9 MONTHS OF HELL AT THE HANDS OF THE RSPCA

A DAUGHTER yesterday blasted the RSPCA for putting her and her pensioner dad through nine months of hell.
Kerry Wilson wept with relief when she was found not guilty at Wrexham Magistrates of keeping 30 dogs in poor conditions.
Her dad Peter Hughes was also found not guilty of the same charge. It followed an RSPCA raid at Ashford Farm, Halkyn.
Mr Hughes, 77, was also found not guilty of breaching an order in 2007 banning him from looking after dogs.

The case had been brought by the RSPCA after officers accompanied by North Wales Police and a vet visited the farm in December last year.

The crux of the prosecution’s case was there was insufficient bedding for the dogs for sleeping, with claims some of the floors were slatted and dangerous.
It was also alleged Mr Hughes must have had some involvement looking after the animals which was dismissed by district Judge Andrew Shaw.
He ruled the evidence provided by the prosecution fell well short of proving the case.
The dogs, which were taken off Ms Wilson at the time, were in good condition, there was no compelling evidence to say they were being housed poorly, and he found the two not guilty.
Speaking after the case Ms Wilson, 25, of Bryn Awelon, Buckley, said it should never have come to court.
“It has been absolutely nine months of hell,” said Ms Wilson, who has a background working for Defra and trading standards.
“I hold my hands up, and the past is the past with my dad, but they have had a vendetta of trying to catch my dad in the act of looking after them after his ban, which he hasn’t.
“I was refused a vet when they turned up at the farm, which was my right.
“This has really damaged my reputation, I have never had anybody that I have sold a puppy to come back to complain.
“I have had people who I used to work with looking down their nose at me.
“It has been incredibly stressful and I’m really worried about dad, he has gone downhill since all this has been going on and I fear he may not make it to Christmas.
“There was a also a lie that there were dead puppies found – that was simply not true.”
“Hopefully next time they want to come to the farm about anything, they will contact me first rather than turn up unannounced with a lorry load.”
Ms Wilson is due to get back 15 of the dogs on Monday.

RSPCA, BUNGLING, LYING, CLOWNS

Leading agricultural lawyer David Kirwan added: “The RSPCA got it so wrong. The prosecution was motivated by a desire to save face after a bungled military-style raid on the farm in the mistaken belief that dogs were not being properly cared for and that a ban was being breached.
“None of the allegations stacked up and that would have been apparent immediately.”
During the trial Kevin Slack, acting for Ms Wilson, said the photographic evidence gathered, attempting to show there wasn’t adequate straw bedding by the prosecution, was poor.
And he said initially RSPCA Insp Fred Armstrong, who was at the farm, was only going to issue an improvement notice, but it escalated to the animals being removed due to over-eagerness.
Judge Shaw said: “You must have been able to provide food and water because the dogs were in good condition.
“And you must also have been cleaning their yards, because their accommodation was clean.”
Judge Shaw said Ms Wilson had maintained there was adequate bedding for the sleeping areas.
“We have not been given the best evidence of the conditions by the prosecution,” he said.
“I have found you a creditable witness and I find you not guilty.”
Nobody was available from the RSPCA to comment.
http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/2012/09/15/buckley-dog-owner-blasts-rspca-for-nine-months-of-hell-after-being-found-not-guilty-55578-31837579/