I have read this article with interest and would like to add a different perspective. The Animal Welfare Act 2006 means owners have a legal responsibility to meet the welfare needs of their animals. There are approximately 24 million owned pets in the UK. In 2009 there were approximately 2500 convictions under the AWA. Does this mean the remaining 24 997 500 pets have adequate welfare? Or does it mean we have just scratched the surface? Likely there are many, many animals suffering cruelty and neglect, who will not receive any help and many of these will die as a result of their poor welfare.

The RSPCA cruelty and advice line receives over one million calls every year, and the majority of investigations carried out by the RSPCA are a result of these calls by the public about mistreated, neglected, injured or distressed animals. In 2009 75000 welfare improvement notices were handed out to owners not meeting the welfare needs of their animals, an opportunity, a chance to do things better. The stories in this article are very ‘he said she said’. In my experience working for the society, the rehoming centres are often full and overflowing. The finite resources of the inspectorate mean they cannot attend all the calls made. Knowing this, I feel very strongly that if animals are removed from a property it is for one reason only – because they are suffering poor welfare. If there are a lot of inspectors then it is because there are a so many animals involved. If action is rapid it is because animals are dying.

I agree the police should be more involved. Their skill would help uncover the reality for these animals, and I have no doubt it would strengthen the prosecution in the majority of cases.

Surprise surprise, so many individuals accused or prosecuted deny any wrong doing. And we would like to believe them, animal suffering is not a nice thing. But it is real, animals are suffering, to deny and ignore this would be immoral and unethical, and for us vets, unprofessional.

I have read this article with interest and would like to add a different perspective. The Animal Welfare Act 2006 means owners have a legal responsibility to meet the welfare needs of their animals. There are approximately 24 million owned pets in the UK. In 2009 there were approximately 2500 convictions under the AWA. Does this mean the remaining 24 997 500 pets have adequate welfare? Or does it mean we have just scratched the surface? Likely there are many, many animals suffering cruelty and neglect, who will not receive any help and many of these will die as a result of their poor welfare.

The RSPCA cruelty and advice line receives over one million calls every year, and the majority of investigations carried out by the RSPCA are a result of these calls by the public about mistreated, neglected, injured or distressed animals. In 2009 75000 welfare improvement notices were handed out to owners not meeting the welfare needs of their animals, an opportunity, a chance to do things better. The stories in this article are very ‘he said she said’. In my experience working for the society, the rehoming centres are often full and overflowing. The finite resources of the inspectorate mean they cannot attend all the calls made. Knowing this, I feel very strongly that if animals are removed from a property it is for one reason only – because they are suffering poor welfare. If there are a lot of inspectors then it is because there are a so many animals involved. If action is rapid it is because animals are dying.

I agree the police should be more involved. Their skill would help uncover the reality for these animals, and I have no doubt it would strengthen the prosecution in the majority of cases.

Surprise surprise, so many individuals accused or prosecuted deny any wrong doing. And we would like to believe them, animal suffering is not a nice thing. But it is real, animals are suffering, to deny and ignore this would be immoral and unethical, and for us vets, unprofessional.