Hello Everyone, Every so often somebody from the list posts an email detailing cruelty being practiced by this or that pet store. This is not to say that all pet stores are cruel, but it is a sad fact that some pet stores are disgraceful. When these postings are made some question the viability of reporting pet stores or individuals to animal welfare organisations, on the grounds of being unsure about the seriousness to follow up reported cases. Last year, here in Salisbury, Wiltshire, England, we reported a pet store that was keeping animals in appalling conditions. We had come across this store in Fisherton Street, Salisbury one Sunday afternoon and could not believe the state of the Budgies in the window - without any shade from the sun. A man was in the store at the time and we asked if we could come in and he agreed. Inside the situation was also very bad and both Elizabeth and I felt very angry that animals should be treated this way. We reported the matter to the RSPCA and left the matter to them. The RSPCA took up the case and the following entry was subsequently made in the "RSPCA South Wiltshire And District Branch Annual Report - 1999" (sections reproduced below come from two separate areas of the Annual Report): "One of the notable convictions was that of a pet store i Salisbury who basically, shut up shop and walked away when in personal and financial difficulties leaving the animals to fend for themselves. This surely highlights the requirement for tighter controls on issuing of pet shop licenses and the monitoring of premises by the local authorities." "A Salisbury pet shop owner was convicted of unnecessary suffering to eleven animals which, were found in either an emaciated state or dead in their cages. She claimed emotional and financial difficulties preventing her returning to her shop. She was sentenced to one month in prison, suspended for a year on medical grounds, she was banned from holding a pet shop licence and banned from keeping any animal for life. She also had to pay costs of �200. She appealed against the sentence but on the day of the hearing withdrew her appeal in the light of further evidence." The long and the short of it is this: Firstly, that it does pay to report cases of gross cruelty to national and regional animal welfare organisations. And secondly, the fact that people who are cruel to animals should and are prosecuted by these animal welfare organisations, in a way that shows them and others the seriousness of such behaviour. David Hinsley, www.gerbils.org
