However the case was put back at their request and is now due to be heard on May 24.
Strong, 21, and Wilson, 43, were living at The Severalls in July last year when the RSPCA, acting on complaints, went with police officers to their home and later brought the 12 charges each defendant faces.
They both face similar allegations which include failing to provide a nutritionally balanced diet for a German shepherd dog; failing to provide veterinary care to deal with weight loss is a GSD; failing to protect an animal from pain, injury, suffering and disease; failing to treat flea infestation; keeping animals so that they could not exhibit normal behaviour; not providing an animal with water; failing to provide a suitable diet or suitable environment; keeping a rabbit where it was unable to seek shade; keeping a king snake, Uromastyx lizard and a bearded dragon that were not protected from pain, injury, suffering and disease.
The RSPCA was represented in court by solicitor Matthew Knight but the defendants asked for an adjournment to give them more time to obtain legal aid.
No indication of pleas was given but the court said that if the pair plead not guilty there will have to be a trial lasting up to a week.
The couple had a website for the Wiltshire Animal rescue and Sanctuary (WARAS) which was shut down following their arrests.
On the website they appealed for food, bedding and toys for the animals and for “funds to pay for a few larger vet bills we have had lately.”
It included photographs of dogs, cats and rabbits the couple claimed to be trying to re-home. http://www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/news/headlines/8127809.Couple_to_face_cruelty_charge/
2 comments:
the rpsca have a policy to close down all rescue centres that dont "co-operate" it takes out the competition for funding donations from the public
Another case of the RSPCA preferring to prosecute, than offer practical help.
Sorry but this is going to be reported to the Charity Commission, this is at least the second sanctuary that the RSPCA have closed, and they themselves are only a charity...they should NOT have the power to interfere with others.
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