Just read a terrible article in local paper about something which happened about a mile from my home last week.  Apparently local dog warden had collected a staffy cross which was a stray, and was transporting it to the local kennels which operates as a "pound" for the Local Authority.  At some point in the journey (it is proably about 5 miles) the back door of the van came open and the dog fell out.  It was tied to the inside of the van, so could not get loose, and was there dragged behind the van for what may have been several miles!  Peole saw what had happened, and some other dirvers managed to flag down the van.  The dog had horrific injuries and was put to sleep by a local vet.

This is so awful, poor little dog!  However, one fact puzzled me, no mention of RSPCA involvement was mentioned, there is a quote from someone at the council that it was a tragic accident, that is all.  But surely it was a tragic accident due to carelessness  - leaving aside the not secured door, why on earth was the dog tied up instead of being safely in a cage?  I remember the big RSPCA case a few years ago when all the poor newfis suffered heat stroke and some died while being transported, those people were  found  guilty of cruelty, even though it was agreed in court that they had simply been remiss in not understanding the hired van had a roof likely to heat up in hot weather.  This is surely much more negligence?  Will be interested to see if anything transpires.

bye
Gwen

how terrible :( why was it not caged

No idea, I simpoly cant believe that dog wardens carry dogs in the back of thier van, jsut tied up - alwasy assumed they had built in cages.  Even if the door had not opened, think of the probelms the dog could have got inot, just being tied up!
bye
Gwen

OMG thats horrible :(

And who will bring the person responsible to justice....no one,I bet !! It will just be put down to a tragic accident but if it were 'Joe public' they would be prosecuted.
Poor little dog...
Archer

Please let us have details of the area involved, and if possible where this story was reported.  I feel that perhaps a few letters to the athorities involved would not go amiss.

HI Timhere, it is up in the North East, authority is South Tyneside, and the story was front page on the "Shields Gazette".  Incident happened last week.  I was thinking of writing to the Vet. concerned, who PTS the dog, as I know they work closeley with the RSPCA on a lot of prosecutions, and find out if they have reported it.  And just imagine how the dogs owners feel, if it was just lost, and not a 'stray"

bye
Gwen

http://www.southtynesidetoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=1111&ArticleID=835633

Northumbria police have decided to take no action.

I guess in some ways this was an accident, but when you have animals or look after them (esp. in a professional capacity) you have to take such great care, and that means double checking things such as doors on vans and cars. EVen tying a dogup is very bad practice as the dog may have a broken neck if driver had to do an emergency stop.

My dad once looked after my dogs and they fell out of his van going up a hill on a quiet road - luckily thank heavens they were not tied and ran after the van, again thank heavens my dad saw them in the rear view mirror and didnt even tell me for years later as he had decided i would be so horrified and not trust hin with them again!! Although we were able to smile about it when he did tell me.

Also a car banged slightly into my parked estate and must have loosened the back door catch without me realising, as i was driving along and suddenly realised the back door was open - wondered why my dogs were whining so much! So accidents can happen but i feel someone in  a dog warden's job shouls at least be seen to accept responsibility. JMO of course.

Poor dog.

Lindsay
X

Hi Lindsay, I do agree accidents can happen, but this just seems lack of care, loose doors and dog tied not in a cage.  With the Colgan case, where the Newfis died, the RSPCA seemed to decide to act almost at once, yet all they were guilty of really was not understanding the construction of a commercial vehicle they hired - the van used to move the dogs had a translucent roof, but as it had a roll shutter door at the back, when they inspected it the roof was covered, so they though it would be OK.. It was a red hot day, they got stuck in a motorway jam, with tragic outcome.  there was never any suggestion it was deliberate, but the fact remains ignorance is not defence!  In this instance, it seems to me that a degree of negligence has to be a part of the tragedy.  Will see if I get a reply from the Vet, or the Local Authority.

bye
Gwen

If memory serves me right on some TV program about Battersea they too tethered the dogs in the back of the collection van-very worrying-after all dogs crates are relatively cheap & most RSPCA vans have Vari Kennels in them

I suppose it is a lot cheaper just to have tether rings welded than put dog crates in

The woman who killed her dogs when she drove off with them fastened to her bumper bar got fined I believe & that was neglience & so is this

I totally agree ignorance is no defence Gwen, especially where an animal has suffered. Let us know if you get a reply?

Lindsay
X

that is a terrifying ordeal for the dog to go thought in my opinion they should not tie animals in to the van but, just place them in a crate as a comfortable alternitve! i hope this never happens again.

siobhan

Anyone remember the back of the ambulance coming open and the woman inside falling out last year?

Yes, wasn't she run over and killed?

Having seen the back of a dog warden van on TV afew years ago I was horrified when I saw all the dogs where tied up...no cages, just rope tide to rings on the side of the van, leaving all dogs to come into all sorts of trouble!  I would have thought thats These vans would be equipted with cages as are many show peoples vans!!!!!!!

that is terible i cant think why they dont have fitted cages in there vans with a job like that just tied up on rings with rope in a van when thay also have dogs in there that dont no each other that is asking for trouble that poor little dog i cant belive that being draged along :(
fiona

i awlays thought that the RSPCA worked against the cruelty of animals ? not just tiyng a dog up and driving off ! just think of the damage it could of encounted in the van travling . poor little dog

Seems the van concerned was the local dog warden, not the RSPCA. The dog warden in my area has a van with at least a guard in it, wasn't close enough to see if it was a full cage. I had stopped to see if I could help rescue a elderly GSD from the central reservation of a dual carriageway.
Lynn

I thought that anyone carrying dogs in the course of a business had to comply by the Welfare of Animals during Transport Order 1997/9?
I know that all puppy traders should comply, when carrying puppies during the course of their business, we all know they do not because the authorities do not enforce it. However, I would have thought that Council employed dog wardens should/would be complying. Poor dog, and owner, someone should be made responsibly, that was carelessness.     

I agree Pat, in fact carelessness is putting it mildly, seems like sheer negligence to me!  I have writtin to the LA, the Vet involved and the local papers, will see if anything happens.  After all, how hard is it to lock a door?  And when I was told about the tying rings I could not believe it, what if they pcik up a few dogs, can you imagine the damage if one panics?
bye
Gwen

Gwen,

Has anyone thought to advertise in Hebburn, where the dog was picked up from, to see if they can find it's owner. They won't see the Gazette.
I dare say even if they report her missing she will just have 'disappeared'. They aren't going to tell the owner what really happened are they.
West Hall used to have a really bad reputation but I haven't been there in a few years so it might have changed. I knew a bloke who worked there about 7-8 years ago and when he told me how they PTS the strays I couldn't believe it. There was also an incident involving some abuse of the dogs but it is a bit delicate to post.
As for 'Dog Wardens' I havent got much respect for 'most' of them.
My daughter once rescued a Bullmastiff. After 2 months he became really aggressive and bit her SIL quite badly. She decided that he was too much of a rislk to have around the kids so she 'phoned the warden. Not Tyneside.
At first he wanted nothing to do with the dog but as soon as he found he was a pedigree he came out and picked him up.
Because my daughter was so upset. One because he had bitten her SIL and two because she loved him. The guy managed to get the KC papers form her.
The dog never found his way to the kennels and about 5 weeks later it was discovered the Warden had sold him to someone and he had savaged a man who needed 30 stitches. The Warden had told my daughter that because of his breed he would have to be PTS.
MY daughter saw the report of the man being bitten in the paper and 'phoned them to be told it was her dog that had done it.
She had signed a form to give permission for him to be PTS.
The Warden was sacked and, I think, fined as he had re-homed a number of pedigree dogs that were destined for the kennels. Obviously pocketing the money he sold them for.

Hi Dawn,  As it was a front page story on the Gazette, and that is the local paper in Hebburn, probably more so than the Chronicle, the story is probably well known in the town. As the dog was just on its way to West hall they cant be blamed at all here, it seems purely down to one warden. But it gives shivers down my spine, waht if one of my dogs had got loose/run away?  What if it had been mine (or yours) in that van?  Will report back when/if I get any replys

bye
Gwen