Walsall boarding kennels shut down after RSPCA raidA BOARDING kennels in
the Black Country was dramatically shut down by police and the RSPCA
after complaints about conditions at the facility.
Animal welfare inspectors and police with a warrant raided the Rosedene Boarding Kennels, Radley Road, Walsall, on Thursday at 9.00am.
Witnesses said around 50 officers entered the site, near Rushall, before moving staff away.
In total 59 dogs were found at the kennels however three were put down by vets on site.
The other 56 were taken into RSPCA care as officers remained on site until around 9.00pm.
Judith
Haw, RSPCA spokeswoman said: “56 dogs were removed from the premises by
the RSPCA due to the conditions at the kennels. Three dogs were
euthanised at the scene on veterinary advice. All of the dogs, which
have been signed over by the RSPCA, are now in animal centres for
re-homing.”
She added an investigation had been launched into
the state of the kennels which took in stray dogs from Walsall, Dudley
and Sandwell to be re-homed.
A spokesman from West Midlands Police said the operation had been conducted on a warrant under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
He said the organisations had acted after information from the community raised concerns about animal welfare.
One
witness, who asked not to be named, said there had been problems with
conditions on the site for years but said volunteers had done their
best to take care of the dogs there.
She said: “Staff were not allowed on the premises, they shut it down and all the dogs have gone. Three were put down there.”
She
named three put down by vets as Diesel, Stocking and Clarke before
adding: “The people there do a lot to save those dogs lives.”
Edith
Palmer, 61, who also lives nearby and owns two dogs, said she thought
the kennels had been open for around 20 years. She added: “I’m really
shocked. I always thought it was good up there. I’ve only ever been up
there once. Some people walk dogs from the centre up here, but that’s
all I know.”
Links to the kennel’s website were down yesterday
and the telephone had been disconnected when the Birmingham Mail tried
to get in touch.
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