Tiffany Hewkin wrote:
"...Reality is that other animals besides gerbils get neglected guys. Can we
give a moment of sympathy to ALL abused animals, as well as gerbils, but not
excluding other pets as well."
We posted the following email onto the GML last week:
"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 in 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."
Please note that it was the Budgies in the window that caused us to act in
this case. This Pet shop had no Gerbils at all there. From our experience,
people who love Gerbils, love all animals and find the pain and suffering of
animals - whatever their kind - offensive.
All the very best....
David Hinsley,
www.gerbils.org
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