Court takes cats from pensioner
http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/Court-takes-cats-from-pensioner.4162081.jp
The RSPCA found furniture in Jones’s home was dirty and the conditions would attract fleas
Two cats have been taken away from a Northampton pensioner after he failed to prove he was capable of looking after them.
Dennis Jones, of Lower Bath Street, St James, was given a six-month conditional discharge and has been banned from keeping any animals for a period of five years after a second RSPCA inspection of his home revealed a living environment for cats that was 'dirty' and a place where fleas would thrive.
Following a trial in April, Jones was found guilty of three counts of animal neglect after he failed to provide veterinary care for his cat Whisky's 'severe' flea infestation and open abscess which led to the animal being put down.
The 72-year-old was also convicted of failing to provide flea treatment for another cat, Smoky, who suffered a skin infection.
However, magistrates delayed sentencing until after a second RSPCA inspection of Jones's home had been carried out before deciding whether to take his two remaining cats, Smoky and Heather, away from him.
The sentencing hearing at Northampton Magistrates Court heard evidence from RSPCA inspector Pippa Boyd who said the carpet and furnishings in Jones's house remained dirty and an improved cleaning regime was needed to deter fleas, especially in the warmer months.
Presiding magistrate Philip Williams said: "We have seen the photographs of the second visit that we asked RSPCA officers to carry out because we knew these animals were important to you.
"But for all three offences we give you a conditional discharge of six months and make an order that the cats are taken from you."
RSPCA inspector Pippa Boyd said: "I am pleased with the outcome of the case. It was a difficult case but the verdict will ensure the further welfare of the cats.
"If anyone has any concerns about animals they do need to seek vet attention immediately."
Jones was ordered to pay £250 costs.
The full article contains 322 words and appears in Northampton Chron & Echo newspaper.
* Last Updated: 06 June 2008 8:27 PM
1
Fenris,
07/06/2008 17:55:36
There should have been an independent inspection of this poor man's home, not one by the RSPCA whose aim it was to remove his cats from him.
How sad that no-one in the court thought to get in touch with the Cinnamon Trust who work through volunteers to keep the elderly and their pets together when their owners become too frail or ill to care for them.
Pity the RSPCA wasn't so kind hearted. Instead all they think about is the glory of another successful prosecution and the publicity and donations it brings.
Well my message to everyone reading this is to give your money to the Cinnamon Trust http://www.cinnamon.org.uk/ and leave the cruel RSPCA, who persecute the elderly instead of helping them, out in the cold.
Anyone interested in what the RSPCA are really like should take a look at http://the-shg.org and http://cheetah.webtribe.net/~animadversion/
I hope that there is an appeal and that justice is done next time around.
2
Stan the dalek,
07/06/2008 19:49:50
Christ....you haven't got an agenda have you!!
3
Fenris,
07/06/2008 20:13:27
Stan - yeah I've got an agenda - I hate bullies who wreck old people's lives when they could have helped.
Why didn't they just provide treatment for the cats?
Would it have been beneath Petty Pippa to have done a little housework for him? And chatted to him?
Wouldn't have provided the same headline catching glory of the prosecution of course, but they would have had one happy old man whose cats still had a loving home.
Guess what. It would have cost a fraction of what the court case has cost. All paid for by people who think their donations are helping animals. Where was this man and his cat's help?
Does Pippa care if he ends up in hospital because of the loss of his cats I wonder? Does she care how much this will cost the NHS and other services?
Or is he just another trophy along the promotion ladder?
Remember the RSPCA kill 50% of all animals that they get and that was before they reported record numbers of animals especially cats filling their shelters.
So those caring magistrates have probably condemned the cats they were trying to protect to death.
Two cats have been taken away from a Northampton pensioner after he failed to prove he was capable of looking after them.
Dennis Jones, of Lower Bath Street, St James, was given a six-month conditional discharge and has been banned from keeping any animals for a period of five years after a second RSPCA inspection of his home revealed a living environment for cats that was 'dirty' and a place where fleas would thrive.
Following a trial in April, Jones was found guilty of three counts of animal neglect after he failed to provide veterinary care for his cat Whisky's 'severe' flea infestation and open abscess which led to the animal being put down.
The 72-year-old was also convicted of failing to provide flea treatment for another cat, Smoky, who suffered a skin infection.
However, magistrates delayed sentencing until after a second RSPCA inspection of Jones's home had been carried out before deciding whether to take his two remaining cats, Smoky and Heather, away from him.
The sentencing hearing at Northampton Magistrates Court heard evidence from RSPCA inspector Pippa Boyd who said the carpet and furnishings in Jones's house remained dirty and an improved cleaning regime was needed to deter fleas, especially in the warmer months.
Presiding magistrate Philip Williams said: "We have seen the photographs of the second visit that we asked RSPCA officers to carry out because we knew these animals were important to you.
"But for all three offences we give you a conditional discharge of six months and make an order that the cats are taken from you."
RSPCA inspector Pippa Boyd said: "I am pleased with the outcome of the case. It was a difficult case but the verdict will ensure the further welfare of the cats.
"If anyone has any concerns about animals they do need to seek vet attention immediately."
Jones was ordered to pay £250 costs.
The full article contains 322 words and appears in Northampton Chron & Echo newspaper.
* Last Updated: 06 June 2008 8:27 PM
1
Fenris,
07/06/2008 17:55:36
There should have been an independent inspection of this poor man's home, not one by the RSPCA whose aim it was to remove his cats from him.
How sad that no-one in the court thought to get in touch with the Cinnamon Trust who work through volunteers to keep the elderly and their pets together when their owners become too frail or ill to care for them.
Pity the RSPCA wasn't so kind hearted. Instead all they think about is the glory of another successful prosecution and the publicity and donations it brings.
Well my message to everyone reading this is to give your money to the Cinnamon Trust http://www.cinnamon.org.uk/ and leave the cruel RSPCA, who persecute the elderly instead of helping them, out in the cold.
Anyone interested in what the RSPCA are really like should take a look at http://the-shg.org and http://cheetah.webtribe.net/~animadversion/
I hope that there is an appeal and that justice is done next time around.
2
Stan the dalek,
07/06/2008 19:49:50
Christ....you haven't got an agenda have you!!
3
Fenris,
07/06/2008 20:13:27
Stan - yeah I've got an agenda - I hate bullies who wreck old people's lives when they could have helped.
Why didn't they just provide treatment for the cats?
Would it have been beneath Petty Pippa to have done a little housework for him? And chatted to him?
Wouldn't have provided the same headline catching glory of the prosecution of course, but they would have had one happy old man whose cats still had a loving home.
Guess what. It would have cost a fraction of what the court case has cost. All paid for by people who think their donations are helping animals. Where was this man and his cat's help?
Does Pippa care if he ends up in hospital because of the loss of his cats I wonder? Does she care how much this will cost the NHS and other services?
Or is he just another trophy along the promotion ladder?
Remember the RSPCA kill 50% of all animals that they get and that was before they reported record numbers of animals especially cats filling their shelters.
So those caring magistrates have probably condemned the cats they were trying to protect to death.