weight on her hind leg and another dog is completely bald on his hind legs and underbelly. We have no way of knowing what bedding - if any - has been provided inside the sheds and despite Workington experiencing sub zero temperatures of minus 6ºC and heavy snow falls throughout January – the dogs have never been seen wearing coats or jackets.



Please click here to view the video evidence, read the full article and details of how you can help

http://www.greytexploitations.com/resource...lerdale-council


Many thanks, as always, for your care and compassion for the greyhounds

www.greytexploitations.com

[chris]

It's unbelievable that these could be considered conditions good enough for these dogs' welfare: makes a complete mockery of the Welfare Act that supposed gave creatures some better protection from humans. One of the hounds quite clearly has an injury to the back leg or hip and as it is capable of placing it but mostly chooses to lift it, that can only be to avoid pain - and so it is in pain. Frankly, many vets disgust me, same as most GPs do: they seem, if ever they had, to have lost sight of their responsibilities, and show little or no care.

Edited to add, I hope this Council is inundated with complaints as to allowing these hounds to be kept in such conditions. There seems little point to the Welfare legislation if it is not obligatory and it is not enforced where it is supposedly adopted ?

[Molly'smum]

I've just written to all the contacts listed (except 1 that wouldn't send for some reason).

I am writing to complain about the welfare and conditions of several greyhounds, kept at the above location. Two of the dogs can clearly be seen to need some veterinary care as shown in these 2 video clips
http://www.greytexploitations.com/resource...lerdale-council
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSALINpsU3A...player_embedded

I understand that that an inspection was made by the Council, after receiving many complaints and a decision was made that there are no welfare issues to address. I find this quite astonishing. Quite clearly one dog is suffering lameness and another has problems with baldness on legs and rump. The allotment area itself is strewn with rubbish and upturned bowls. I have since been made aware that the owner of the greyhounds has now boarded the fence, presumably in an effort to conceal what is in effect a dump. We have all been aware of the artic weather conditions experienced through December and January, and yet these greyhounds have not been given any extra protection against the elements. It is just not possible to draw the conclusion that they are not suffering.

As your Council has adopted the Animal Welfare Act, can I implore you make use of your powers and seek to get these greyhounds the welfare measures needed. Our charity is appalled at the conditions suffered by many greyhounds throughout the UK and we ask that Allerdale Council makes strenous efforts to improve conditions for these dogs suffering on the allotment. I also understand rescue places are available, so there is no reason for further delay.


Wendy Hassell
Chair - Sighthound Welfare Trust

[chris]

excellent letter on behalf of SWT, Wendy: I wonder what response, if any, will be forthcoming. As many people as possible should really write to them as individuals, too; and perhaps we should be calling for a second vet opinion - perhaps a vet put forward by one of the compassionate greyhound rescues rather than a potentially 'tame' Council vet?

[Birdie]

excellent letter on behalf of SWT, Wendy: I wonder what response, if any, will be forthcoming. As many people as possible should really write to them as individuals, too; and perhaps we should be calling for a second vet opinion - perhaps a vet put forward by one of the compassionate greyhound rescues rather than a potentially 'tame' Council vet?

I agree it is an excellent letter. I wonder if anyone on here knows a compassionate vet in the area??

[Blabla]

great job Wendy.

[greyhoundlover]

Wendy, your thread on Dogpages has a reply on it that someone received from the Council. They firmly maintain that there is no welfare problem. Clearly the acceptable standards are horribly low

[Molly'smum]

Thanks Lynne, I've just replied.

Edited to add, I've just received the same standard reply from Ian Payne, Strategic Manager

“Allerdale Borough Council first became involved in this particular case when one of its environmental wardens was contacted by a member of the public who was concerned that greyhound dogs might have been suffering at the allotments. The environmental warden visited the allotments on Friday 8 January and did not find them to be in any immediate danger.



“The warden arranged to meet with the dogs’ owner the following week and explained the potential problem to him. The owner stated that the RSPCA had also been in contact with him. The warden attempted to find out more information from the RSPCA directly but was unable to gain any specific advice on how best to proceed.



“On Friday 15 January, officers from Allerdale Borough Council’s Environmental Services Team visited the Northside allotments along with a police constable from Cumbria Police. It was noticed that one dog was limping but was also placing the leg on the ground and on occasion walking on it.



“The owner of the dogs arrived and it was explained that under the Animal Welfare Act an investigation needed to be carried out into an alleged breach of the act. A vet from a local veterinary surgery had also been contacted to inspect the animals.



“On entering the premises the dogs were pleased to see their owner – there was not one dog cowering, and no animals seemed threatened by his presence. There were no large deposits of dog mess around the site. All the dogs had kennels with straw and shredded paper and water seemed to be plentiful.



“The dogs’ owner then entered a shed to show point out a large pan of stew filled with various mince and other meats. He also had two full loaves of bread. He explained that he visits his dogs twice per day in order to prepare the food and share it out among the dogs.



“The vet then arrived and began an individual inspection of each animal. The owner explained as much as he could about each animal. The vet checked them all and when he checked the dog with a limp he was happy that the injury was a long standing injury and was of no concern. It was likened to a human having a sports injury and the limb just not getting back to its former use. The dog that had fur loss was also deemed to be fit enough – an unfortunate loss of fur but not through neglect. The vet chatted with the owner and then confirmed that he had no concerns over the treatment and condition of any of the animals.



“As the dogs were given a clean bill of health, Allerdale Borough Council had done as much as it could under the Animal Welfare Act, and no further action was required. We are happy to see that the system does work and we were able to respond to the concerns of the public, under the Animal Welfare Act, and work with other agencies such as the police and veterinary surgery to ensure the safety of animals around Allerdale. We encourage anyone who has any concerns about the welfare of other animals in the future to get in touch with Allerdale Borough Council’s environmental wardens team on 01900 702800.”


Ian Payne

Strategic Manager (Places)
Allerdale Borough Council
Workington
Cumbria CA14 3YJ

Tel:01900 702565

*** Be green *** Keep it onscreen ***

As I said on DP it doesn't deal with dogs being left out for virtually 2 months in sub zero temperatures or that a dog with a "permanent" injury be left in the cold. Surely it needs a better environment?

This post has been edited by Molly'smum: 02 February 2010 - 03:28 PM

[Molly'smum]

Another reply..

With respect I believe these animals are well looked after but this will be addressed at the Workington Town Council who own the allotments.

Cllr C Armstrong

[Jodie]

Thanks for taking the time to write Wendy - much appreciated.

Ian Payne has done quite a good PR job on this - I have to hand it to him but without doubt, whatever action they have taken and their premature resolution of this complaint has been based purely on economics.

I will remind the councillors and Mr Payne of his overview of the implementation of the AWA he made a year ago and the extra costs he estimated which could be incurred - if any.

The overview lacks any reference to enforcement of complaints regarding animal abuse or neglect and I strongly suspect Mr Payne assumed this was - as I was told on numerous occasions - the responsibility of the RSPCA.

http://webapps.allerdale.gov.uk/moderngov/...our.docA.ps.pdf

I will reserve judgement on the vet's diagnosis until I have a signed copy of his inspection, requested under a Freedom of Information request.

Disgraceful situation and disgraceful action or lack of it by the council.