In today's paper is an account of a woman who was "successfully prosecuted" by the RSPCA.
What had she done? Boiled puppies? Put the hamster in the microwave? Ridden a goat to work? No. All she had done was misguidedly given her cat, who was in pain, a quarter of a paracetamol tablet. The cat, apparently unable to metabolise the drag, died.
This poor woman, who was only trying to relieve her pet, had to undergo the trauma of a trial, pay £280 costs, and be given a "two year conditional discharge". And this in a country where we still keep battery chickens, and send animals abroad for slaughter in appalling conditions. Legally.
A few years ago, one of my sons was knocked off his motorbike by a driver going through red traffic lights. He suffed a compound fracture of the leg, had to have two operations, and still has a metal pin in his leg. And the driver? Her fine wasn't much more than the cat-owner had to pay, and she had just five points on her licence.
Isn't it good to know that we have sound priorities in this country of ours?
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That is just ridiculous - so many horrific cases of deliberate and sadistic cruelty seem to go unpunished. It seems this woman was sadly and tragically misguided, but not viciously or intentionally cruel. And as you so rightly say there is the legal cruelty of animals for slaughter that goes on all the time.
ReplyDeleteAnd it is dreadful too what happened to your son! Where the hell has common sense gone? x
It seems that some "animal lovers" have no room for compassion for their fellows, Teresa!
DeletePoor lady. She must have been traumatised enough without the ridiculous trial. There is no common sense left. We are being run by robots and red tape.
ReplyDeleteYou're right, Maggie.
DeleteI wonder how something like that happens: did her neighbours spy on the woman and found out her cat had died after she "drugged" it? Did she go to the vet's with the cat after that, and they reported her?
ReplyDeleteAnyway, it is truly ridiculous how priorities are set. In Germany, for instance, you can easily get harsher punishment for working around the tax boys than for sexually abusing a child.
So, your country is not alone in this incomprehensable way of dealing with things, I'm afraid.
No interfering neighbours. The poor woman phoned the RSPCA for advice!
DeleteEven worse than I thought, then!
DeleteWe just had six abandoned collies, of mixed ages,that were taken to the "Humane" Society. Our rescue group offered to collect them and treat them, as they were malnourished and sick with Parvo. The puppies were put to sleep, rather than release them and give them a fighting chance. I guess bureaucracy regarding animals defies logic:(
ReplyDeleteWhat a waste, and how sad.
DeleteThe RSPCA is rapidly losing credibility. They seem to be more concerned with pursuing court cases than with animal welfare.
ReplyDeleteI think it's the animals before people thing, Keith. Sadly.
DeleteThat poor woman. She victimized twice, once by losing her cat, and then by being punished for trying to help it. Things aren't any better in the U.S. I loathe animal cruelty, but in some cases, the jail term for harming an animal is more harsh than for harming a human being.
ReplyDeleteI quite agree, Susan!
DeleteAll true, Frances - but really, who would give their cat paracetamol? I agree she's certainly not a criminal, but why not take your cat to the vet if it's ill!
ReplyDeleteProbably ignorance, Tim. But I had no idea cats' physiology was so different from ours. Having said that, I do know it only takes twenty to kill a human being
DeleteAlthough I feel sorry for the woman, this might encourage other people to ask the vet's advice about suitable pain relief, rather than administer drugs designed for human use.
ReplyDeleteIm afraid it would deter me from giving to this charity!
DeleteIn a word, yes!
ReplyDeleteAs someone who has a pet I know that having to live with the knowledge that I was responsible for my cats death would be punishment enough. I would never forgive myself.
ReplyDeleteIt seems a daft thing to do but hardly deserving of such punishment. I'm a big supporter of the RSPCA but it seems that, like so many other 'bodies' they need to get their priorities straight.
ReplyDelete