Starving dogs at 'council' kennels

7:10pm Tuesday 9th September 2008

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POLICE and RSPCA officers raided kennels used by councils to home strays and found starving dogs living in filthy conditions.

Basildon and Castle Point councils immediately suspended their contracts with Novem boarding kennels and catteries.

In the raid on the premises on the A127 at Wickford, three dogs were found to be dangerously thin and hungry.

RSPCA officers ordered kennels owner Alan Peake to give immediate veterinary treatment to the animals, two German shepherd cross-breeds and a Jack Russell.

Four dead puppies – two Staffordshire bull terriers, a Jack Russell and an Airedale – were found in a freezer.

RSPCA official Klare Kennett said: “Seven notices were issued regarding poor cleanliness of the kennels, clean drinking water not being provided and the condition of dogs, which were thin with matted fur.”

She added: “It is not good practice to store dead animals in a freezer. They should be disposed of properly.

“We are awaiting the outcome of post mortems on the dogs to see if they had parvo virus, which is an illness affecting puppies, and to see how they died.”

She said the investigation was continuing and the RSPCA had not ruled out prosecution.

Further checks will be made in the next few weeks to see if Mr Peake has complied with the notices.

Police and RSPCA officers searched the kennels for more than six hours, from 8.45am yesterday, after going in with a search warrant.

Roger Grimwade, of Essex Police, said: “The police, RSPCA staff, local authorities and a vet attended the premises. They had a search warrant and were pursuing enquiries into animal welfare.”

Basildon and Castle Point councils, which normally uses the kennels for rehoming strays, confirmed they had suspended their contracts with the business, pending the outcome of the investigation.

Both councils said they would be temporarily using the Acres Way kennels, in Great Burches Road, Thunder-sley, to house stray dogs.

A Basildon Council spokesman Ray McKay said: “Environmental health officers also visited the premises regarding licence issues, but this could not be revoked unless there was a prosecution.”

Mr Peake refused to comment when the Echo knocked at his home next to the kennels.