Don''t Wait Until It''s Too Late

Originally from: Farmtalking
                        
Don't Wait Until It's Too Late – Shocking figures show over 38,500 animals were at risk of potential suffering in 2003/2004

Startling new figures released today by the RSPCA detail the true picture of animal welfare concerns across England and Wales – and highlight the urgent need to improve existing legislation which is nearly 100 years old.

Along with annual prosecutions and conviction figures, the RSPCA revealed a new set of statistics detailing the day-to-day work of inspectors and the animals they visit.

New welfare assessment forms or WAFs (split into five main categories*) are being used by inspectors during their daily visits. The forms are used to highlight incidents where an owner is not providing their animal with the basic levels of care such as access to adequate food, water or veterinary treatment and which, if left unchecked, could lead the animal to suffer as a result.

Under current legislation, which dates back almost a century to 1911, an animal has to actually suffer before its owner can face prosecution – the RSPCA wants legislation to change so that suffering is prevented and owners accept their responsibilities and are legally bound to follow advice when given. Currently advice given out by inspectors can be ignored repeatedly and often an inspector will go to a property a number of times and is unable to improve the animal's condition. Only when the situation deteriorates to the point where the animal suffers can action be taken.

The new animal welfare assessment statistics show that between June 1 2003 and May 31 2004:

More than 108,000 complaints were made to the RSPCA involving 650,489 animals.

Inspectors gave advice in relation to 38,514 animals.

Advice given by inspectors in relation to 1,543 animals has, so far, been ignored.

Basic requirements for animals such as food, water, adequate living conditions or access to veterinary care were found to be lacking in 11,150 cases.

Common concerns included:

14,801 animals not getting veterinary treatment for their injuries or illness

13,919 animals lacking a clean environment

12,073 animals whose environment was unsuitable for their needs

9,852 animals who did not have access to water

The new statistics show that dogs are causing the most concern, with 11,133 failing to be looked after correctly.

Farm animals are the second most common call out (10,008) followed by small domestic pets (4,270), cats (3,898) and then horses (3,523)**

The Society hopes that these new figures will add weight to the argument for tougher welfare legislation. A new Animal Welfare Bill would help ensure that owners recognise the gravity of their responsibility, and make it an offence for them if they fail to provide a basic level of care for their animal.

Andy Foxcroft, chief officer of the inspectorate, said: "We often get calls from the public believing we haven't acted when they've called us. The sad reality is that, in many cases, we are powerless to do anything except give advice on how to improve the situation for the animal because the law only allows action when the animal is suffering. It is extremely frustrating when the advice isn't taken and we know that, further down the line, we may well be dealing with a case of suffering."

"These figures show the widespread problem we face and that even the most basic needs for animals aren't being met in a lot of cases. We are pleased that a lot of our advice is heeded but there are still some who refuse to listen to common sense and these animals are of grave concern to us and they may well end up as future prosecution cases."

In another busy year for the Society, 1,279,953 calls were received, 11,806 animals were rescued, and 182,570 animals were collected.

In 2003 a total of 928 people were prosecuted – up from 910 in 2002. Of these:

541 (55%) failed to provide veterinary treatment

326 (34%) didn't provide adequate food or water

129 (10%) had unsuitable living conditions

Dogs were the animals most likely to be involved in prosecution cases followed by cats and then horses.

Once again violent cases continued to rise in 2003 with 93 people convicted for a deliberate act of violence towards an animal. Juvenile convictions also rose with 19 individuals convicted (up from 15 in 2002). Cases highlighted in 2003 included a student jailed for six-months after hanging two puppies in a Derbyshire park, a Somerset man given two and a half months in prison after pouring boiling water over his girlfriend's dog and a couple from Cambridgeshire that had 74 animals removed from appalling conditions.