Prevent return of Amersham horses prior to animal cruelty trial
- NEWC
- Closed on
- Target:
- Rt Hon Jack Straw MP Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Ministry of Justice
- Region:
- United Kingdom
- Website:
- www.newc.co.uk
This petition is now closed.
In early January 2008 the RSPCA, assisted by other equine welfare organisations, removed over 100 horses, ponies and donkeys from Spindles Farm, Amersham and charges of animal cruelty were brought against the Gray family. Most of the animals required extensive veterinary treatment and nursing care to start them on the road to good health and some will need continued care for many months to come.
The farm's owner, James Gray, made a formal application to Oxford Magistrates Court on Friday, 4th April 2008 to have the animals returned. The Deputy District Judge ruled to return 29 of these animals into the care of the family, deemed to be family pets, and to send another 82 to public auction. This decision has been greeted with outrage and dismay by the welfare agencies caring for the animals as the case against the Gray family for offences under section 4 and section 9 of the Animal Welfare Act (2006) is yet to be heard.
It is not in the best interests of the animals for these rulings to take place and the RSPCA will investigate all other avenues of appeal. Members of the public are invited to sign this petition to show their support for the RSPCA and the other equine welfare organisations currently caring for these animals in order to secure their future welfare.
We, the undersigned, in support of the RSPCA and other equine welfare agencies, request that the Court overturn the judgements made by Deputy District Judge Sandeep Kainth, at Oxford Magistrates Court on April 4th 2008 for the return of 11 donkeys and 18 Shetland ponies to their owners, the Gray family and of the auction, in Henley in Arden in early May 2008, of the remaining 82 horses.
We request that all animals be left in the care of the welfare agencies until the trial of the Gray family dealing with 12 counts of animal cruelty has taken place.
The Prevent return of Amersham horses prior to animal cruelty trial petition to Rt Hon Jack Straw MP Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Ministry of Justice was written by NEWC and is in the category Animal Welfare at GoPetition.