10:30am Tuesday 7th July 2009
HAVING been a veterinary surgeon in small animal practice in Darlington for some 30 years, I feel qualified to express an opinion on the recent death of two police dogs left in a car at Nottinghamshire Police headquarters on one of the hottest days of the year.
With the widespread knowledge of what happens to a dog when left shut in a vehicle on a hot summer’s day, this quite clearly should never have happened.
My experience is that the RSPCA would normally prosecute any member of the public who allowed this to happen, charging them with causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. It is, after all, simple common sense.
I find it staggering that this case involves a police dog handler. The RSPCA and police work, quite rightly, closely together in animal cruelty cases so I sincerely hope that it does not influence the society when a prosecution is considered.
If this individual is let off with a caution I will be extremely angry as it will show there is one law for the public and another for the police. Quite simply, of all members of society this police officer should have known better.
Peter Hill, School Aycliffe, Co Durham.
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