On Wed, 9 Apr 2008 01:32:06 +0100, Fenris <Fenris@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
>Here's another point of view:
>
>
>
>The Self Help Group for Farmers, Pet Owners and Others experiencing
>difficulties with the RSPCA (The SHG)
The courts may be playing silly buggers with animal welfare, but the
facts are crystal clear. Village idiots who are incapable or unwilling
to look after animals in their care should not be allowed the custody
of animals. The RSPCA are quite correct in standing against animal
abuse it doesn't matter how legal that abuse is.
News - Court orders 29 Amersham horses to be returned
http://tinyurl.com/5kugm3
07.04.08
The future welfare of the Amersham horses has been thrown into doubt
after a court has declared that 11 donkeys and 18 Shetland ponies
should be returned to their owners, and has ordered the remaining 82
horses to be sold at auction.
At a hearing at Oxford Magistrates Court on Friday (4 April), Deputy
District Judge Sandeep Kainth partially accepted the application made
by James John Gray, Julie Gray, Cordelia Gray and Jodie Gray, of
Spindle Farm, Hyde Heath, Amersham, Buckingham****re to have 29 of the
111 equines returned to them. The court heard that these animals were
considered family pets by the Grays.
The RSPCA, which contested the Grays' application for all the animals
to be returned, argued in court that it instead should oversee the
rehoming of the animals in order to safeguard their future welfare.
However, Mr Sandeep Kainth said the donkeys and Shetland ponies had to
be returned to the Grays "as there is no evidence to show they are in
any danger."
However he was not happy for the remaining horses to be in the care of
the Grays, and ordered they be sold at the first auction in May at
Henley-in-Arden, Warwick****re.
The Society, with help from other welfare organisations, has
tem****arily been caring for the horses, ponies and donkeys after they
were seized by police in January. It will now seek all legal avenues
open to it to contest the court's decision.
RSPCA Inspector Kirsty Hampton said: "We are devastated that the court
has today ordered that some of the animals be returned to the
defendants, as we have grave concerns about their ability to care for
them. It is now our intention to pursue all other legal avenues
available to us in order to secure the welfare of the animals
involved.
"On Friday the court had a flavour of the reasons for our concern.
This has also been reflected in the evidence of two vets, and of the
public, who continue to call us with serious worries about the welfare
of other horses currently in the Grays' care.
"We had hoped that the court would ask us to seek new owners for them
who were guaranteed to provide for their future welfare. An open sale
to an unknown bidder means that we cannot be sure of the level of
future care they will receive. Hopefully they will be bought by people
who will properly care for them into old age.
"Given criminal proceedings are active, the RSPCA must remain cautious
about commenting on evidence for that case."
The judge also set the date for a pre-trial review of the RSPCA's
criminal case against James John Gray, Julie Gray, Cordelia Gray and
Jodie Gray - along with a juvenile - after they entered 'not guilty'
pleas. This will be heard on 28 April 2008 at Oxford Magistrates
Court. They face 12 charges related to section 4 and section 9 of the
Animal Welfare Act 2006 and cover causing unnecessary suffering to and
failing to meet the welfare needs of a total of 125 equines, removed
between 4 and 12 January 2008.
http://www.ilph.org/news_details.asp?id=930
Story Last Updated 07/04/2008 14:42:00
The International
League for the
Protection of Horses
The International League for the Protection of Horses (ILPH) is
appalled at the implications of the decision made at the plea hearing
of John James Gray, and co-defendants, at Oxford Magistrates Court on
Friday 4th April.
We are devastated that 29 ponies and donkeys will be returned to James
Gray and that the remaining 82 horses taken from Spindles Farm in
January this year are to be sold on his behalf at public auction. We
will be fully sup****ting the RSPCA who are pursuing all other legal
avenues in order to secure the future welfare of the animals involved.
This is the worst possible outcome for the horses and for our staff
but is by no means the end of this matter. In addition to the legal
efforts to try to reverse last week’s decision by the Courts, Mr James
Gray, and co-defendants, will be appearing at Oxford Magistrates Court
again on Monday 28th April for another a pre-trial hearing for the
criminal case being brought against them by the RSPCA, where a date
for a trial will be set.
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