And to think I rung up to try to volunteer at this place a few months ago(thank goodness I decided against it).
I thought animal shelters were meant to protect the animalsThe poor little things, first they were abandoned/abused/etc and then they were put into this shelter. I only hope that those who remain alive are found loving homes.
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Dogs found dead
9:56am Thursday 9th July 2009
Police and the RSPCA are investigating the deaths of dogs at a pet sanctuary in East Grafton where a woman and a man were arrested on Friday on suspicion of causing unnecessary suffering to animals.
Wiltshire Animal Rescue and Sanctuary (WARAS) was run by Claire Strong from her home at the Severalls in Grafton and that is where police and RSPCA officers found two dead dogs in a downstairs room on Friday.
They were called by a neighbour, Peter Vallis, who had been asked by a passer by to help return a dog that had escaped through a partly open ground floor window.
There was no reply when they knocked at the front door and when they opened the window to put the dog back inside they saw two dead and partly decomposed dogs on the floor.
Police confirmed that they were called to the rented semi-detached house by the RSPCA on Friday to help its inspector, Will Hendry, gain entry.
One police source said officers had been to the house on previous occasions after allegations about the conditions pets were kept in.
Sgt Andy Peach confirmed on Monday that a 43-year-old man and a 21-year-old woman were arrested at the house on Friday evening on suspicion of causing unnecessary suffering and that they had been interviewed and released on bail while inquiries continue.
An RSPCA spokesman said that in view of ongoing inquiries it had no comment to make.
Sgt Peach said that when officers entered the premises they found two dead dogs, another in a severely emaciated condition and five other dogs.The animals were all removed by the RSPCA.
Neighbour Peter Vallis said he had been concerned for a long while about the welfare of animals being looked after by Mrs Strong at the WARAS sanctuary.
He said: “We have had lots of problems with it and have been trying to get the RSPCA to do something about for about two years ever since she moved in.” Mr Vallis, an engineer, said: “We called the RSPCA and the former Kennet council on numerous occasions about dreadful smells coming from the house. We knew there were a lot of dogs in there but they were never taken out or allowed out in the garden.”
On Friday he called the RSPCA and police after seeing two dead dogs. “One of them was in a state of decomposition and the smell was just disgusting,” he said.
There was no one at the house when the Gazette called yesterday. The garden was full of stacks of empty pet crates and cages.
WARAS had its own website appealing money to help pay vets’ bills and homes for animals, but it was taken down on Tuesday.
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Originally Posted by Karen
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