Shelter News

Open Day

The Open Day on 18th July was a huge success, thousands of people (and dogs!) came to enjoy our annual event. The dog show was one of the many successful events throughout the day, many people came to show their interest in the animals, the new rabbit units (see below), the soon to be completed dog shelters. We raised a lot of money for the shelter, and had great fun in doing so.

Thank you to all the events organisers, the many animal welfare organisations, pet food companies, everyone who participated, and to all the staff and the many many volunteers without whom the event just wouldn't be possible.

New Rabbit Unit

Take a look at our fantastic new rabbit unit, first seen by hundreds of people at our recent open day! The unit has indoor and outdoor pods and runs, including double pens to maximise space. The upper pods are for the rabbits, the bottom pods for the guinea pigs. Both sets of pods have access to the outdoor run, but the rabbits and guinea pigs are kept apart from each other where one is locked away so the other has access and vice versa.

New Building Project

Our building work, to provide new kennels for our homeless dogs and a new rabbit and small animal unit, is almost finished. The new rabbit /small animal unit is complete and being used, as is the upper block of the new kennels. The final stage, which is now well underway, is the completion of the new lower kennel block. We are sure our animals are enjoying their swish new housing, and we are all looking forward to the final completion of the project.

Whilst our building work is going on, public access has to be severely limited. We realise this is difficult for people, and we are very sorry for the inconvenience. However, we still have plenty of dogs, cats, rabbits and other small animals waiting for adoption, so please do ask in reception if you can offer a loving home to one of these animals.

Sponsored Walk

The sponsored walk was a great success, so far we have raised over £2000 with more to come. We were lucky with the weather and everyone had a great time, i think the dogs enjoyed the walk too!

Dog breeder jailed after being found with 15 dead and dying puppies trapped in suitcases

A dog breeder who was found with 15 dead and dying puppies trapped in suitcases has been jailed for 20 weeks and banned from keeping animals for life. Amanda Cheadle, 58, stacked the closed cases on top of one another and locked them in a cupboard at her home near East Sussex, causing the animals starvation, dehydration and suffocation. Despite efforts to revive the ten live puppies, two had to be put down at the property while another was put down at an RSPCA shelter.

She was found guilty of nine charges of causing unnecessary suffering and neglect between August 2008 and February 2009 following a four-day trial at Lewes Magistrates' Court last month. Cheadle appeared for sentencing at the same court, where she was told she would serve 20 weeks in prison for each of the charges, to run concurrently. Chairman of the bench Chris Bell said: 'We think this is an appropriate way to deal with you because of the prolonged suffering you caused to the animals in your care, which caused the deaths of eight puppies, and because of the conditions in which you kept the animals for a long period.'

During the trial, magistrates were told that a member of the public raised the alarm about the squalid conditions the dogs were kept in at her farmhouse in Bell Lane, Fletching, near Uckfield, East Sussex, where she ran a smallholding. When officers visited, they found 16 adult dogs and 10 puppies in a double garage in virtual darkness with limited ventilation and hazards such as an armchair with springs protruding. Food and water bowls were placed on top of compacted faeces which was inches deep in places and appeared contaminated, and there was nowhere for the dogs to rest or sleep.

Cheadle gave up ownership of the 10 puppies and six dogs, leaving her with 10 dogs which the RSPCA revisited to check on any improvements. On one of their subsequent visits dogs were heard whining and two suitcases were found locked in a cupboard under the stairs containing the dead and dying puppies. The court was told that the four puppies in one case had been dead between two and 20 hours and were about three days old. The other one in a smaller case was considerably smaller and had been dead 'some time'.

Magistrates concluded that Cheadle intentionally killed or intended to kill the puppies by placing them in the suitcases, thus causing starvation, dehydration and suffocation. Also found at the house was a ginger kitten with an eye condition, which they said any reasonable owner would have sought veterinary advice for. During mitigation the court heard that Cheadle was of previous good character and had no relevant convictions. Magistrates were told she was sectioned under the Mental Health Act around the time the offences took place. Defending her, Lucinda Dore said: 'She now accepts that she perhaps behaved in a way that a person of sound mind may not have done.' She added that Cheadle also felt the RSPCA had not given her the support she needed.

Speaking afterwards, RSPCA inspector Rachel Bell said: 'It was one of the most harrowing situations I've ever been involved with. 'There were a number of Collie dogs living in revolting conditions confined to a garage and two litters of puppies that had been confined to a suitcase and left to die.'

Carol Singing At Brighton Train Station

Many thanks to all of you for your support, we couldn't do it without you.