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‘Home
alone‘ cockers rescued
FOURTEEN COCKER Spaniels have been rescued from a house where
they had allegedly been kept in squalid conditions which probably
led to the death of at least one puppy in a litter of eight.
On Saturday, January 19th, a Yorkshire-based cocker spaniel
breeder/exhibitor was called to a house in a built-up area of
Sheffield, owned by a couple who, it is understood, also breed
and exhibit Cocker Spaniels.
The couple had gone abroad on holiday, leaving the dogs in the
care of a friend. The friend had become increasingly concerned
about the dogs’ health due to the terrible conditions in
which they were kept and so had asked the Cocker Spaniel enthusiast
for help. The enthusiast attended the property, accompanied
by another breeder/exhibitor friend.
shocking state
According
to those who visited the premises, the stench from the dogs’
faeces which were deposited all around the premises was overpowering.
A thorough search of the property revealed a bitch with eight
puppies in a cage in a cupboard under the stairs. The bitch
was allegedly in a ‘shocking state’, with a dirty,
matted coat, the puppies were all undernourished and one of
them was dead. The bitch was too weak to push the dead pup
away from her and was also found to be too weak to stand.
Four other dogs were found in a cage in the lounge and two
others in a small cage in the kitchen.
The two breeders who attended the premises removed the dogs,
and gave receipts to the dogs’ custodian.
One breeder took the bitch and her surviving seven puppies,
whilst the remaining six dogs were taken into the care of
the other. These were subsequently signed over into the official
care of Cocker Spaniel Rescue and have been given veterinary
treatment.
It is understood that the RSPCA is in the process of preparing
a possible negligence case against the dogs’ owners,
whilst other agencies have become involved on other matters
unrelated to the dogs. Sheffield MP and Home Secretary David
Blunkett has also been informed, as the local MP of the couple
concerned.
Earlier this week, a BBC North film crew was making plans
to film the dogs for a news item on the regional news programme
Look North.
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