http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/h(...)midlands/5230628.stmquote:Up to 90 cows at a farm in Alvechurch, in Worcestershire, have been killed after being abandoned when their owners were jailed.
Owners of Emmadale Farm in Rowley Green Lane, Lionel, David and Stephen Tonge, were jailed in May for non-payment of fines for animal welfare breaches.
Of the 200 animals at the farm, 90 have been put down and a further 30 are slowly starving to death.
Local farmers said they could not help as they would become liable.
The three owners of the farm were found guilty of breaching the Protection of Animals Act at a trial in 2003 In total they were fined in excess of £100,000.
They were jailed for 12 months each on May 25 for failing to pay the fine.
John Puckering, who works on a farm nearby, said: "The cattle are slowly starving to death.
"This is why I'm trying to get somebody to take some responsibility for the animals, trading standards or Defra, and instruct somebody to look after them."
But Andy Williams, animal health manager at Worcestershire County Council, said: "There is very little we can do.
"To take the animals off the farm we need a court order which would take so long it's a non starter and if we start caring for them the authority would become liable which we want to avoid.
"We are monitoring the situation daily and where necessary the state veterinary service is used to humanely destroy the animals."
Councillor Roger Hollingsworth, leader of Bromsgrove District Council in whose ward the farm is located, called for action by the agriculture minister Ben Bradshaw.
"These animals are in a sickening state, covered with worms. I hate to seen animals suffering in this way.
"I understand the animals could be cared for under a process if their identity is uncertain, but it needs Ben Bradshaw to do that.
"I would like the minister to get off the fence and take some action in this case."
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Of je leest de OP...quote:
Ik blijf toch met enkele vragen zitten:quote:RSPCA take on abandoned cattle
Thirty cows left to starve to death after their owners were jailed for non-payment of animal welfare fines are now being cared for by the RSPCA.
David, Lionel and Stephen Tonge, who own Emmadale Farm in Alvechurch, Worcestershire, were jailed in May.
They remain the owners of the cattle but cannot legally keep them - and no registered keeper has been identified.
Officials have failed to legally seize the herd owing to the loophole. Vets have already killed 90 cows.
Local farmers said they could not help as they would become liable.
A spokesman from Worcestershire Trading Standards, who brought the prosecution, said the situation was unsatisfactory.
But, they said officials have no power to remove the beef herd and could only destroy individuals if they are in distress.
The spokesman added that the RSPCA were informed about the case earlier this year but no charity could go on the land legally.
'Not asked to intervene'
"We have no powers to do anything and we appreciate the outrage.
"We have taken the law to its limits and know it is not satisfactory but unfortunately that does not give us the right to act."
However, on Tuesday West Mercia Police executed powers in relation to the protection of the animals and went to the farm to place the cattle in the care of RSPCA.
In a statement, the RSPCA said the animals were checked by vets and none is "in a suffering state". They will now be checked daily at the farm.
The herd is still owned by the Tonges but is now under the charity's control. The RSPCA told BBC News that their involvement in the case only began on Tuesday and the charity had not been asked to intervene before that.
Op welk moment de RSPCA nu precies betrokken is geraakt in de zaak is me niet helemaal duidelijk, maar het lijkt me dat Andy Williams (animal health manager at Worcestershire County Council) alvast langer op de hoogte was van de situatie, en weinig moeite heeft gedaan om een oplossing te vinden.quote:Op donderdag 3 augustus 2006 16:54 schreef Mwanatabu het volgende:
Volgens mij ligt het niet aan die organisaties maar aan het trage bureaucratische apparaat met een boel veel belachelijke regeltjes.
Een "animal health manager" die met zo'n argumenten zwaait lijkt me niet de geschikte persoon voor de job.quote:But Andy Williams, animal health manager at Worcestershire County Council, said: "There is very little we can do.
"To take the animals off the farm we need a court order which would take so long it's a non starter and if we start caring for them the authority would become liable which we want to avoid.
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