Regulate Animal Sanctuaries & Rescues To Prevent Mass Cruelty, Neglect & Abuse
Regulate Animal Sanctuaries & Rescues To Prevent Mass Cruelty, Neglect & Abuse
The Issue
AFTER READING PLEASE RETURN TO THE TOP OF THE PAGE TO SIGN THIS PETITION.
I am a former volunteer gardener at an animal sanctuary, where I recently discovered dogs had been subject to the most horrifying cruelty and neglect. For decades the dogs had been denied veterinary care and kept in the most awful conditions. Many dogs were kept there for numerous years under the guise that they weren’t rehomeable and it turns out this wasn’t true. Many were able to be rehomed.
In mid March, one of the long term staff members at Snowdonia Animal Sanctuary came to me and explained about the cruelty and neglect that had been going on for years. This was then confirmed by several long term volunteers and thankfully, one person had photo and video evidence of the conditions inside the kennels including some that are far to graphic to include in this petition.
With the help of several other volunteers, ex-volunteers and staff we put pressure on those that had been running the sanctuary. As a result of this the sanctuary announced it was closing and nearly all the dogs have been rehomed or gone to other rescues/sanctuaries.
Eric was one of the Snowdonia Dogs. He was there for 7 years.
This experience has left me deeply disturbed and determined to fight against such atrocities.
Although, police and local authorities are responsible for acting on reports of cruelty and abuse. Often, they fail to investigate and pass the responsibility to the RSPCA, who have no statutory powers. The RSPCA is a charity. An animal rescue charity should not be responsible for privately prosecuting other animal rescues. It is also worth noting that no one regulates the RSPCA. There is no independent body that actually goes in and inspects the RSPCA or any other rescue or sanctuary.
Cloud was at Snowdonia for 11 years. Stuck in the same dark, dirty kennel for 23hrs a day. She is now in a 'safe' rescue. Supposedly 'not rehomeable' Cloud has just found a foster home.
Police or Local Authority driven closures and prosecutions are a rarity and that is because in the UK there are currently no specific regulations governing animal sanctuaries or rescues. This lack of oversight allows for widespread abuse, neglect and fraud to occur unchecked.
WE NEED THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO IMPLEMENT LEGISLATION TO PROPERLY REGULATE ANIMAL RESCUES & SANCTUARIES AND PREVENT MASS CRUELTY.
This legislation should include mandatory regular inspections, the power to enter premises when abuse is suspected, stringent care standards, the ability to check accounts when fraud is suspected, severe penalties for those found guilty of cruelty or neglect and penalties for Local Authorities that fail to act on reports of cruelty and mishandling of public donations.
The suffering endured by animals in 'unsafe sanctuaries' is a national disgrace that we must not tolerate any longer. In addition to the cruelty, Sanctuaries & Rescues rely on public donations to fund the animals they care for. The public needs to know that the money they donate is going to take care of the animals. The consistent flow of horror stories emerging from these ‘unsafe sanctuaries’ will shake the public's trust and donations will fall. This will have a detrimental effect on the entire UK Animal Welfare & Rescue Community.
Please join me in calling on our government officials to take immediate action against this grave injustice. SIGN THIS PETITION TODAY
Documented cases in recent years.
The owner of Caerphilly Bird Rescue was given a lifetime ban from keeping animals after inspectors found dozens of dead and injured wild birds there.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-67958930
Jemima’s Place Cat Rescue, two men banned from keeping animals for 10 years.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-68063858
Four Paws Veterinary Clinic & Second Chance Rescue
https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/news/grimsby-news/4-paws-closed-end-line-1447932
Graham Stephens of Little Meadow Animal Sanctuary was sentenced to 8 months in prison and a lifetime disqualification from keeping animals.
Tamara Lloyd of The Alternative Animal Sanctuary was prosecuted after spending only £905k out of the £8m that was raised for vet care over 7yrs. She was disqualified from keeping animals and struck off by the charity commission.
Chris Tucker of Bexhill & Hastings Wildlife Sanctuary & Rescue was convicted of fraudulently using £190k of public donations to pay for his property.
Unfortunately, there are many more undocumented cases and this is one of the things I found most disturbing. Every day, staff, volunteers and concerned members of the public put up pictures and stories on social media, desperately trying to raise awareness of animals being kept in appalling conditions. Their cries are falling on deaf ears and this is why we need proper legislation specifically for sanctuaries and rescues.
Why Alfie's Law? Because after suffering for years, Alfie was needlessly killed by people who should have protected him.
ALFIE’S STORY
In December 2023, the sanctuary where Alfie resided was raided by North Wales Police and the RSPCA. As a result of the raid, Alfie and several other dogs were removed from the premises. Alfie and some of his companions were then needlessly killed.
Alfie had been at Snowdonia Animal Sanctuary for many years. He spent 23.5hrs a day in a filthy dark kennel with little interaction with people or other dogs. But there was hope. Hope for Alfie and the other dogs. Before the raid another rescue that specialised in rehabilitating reactive dogs, had offered their services to the RSPCA. It was a firm offer of a suitable kennel for any dog taken during the raid. Alfie and the other dogs did not need to die.
Rufus was killed by the RSPCA after December's raid.
In March 2024, Snowdonia Animal Sanctuary announced that it was closing. There was an incredible show of support for the dogs from many people in the animal welfare and rescue community, who worked tirelessly to help get a lot of the dogs into ‘safe sanctuaries’. Most of these dogs would have been killed if the RSPCA had been involved.
The Animal Rescue Community has created a precedent and if it has been done before, it can be done again.
SIGN THIS PETITION AND LET'S PUT AN END TO MASS ANIMAL CRUELTY IN THE UK.
1,773
The Issue
AFTER READING PLEASE RETURN TO THE TOP OF THE PAGE TO SIGN THIS PETITION.
I am a former volunteer gardener at an animal sanctuary, where I recently discovered dogs had been subject to the most horrifying cruelty and neglect. For decades the dogs had been denied veterinary care and kept in the most awful conditions. Many dogs were kept there for numerous years under the guise that they weren’t rehomeable and it turns out this wasn’t true. Many were able to be rehomed.
In mid March, one of the long term staff members at Snowdonia Animal Sanctuary came to me and explained about the cruelty and neglect that had been going on for years. This was then confirmed by several long term volunteers and thankfully, one person had photo and video evidence of the conditions inside the kennels including some that are far to graphic to include in this petition.
With the help of several other volunteers, ex-volunteers and staff we put pressure on those that had been running the sanctuary. As a result of this the sanctuary announced it was closing and nearly all the dogs have been rehomed or gone to other rescues/sanctuaries.
Eric was one of the Snowdonia Dogs. He was there for 7 years.
This experience has left me deeply disturbed and determined to fight against such atrocities.
Although, police and local authorities are responsible for acting on reports of cruelty and abuse. Often, they fail to investigate and pass the responsibility to the RSPCA, who have no statutory powers. The RSPCA is a charity. An animal rescue charity should not be responsible for privately prosecuting other animal rescues. It is also worth noting that no one regulates the RSPCA. There is no independent body that actually goes in and inspects the RSPCA or any other rescue or sanctuary.
Cloud was at Snowdonia for 11 years. Stuck in the same dark, dirty kennel for 23hrs a day. She is now in a 'safe' rescue. Supposedly 'not rehomeable' Cloud has just found a foster home.
Police or Local Authority driven closures and prosecutions are a rarity and that is because in the UK there are currently no specific regulations governing animal sanctuaries or rescues. This lack of oversight allows for widespread abuse, neglect and fraud to occur unchecked.
WE NEED THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO IMPLEMENT LEGISLATION TO PROPERLY REGULATE ANIMAL RESCUES & SANCTUARIES AND PREVENT MASS CRUELTY.
This legislation should include mandatory regular inspections, the power to enter premises when abuse is suspected, stringent care standards, the ability to check accounts when fraud is suspected, severe penalties for those found guilty of cruelty or neglect and penalties for Local Authorities that fail to act on reports of cruelty and mishandling of public donations.
The suffering endured by animals in 'unsafe sanctuaries' is a national disgrace that we must not tolerate any longer. In addition to the cruelty, Sanctuaries & Rescues rely on public donations to fund the animals they care for. The public needs to know that the money they donate is going to take care of the animals. The consistent flow of horror stories emerging from these ‘unsafe sanctuaries’ will shake the public's trust and donations will fall. This will have a detrimental effect on the entire UK Animal Welfare & Rescue Community.
Please join me in calling on our government officials to take immediate action against this grave injustice. SIGN THIS PETITION TODAY
Documented cases in recent years.
The owner of Caerphilly Bird Rescue was given a lifetime ban from keeping animals after inspectors found dozens of dead and injured wild birds there.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-67958930
Jemima’s Place Cat Rescue, two men banned from keeping animals for 10 years.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-68063858
Four Paws Veterinary Clinic & Second Chance Rescue
https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/news/grimsby-news/4-paws-closed-end-line-1447932
Graham Stephens of Little Meadow Animal Sanctuary was sentenced to 8 months in prison and a lifetime disqualification from keeping animals.
Tamara Lloyd of The Alternative Animal Sanctuary was prosecuted after spending only £905k out of the £8m that was raised for vet care over 7yrs. She was disqualified from keeping animals and struck off by the charity commission.
Chris Tucker of Bexhill & Hastings Wildlife Sanctuary & Rescue was convicted of fraudulently using £190k of public donations to pay for his property.
Unfortunately, there are many more undocumented cases and this is one of the things I found most disturbing. Every day, staff, volunteers and concerned members of the public put up pictures and stories on social media, desperately trying to raise awareness of animals being kept in appalling conditions. Their cries are falling on deaf ears and this is why we need proper legislation specifically for sanctuaries and rescues.
Why Alfie's Law? Because after suffering for years, Alfie was needlessly killed by people who should have protected him.
ALFIE’S STORY
In December 2023, the sanctuary where Alfie resided was raided by North Wales Police and the RSPCA. As a result of the raid, Alfie and several other dogs were removed from the premises. Alfie and some of his companions were then needlessly killed.
Alfie had been at Snowdonia Animal Sanctuary for many years. He spent 23.5hrs a day in a filthy dark kennel with little interaction with people or other dogs. But there was hope. Hope for Alfie and the other dogs. Before the raid another rescue that specialised in rehabilitating reactive dogs, had offered their services to the RSPCA. It was a firm offer of a suitable kennel for any dog taken during the raid. Alfie and the other dogs did not need to die.
Rufus was killed by the RSPCA after December's raid.
In March 2024, Snowdonia Animal Sanctuary announced that it was closing. There was an incredible show of support for the dogs from many people in the animal welfare and rescue community, who worked tirelessly to help get a lot of the dogs into ‘safe sanctuaries’. Most of these dogs would have been killed if the RSPCA had been involved.
The Animal Rescue Community has created a precedent and if it has been done before, it can be done again.
SIGN THIS PETITION AND LET'S PUT AN END TO MASS ANIMAL CRUELTY IN THE UK.
1,773
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Petition created on 2 May 2024