Montgomery Estate Neglects Their Dogs
It has been an ongoing saga to ensure that the welfare of five working border collies is seen to. The Scottish SPCA has been informed, yet they seem to turn a blind eye to the neglect of these dogs.
At the beginning of July, four working dogs were found in the Montgomery Estate of Fairlie, North Ayrshire, tied up on short leashes, some with choker chains, no water was supplied and a measly tin construction used for shelter. The dogs are frightfully thin and there is evidence of self harm through boredom and anxiety. Recent evnts show that one dog, the only female is no longer there and an older male is in her place.
There is no specific law under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 for working dogs, does that mean it applies to the law of domestic pets? The Scottish SPCA claims it is borderline and maybe it is. The shepherd has put some thought in to the shelter provided, yet it is the cheapest and simplest means possible. The fact that there is no thought put in to the mental and physical state of the animals is appalling. Of course there are regulations that the SSPCA must consider and there is only so much they can do and “get away with”. They have the authority to take the dogs away but will inevitably have lawyers on their tails from the Montgomery Estae and the dogs will have to be returned. How is this procedure effective?
Members of the Kucinski Wildlife Foundation have been keeping an eye on the dogs and reporting to the SSPCA with no victory. It appears as though the animal welfare organisation has given up. As for the KWF, they may have lost faith in the SSPCA but haven’t given up hope for the five dogs who desperatly need their mental and physical state tended to. The question is, how much evidence is needed for the neglect of an animal before someting is done about it?
(For a full photographic report visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/danakucinski/sets/72157621043830413/)