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A Bradford man has been sentenced to 16 weeks in jail after he left his dog locked in an unoccupied home.

Wajjid Hussain failed to prevent the unnecessary suffering of ‘Razor’, his Staffordshire bull terrier.

He received a three month prison term and was banned for life from keeping animals.

The RSPCA described the ordeal the dog would have endured as “shocking and heartbreaking cruelty”

RSPCA Inspector Dave Holgate: “This dog has undoubtedly endured a very slow and painful death. It’s simply unthinkable that anyone could ignore an animal’s needs to such a severe, tragic extent. Hopefully the sentence will send out a message that this kind of cruelty cannot and will not be tolerated.”

Hussein’s own lawyer claimed his client accepted that it was his ‘carlessness’ that had caused Razor to suffer unnecessarily.

“He turned a blind eye and that’s where the guilt lies. One of the first things he said to me was ‘I’m now going to be known as that man who let his dog die.’”

As a further insult to the way British justice deals with animal killers, Hussein has only been ordered to serve HALF of the already disgustingly short 16 week sentence before being allowed out on licence.

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LINKS:

It’s time to give animal abusers the punishment they deserve >>

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Today Dogs Trust and Nintendo have partnered on an innovative new education initiative which is being launched today by Girls Aloud.

The pilot scheme will build upon the Dogs Trust’s existing educational programme within schools, aimed at teaching children the responsibilities involved in caring for a dog, taught through the use of Nintendogs, a Nintendo DS game focussed on nurturing and caring for a virtual dog.

The initiative, which is initially being piloted in the London area, sees Nintendo donating Nintendo DS consoles and copies of Nintendogs to Dogs Trust for use in their educational outreach programme. The pilot provides Dogs Trust with an innovative and exciting way of engaging children through technology, alongside their existing education programme.

Thousands of dogs are abandoned and destroyed in the UK every year and are desperately in need of a loving home. Dogs Trust believes that the responsible dog ownership message behind Nintendogs may encourage young dog lovers to consider the commitment required in owning a real dog, before undertaking such a responsibility. Hopefully in the long term this will help minimise the number of abandoned dogs looking for a new family.

Natalie Dexter, Education Officer at Dogs Trust, said “Our education programme targets the dog owners of tomorrow about responsible dog ownership and we’re always looking for new and innovative ways of spreading our message within schools. We’re delighted to partner with Nintendo on such an innovative scheme which captures the essence of our message about responsible dog ownership, in an exciting and fun way that will inspire and educate children.”

Girls Aloud, who are currently starring in the Nintendo DS advertising campaign and dog owners themselves, are supporting the scheme by visiting a dog re-homing centre in London to see the work that goes on behind the scenes each day at Dogs Trust, where they will also be meeting children from a local primary school who will benefit from the initiative.

Girls Aloud commented: “We are all dog lovers ourselves so are fully supportive of this scheme which teaches kids what looking after a dog really involves.” Nadine added, “I love my Nintendog ‘Miso’; I can feed him, take him for walks and play with him every day, it’s just like having a real dog in my hand.”

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written by Clive Ellis, Greyhound Watch

Under section (9) of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 it states: “A person commits an offence if he does not take such steps as are reasonable in all the circumstances to ensure that the needs of an animal for which he is responsible are met to the extent required by good practice.” And subsection (2, e) covers specifically the need to protect an animal “from pain, suffering and injury.”

Similar legislation applies in Scotland under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006, section (24), subsection (3, e).

The above begs the following question: Are trainers of racing greyhounds in breach of the relevant Act when running dogs on Britain’s tracks?

Safety at Yarmouth stadium has been a contentious issue for many years with trainers describing the track as both “diabolical” and an “absolute tip.” An inconsistent surface - said to be due to grading and drainage - and the inside rail are given as reasons for a very high number of injuries and fatalities.

Recent victims include Bluestone Lane and Daves Dasher. The former - a blue male - suffered a severe hind leg fracture on Wednesday 22nd October and was put-to-sleep by the track vet. He was just 30 months old and the third greyhound joint owner Ms Cossey has lost through injury. The following Monday, 27th October, Daves Dasher - a dark brindle male aged only 26 months - sustained a serious fracture of the right foreleg and was PTS also.

Commenting on the most recent fatality, Assistant Racing Manager Marcus Westgate was typically pragmatic: “It was just one of those really unfortunate things that happen in this game.” When pushed to give a figure for greyhound’s put-down due to injury each month he replied: “Maybe a couple, something like that.” Feedback from trainers, however, would indicate the true figure is higher.

On Saturday18th October, spectators at Peterborough stadium were horrified to witness two greyhounds fatally injured. Glandore Queen - a fawn and white female - was recorded ‘brokedown’ after sustaining a hind leg fracture in the first race of the evening meeting, and Hanoi Son - a black male - sustained a broken hock when brought down in the fifth race.

The term ‘brokedown’ is occasionally used by race stewards to identify when a greyhound has suffered a potentially serious injury and, as a result, was unable to finish the race. Both Glandore Queen and Hanoi Son were PTS by the track vet out of view of customers watching from the restaurant and bars.

Sadly, fatalities such as the examples given are common across all tracks. It is thought as many as 1,500 greyhounds are PTS annually following injury. This, however, represents only the tip of the iceberg when looking at the scale of injuries sustained.

Last year stewards at Owlerton stadium (Sheffield) recorded greyhounds either lame or ‘brokedown’ 309 times; a figure covering a total of 272 dogs. For 141 of the greyhounds it was to be their last race.

Racing at the above track is regulated by the National Greyhound Racing Club (NGRC) and the figure of 309 translates to about 6,900 injuries sustained nationally when looking at the ratio between the total figures for races contended at Owlerton and all NGRC tracks combined.

Not all injuries, however, were identified in the stewards comments and above figures do not take into account the many trials that are held. In addition Owlerton has, according to Dave Houfton (husband of trainer Jane Houfton (a major player at the stadium who can supply you a racing dog for as little as £200)), a good record on safety: “Out of all the tracks in the country it’s probably… one of the safest and one that statistically would have a lot fewer injuries.”

Take the above factors into account and it’s likely to be a five figure total for injuries sustained nationally not including stats for the flapping (independent and unregulated) tracks.

Unfortunately, we cannot be any more precise than that. The Racecourse Promoters Association (RCPA) are compiling a database on injuries for NGRC tracks but have turned down all requests for information.

Editor of Greyhound Star, Floyd Amphlett was recently to imply that greyhound racing is little different to “agility training, fly-ball or other assorted fun activities with dogs.” Mr Amphlett has written much about greyhound racing but nothing quite so farfetched. No other activity, whether a sport, working or otherwise results in thousands of dogs getting ‘smashed-up’ every year.

Richard Newell - a breeder, trainer and owner of racing dogs - is a little more candid in his observation of BAGS (Bookmakers Afternoon Greyhound Service) meetings: “Don’t tell me that the majority of BAGS trainers see their inmates as anything other than livestock? I doubt the majority of BAGS dogs get a daily gallop out in a field…, more like 10 minutes emptying out twice a day and a trip to the local track once a week running lame for £15 to line the pocket of a caring Bookmaker.”

Owlerton hold two BAGS meetings per week and the injury rate last year, as a percentage of total races held, was 10.3. In contrast, the figure is 7.8 when making the same calculation (based on the steward’s race comments) for meetings held on Saturday evening.

Risk of injury, however, whether a BAGS meeting or otherwise is evidently very high, as all who are involved in racing are only too aware. Mr Houfton speaks favourably about Owlerton but was also to add: “I’m afraid with greyhound racing a dog’s next race can be its last one.”

In considering a breach of the Animal Welfare Act a court of law may look at the issue of “good practice” but this would be missing the point. A track should be properly maintained and in good order, dogs have to be muzzled and passed fit to race (though it is widely acknowledged many do run when injured) but “good practice” at best only makes racing safer, it does not make racing safe.

The camber (or lack of it), drainage (where applicable) and rail have an impact on safety but it is the character of greyhound tracks - with fast straights leading into tight bends - that creates so many incidents and results in so many injuries and fatalities. And six greyhounds competing together multiply the risk with many incidents occurring as the dogs hurtle into turn one.

A trainer of 30 years, who, incidentally, was fined £600 by the NGRC for refusing to run his greyhounds when he judged a track to be unsafe, believes the injury rate could only ever be significantly reduced if dogs competed on a straight course.

The RSPCA Senior Enquiries Administrator is adamant though, that greyhound racing as it currently stands is not in breach of the Animal Welfare Act, but was unable to provide any credible explanation to support her and, presumably, the charities view. Needless to say the RSPCA/SSPCA do not have the resources to take action against all 1240+ trainers running dogs on NGRC tracks alone.

Defra, who drew up the legislation, would not dispute a breach of the sections detailed but an independent legal expert thought no Judge would side against a trainer because of the political ramifications.

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Government Barking Up The Wrong Tree On Fat Pets

written by Catherine O’Driscoll, Canine Health Concern

New codes of practice state that people who refuse to put seriously fat pets on a diet could be prosecuted under the Animal Welfare Act, facing a fine of up to £20,000 or 12 months in jail. Proposed legislation fails to take into account the role of the pet food manufacturing industry, which sells junk food laden with unnecessary grains and sugars. Junk food causes obesity in pets.

The result of poor quality junk foods are just the same for pets as they are for humans. You end up with obese but malnourished individuals, prone to chronic illness and early death.

Dogs and cats are carnivores. If left to their own devices, their diet would consist of small to medium-sized prey. However, the pet food industry ensures that dogs and cats now eat industrial waste, laden with grains and sugars. According to the Pet Food Manufacturers Association website, “The industry’s use of by-products from the human food and agricultural industries prevents the need for, and the costs of, disposal.” Pet food saves on landfill sites – which is great for the environment, but not necessarily good for pets. (1)

In the natural world, dogs and cats eat muscle meat, bones, organs, and only a small quantity of grains and vegetables. Pet food, however, typically contains snouts, feet, spleens, skin – inferior parts of animals that cannot go into the human food chain. Not wholefoods. The natural diet for dogs would consist of about 60%+ raw muscle meat, offal and bones, and the percentage would be even higher for cats. The balance in manufactured pet food does not match this criteria.

According to the PFMA web site, “Dogs and cats have no absolute dietary requirement for carbohydrates”, but admits that cereals such as corn, rice, wheat, and barley are added to pet food. Some grains might be acceptable, although not necessary – but many pet foods are mostly grain-based. (2) The PFMA also admits that sugar is added to dog and cat food. (3) Dogs and cats have no dietary requirement for refined sugar.

“Of course animals are going to be obese if their ‘energy’ requirements are met by grains and sugars – foods that they are not designed to eat in large quantity,” says Catherine O’Driscoll of Canine Health Concern. “They are also going to be malnourished, because they’re not getting the balance of nutrients they need. Since the introduction of junk pet food dogs and cats are suffering life-long chronic illness, and dying years before their time.”

“Unfortunately,” says vet Richard Allport, “the pet food industry unduly influences the veterinary profession. Some pet food manufacturers even pay the salaries of lecturers who teach in veterinary teaching colleges. This is reprehensible. It unfairly influences vets, who in turn unwittingly mislead their clients. The result is a chronically malnourished yet obese pet population.”

Dr Michael Fox, formerly chief vet at the Humane Society, says: “Processed carbohydrates cause a periodic ‘sugar rush’ every time the dog or cat eats. This damages the liver and the pancreas, resulting in the conversion of sugar into body fat. The ‘sugar rush’ and insulin surge (until the pancreas becomes exhausted) make many dogs and cats constantly hungry, so they quickly become obese. Owners think their pets love the dry food because they always want to eat it.

“Animals who become overweight primarily as a result of the kinds of manufactured foods they are fed, rather than simply being over-fed and under-exercised, are likely to develop a host of health problems like diabetes, arthritis, skin disease, chronic inflammations, and infections like cystitis, gingivitis, and otitis, heart and liver disease, and cancer.”

If the government insists upon instigating legislation that penalises pet owners whilst ignoring the role of the multi-million pet food industry, it does a disservice to pets and their owners. It is targeting pet owners who have been misled by industry through massive advertising campaigns and veterinary misinformation.

The manufacturers of unhealthy foods for children are curtailed in their ability to propagandise their products to children. Canine Health Concern and its veterinary supporters suggest that the pet food industry needs such curtailment.

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Please accept our apologies for any disruption to service as we re-design and move the site on to a bigger, more powerful web server.

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Ryan

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