Dangerous Dogs Act still failing to protect our children after 20 years
Posted: August 12, 2011 in PetsTags: 20 years of failing DDA, Blue Cross, Dangerous Dogs Act, end BSL
“The Dangerous Dogs Act is still failing to prevent attacks on children, 20 years to the day since it came into force, according to The Blue Cross.
The legislation was introduced on 12 August 1991 after public outrage sparked by a vicious dog attack on six-year-old Rukhsana Khan in Bradford, which left her with life-changing injuries.
Emergency laws were rushed through parliament to criminalise dangerous behaviour in dogs and ban four types of dog, most notably the pit bull terrier.
But just last week a seven-year-old boy in Essex was horrifically mauled by a Rottweiler, which we believe is the latest tragic evidence that this much-criticised legislation has failed to protect the public from dog attacks.
Despite a public consultation on dangerous dogs last year, which revealed 78 per cent of respondents would like to see an improved law, the government has failed to announce its plans to address these pressing dog control issues.
The Blue Cross is calling for a comprehensive overhaul of the law.
Steve Goody, director of external affairs at The Blue Cross, says: “Today marks 20 years of the failing Dangerous Dogs Act which was introduced as a knee-jerk and ill-considered reaction to shocking dog attacks.
“The awful injuries suffered by Rukhsana Khan were a catalyst to bring in this law but, as last week’s attack shows, this legislation is still failing to properly protect the public and particularly our children.
“It demonises certain breeds purely for the way they look while authorities are unable to step in to prevent aggressive behaviour before an attack takes place.”
Steve adds: “Animal charities have been highlighting the weaknesses of this law for years but now the public has spoken and it is time for the government to act.””
Men Jailed For Gross Cruelty Of Dog
Posted: August 5, 2011 in Animal Cruelty (pets), PetsTags: lurcher cruelty, Maggie May lurcher, name and shame animal cruelty offenders
“TWO MEN from the North East have been jailed after causing ‘gross cruelty and tremendous suffering’ to a dog that had already been hit by a car. The dog’s owner failed to get veterinary attention for her and tied chopsticks to her broken leg before his friends tried to kill her.
The two men stood on the six-month-old Lurcher-type dog and forced her back legs over her head, breaking her neck. She was stabbed several times with a potato peeler and then dumped on a grass verge to die.
Kevin Stuart Varty 43, of Magdelen Place, Ferryhill and Andrew Painter, 33 of Church Close, Kirk Merrington, Spennymoor were sentenced at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates Court on Monday (1 August). They were jailed for 18 weeks and banned from keeping animals for life.
The sentencing of owner, Kieran Wynn, 19 of Hallgarth Terrace, Ferryhill, was adjourned until Monday 22 August at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates Court.
RSPCA inspector Claire Wilson said: “What happened to this dog is utterly horrific. It’s difficult to comprehend what she went through firstly after being hit by a car and receiving no treatment and then during the ordeal that followed.
“The fact that she has survived and continues to be very loving towards people is unbelievable and a testament to everyone who has helped her along the way.”
‘Maggie May’, as she’s been named, was found collapsed on Lanark Terrace, Ferryhill, by a member of the public on Sunday 6 March. They called the RSPCA and police who picked her up and took her to a veterinary surgery.
The court heard that the dog had been run over at around 8pm on Saturday night (5 March), just hours after Wynn bought her, and that he couldn’t afford vet treatment so tied chopsticks to her broken leg with red lace and Sellotape. The leg was later amputated. Friends Varty and Painter visited his home the following day and decided to kill her.
Wynn pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to Maggie May by failing to provide her with veterinary care following a road traffic accident at a hearing on 7 July. Varty and Painter admitted causing unnecessary suffering by subjecting her to physical trauma resulting in a fractured neck. Painter also admitted causing unnecessary suffering by repeatedly stabbing her with a potato peeler.
In mitigation, the court heard that Wynn, Varty and Painter regretted their actions. Wynn said he rang the vet and though he didn’t have the money to get the dog treated at the time was intending taking her when he did. Varty said that he felt he was putting her out of her misery. Painter said his judgement was impaired by alcohol.
In a statement, veterinary evidence said: “To withhold veterinary treatment…and then inflict a broken neck on this dog along with the skin wounds was an act of gross cruelty and caused tremendous suffering for this dog”. It added that even with veterinary care once she was brought in she suffered for nearly four weeks until her injuries healed.
RSPCA inspector Wilson said: “Whatever their motivation, there can be no excusing what these men did to this dog and the sentence passed reflects that. I hope it will prevent any other animals from suffering because of their actions, or lack of them, in future.”
Maggie May has been living with RSPCA fosterers since being discharged from the vets. She was signed over to the RSPCA after the previous hearing last month and has now been permanently rehomed with them.”
http://www.londondogforum.co.uk/men-jailed-for-gross-cruelty-of-dog-i1039.html
NOW RE-HOMED: Maggie May, a lurcher who survived being hit by a car and numerous attempts to kill her rather than take her to a vet. (Photo: RSPCA)
07/08/2011
Maggie May’s former owner Kieran Wynne (above) is awaiting sentencing. His mate Andrew Painter has been jailed for 18 weeks (Mail Online)
WANTED: Dorma and Vic Ridon – Animal Abusers
Posted: July 29, 2011 in Animal Cruelty (pets)Tags: ban crush videos, PETA, stop animal cruelty
On Tuesday, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) Asia-Pacific said they are offering a reward of P100,000 (100,000 Philippine pesos) for information leading to the arrest of two Filipino producers of “crush videos”.
According to a lengthy investigation by PETA and the Philippine National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), the two have been identified as Victor Ridon and Dorma Ridon of Bacnotan, La Union, Philippines.
WARNING: Graphic descriptions follow.
It is alleged that the Ridon’s produced and sold 68 videos showing scantily dressed children in videos showing such horrific acts as rabbits being mutilated alive, dogs being burned with a clothes iron, and puppies being stepped on until they spewed out their internal organs, a rabbit and dog being skinned alive, a monkey and dog being repeatedly hit in the eye with the sharp end of a stiletto, and snakes being crushed to the ground. All the films featured up to three girls who worked as the Ridon’s housegirls.
The Ridon’s were turned in to PETA through a Russian “tipster” who pretended to be a customer of the Ridon’s. The unnamed Russian gave a link and other information to PETA last year.
A bill currently in the Philippine Senate would criminalize the sale of such “crush videos,” already illegal in the U.S. and other countries.
Anyone with information on the couple is urged to e-mail Info@peta.org
05/08/2011
The Filipino couple accused of spreading videos of scantily clad girls performing various forms of animal cruelty for profit has been arrested in La Union province, the animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) said on Thursday.
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/228404/nation/couple-behind-animal-cruelty-videos-nabbed-in-la-union
PETA said its hotline received more than 200 reports in the week following its appeal for help.
“The vicious disregard for the animal suffering shown in these sadistic videos must be severely punished,” said PETA Asia Pacific campaign manager Rochelle Regodon in a statement. “This is a warning to anyone who would commit cruelty-to-animals crimes: the public takes it seriously and will do all it can to see justice served.”
The Ridons have posted bail but are expected to face trial within the year.
Utterly heartless: China woman dunks kitten repeatedly in puddle!
Posted: July 25, 2011 in Animal Cruelty (pets), PetsTags: China Animal Abuse, Chinese couple throw kitten in puddle
A disturbing video of a couple in China torturing a kitten has surfaced recently on the Internet. The couple has since earned the ire of netizens around the world, who have roundly condemned their actions.
In the video, the woman in red repeatedly tries to drown the kitten by dunking it in the puddle by its tail. At one point, the kitten manages to struggle to dry land aided by its mother, but the larger cat is frightened off by a man, who then throws the helpless kitten back to the woman for further abuse.
Since its appearance online, the video has gone viral, with netizens calling for their arrest and punishment.
STOMPer Retribution wrote:
“The state of a society can be read in the way its people treat the helpless.
“This woman has shown herself to be a monster of the highest order.
“I hope they get hunted down and are made to atone for their disgusting behaviour.”
Chinese dogs: food or pets?
Posted: June 6, 2011 in Animal RightsTags: animal rights movement China, China
Authorities say a battle has been escalating in China between the country’s dog lovers and those who consider the animals a mealtime feature.
The controversy is more evidence of China’s changing social landscape, where dog meat has been a coveted food item for centuries but pet ownership has burgeoned in recent years as a booming economy created a middle class with both money and time for four-legged friends, The Washington Post reported recently.
With increasing pet ownership, an animal rights movement is growing in strength in the country, the newspaper said.
Activists last month stopped a truck on a Beijing highway carrying 520 dogs destined for restaurants in northeastern China and pooled resources to pay off the driver and free the dogs, dozens of which remain in animal hospitals around Beijing…
http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2011/05/29/Chinese-dogs-food-or-pets/UPI-30341306699333/
China has had no laws against cruelty to animals, and animal activists estimate as many as 10 million dogs, some strays and some stolen pets are sold for human consumption each year.
Rabbit Awareness Week
Posted: May 23, 2011 in PetsTags: Britain's rabbits badly treated, Rabbit Awareness Week, rabbit owners ignorant
“They are seen as low-maintenance animals, happy with a hutch full of sawdust, a bottle of water and half a carrot.
But the nation of Watership Down and Peter the Rabbit is condemning its third most popular pet to what too often are dull, unhealthy and short lives, experts said yesterday.
They revealed that up to three quarters of Britain’s two million pet rabbits are being badly treated by owners who are ignorant of their basic dietary and lifestyle needs.
And they said the pet shop industry bore responsibility for continuing to sell unsuitable, cramped hutches to unsuspecting owners.
As a result, the RSPCA has rescued a shocking 33,000 rabbits over the past three years, with 250 owners convicted of cruelty in that period.
The situation is so bad that some animal shelters won’t rehome them as pets for children.
According to a new survey, more than two thirds of owners believe carrots are a key part of a rabbit’s daily diet.
In reality, they should only be given occasionally in small amounts, if at all, as they are high in sugar and can lead to obesity or digestive problems.
Six out of ten were unaware that rabbits are intelligent and social creatures who need lots of mental stimulation, while almost half didn’t know they required large amounts of space in which to exercise.
As a result, three-quarters of the rabbits seen by British vets are in poor health, suffering from obesity and rotting or overgrown teeth, according to the survey by animal welfare campaigners.
The depressing outcome is that nearly four in ten rabbit owners estimated their pet’s likely lifespan at five years – when in fact they can live for over a decade if properly cared for.
The findings mark the launch of Rabbit Awareness Week which aims to encourage owners to do more to give their pets healthy, stimulating and active lives.
Cramped: Experts say the pet shop industry bore responsibility for continuing to sell unsuitable, cramped hutches
Yesterday RSPCA inspector Tony Woodley said rabbits were ‘intelligent and inquisitive animals’ which had been getting a bad deal for too long.
‘If you ask any RSPCA officer which animal you feel most sorry for, it’s usually the poor, forgotten rabbit sitting in a tiny hutch without the proper food, or any food at all, and some dirty water,’ he added.
‘It might once have been loved for a brief time by some child, but it has quickly been forgotten and it’s a very sad sight that I have seen countless times.’
Mr Woodley said that when rabbits were primarily kept for short periods for food, rather than throughout their lives as pets, putting them in small hutches was less of a problem.
‘But people are still buying these small cramped things, and the pet industry is still putting them out there for sale, and they are terrible.
‘Rabbits are gregarious animals – they live in the wild in groups.’
Experts say that in the wild, groups of rabbits hop and forage for food on a daily basis across an area equivalent to that of around 30 tennis courts.
As well as being desperately cramped in hutches, they prefer living in pairs or groups – although introducing a lone rabbit to a new companion must be done with extreme care.
Changes to human’s eating habits have also had a negative knock-on effect on rabbits, according to Dr Anne McBride, animal behaviour expert at Southampton University.
‘People are feeding them a lot of concentrated food and not the kitchen scraps they would once have, mostly because people are eating more convenience foods themselves,’ she said.
‘But rabbits need hay, grass, fresh greens, and a lack of that is directly related to their dental problems.’
To promote rabbit awareness week, which is also backed by the PDSA, free health checks are being offered by thousands of veterinary practices across the country.”
Rabbit Awareness Week 23 – 29th May 2011 http://www.rabbitawarenessweek.co.uk/
