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Police in Devon kept dog in cage for two years without exercise Police in Devon kept dog in cage for two years without exercise
(35 minutes later)
Police ordered a dog they suspected to be dangerous to be locked in a 0.9m by 2.8m (3ft by 9ft) cage for two years without it being allowed any exercise. Police ordered a dog they suspected to be dangerous to be locked in a 0.9-metre x 2.8-metre (3ft x 9ft) cage for two years without it being allowed any exercise.
Stella, a pitbull-type dog, was placed in a kennel on effective death row after officers seized her in Devon in 2014. Police reportedly told workers at the private kennels not to exercise any dogs held under the 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act. Stella, a pitbull-type dog, was placed in a kennel after officers seized the animal in Devon in 2014. Police reportedly told workers at the private kennels not to exercise any dogs held under the 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act.
Her treatment contradicted RSPCA guidelines to police, which state that “dogs must be provided with the opportunity to exercise away from their kennel at least once a day and this should be for a total of at least 30 minutes”. The treatment contradicted RSPCA guidelines to police, which state that “dogs must be provided with the opportunity to exercise away from their kennel at least once a day and this should be for a total of at least 30 minutes”.
Laura Khanlarian, an assistant at the kennels, said Stella was only let out twice during her stay for behavioural assessments.Laura Khanlarian, an assistant at the kennels, said Stella was only let out twice during her stay for behavioural assessments.
“We were always told not to exercise or go into a kennel with any dogs, regardless of character, that had been brought in under the Dangerous Dogs Act,” she told BBC News.“We were always told not to exercise or go into a kennel with any dogs, regardless of character, that had been brought in under the Dangerous Dogs Act,” she told BBC News.
“We were under no circumstances allowed to touch any of those dogs at all – which was hard. Animal welfare comes before anything and that was my job. I don’t believe I would be doing it properly if I would sit back and think that’s OK. It wasn’t OK – it’s not OK.”“We were under no circumstances allowed to touch any of those dogs at all – which was hard. Animal welfare comes before anything and that was my job. I don’t believe I would be doing it properly if I would sit back and think that’s OK. It wasn’t OK – it’s not OK.”
Police singled out Stella as a potentially dangerous dog because of her breed, her behaviour when she was seized and her behaviour on the two occasions that she was let out to be assessed. Police singled out Stella as potentially dangerous because of her breed, and her behaviour when she was seized and on the two occasions that she was let out to be assessed.
Her owner, Antony Hastie, attended court 11 times over his pet, according to the BBC. He told the court that she had not been involved in a single incident of aggressive behaviour before she was seized. But the court ordered earlier this month that Stella should be destroyed. The dog’s owner, Antony Hastie, attended court 11 times over his pet, according to the BBC. He told the court she had not been involved in any incidents of aggressive behaviour before she was seized. But the court ordered earlier this month that Stella should be destroyed.
A Devon and Cornwall police spokesperson said Stella was the only dog seized in the past two years that was judged “too dangerous to walk because of her aggressive behaviour”.A Devon and Cornwall police spokesperson said Stella was the only dog seized in the past two years that was judged “too dangerous to walk because of her aggressive behaviour”.
The force insisted that the assessment remained under constant review and further examinations had been made by independent experts, including the RSPCA and the managers of the kennel where Stella was kept, who agreed with the decision.The force insisted that the assessment remained under constant review and further examinations had been made by independent experts, including the RSPCA and the managers of the kennel where Stella was kept, who agreed with the decision.
“This dog has threatened and shown aggressive behaviour towards two police community support officers,” the spokesperson said. “There were also occasions where Stella showed aggressive behaviour prior to being seized, which were fully described in court. Stella then attempted to bite a court-appointed independent expert during the dog’s assessment. “This dog has threatened and shown aggressive behaviour towards two police community support officers,” the spokesperson said. “There were also occasions where the animal showed aggressive behaviour prior to being seized, which were fully described in court. The dog also attempted to bite a court-appointed independent expert during its assessment.
“Presented with all the facts, the court decided that the dog was so dangerous that the only option was for Stella to be destroyed. “Presented with all the facts, the court decided that the dog was so dangerous that the only option was for Stella to be destroyed. The length of this criminal case is extremely rare. None of the adjournments were requested or caused by Devon and Cornwall police.”
“The length of this criminal case is extremely rare. None of the adjournments were requested or caused by Devon and Cornwall police.”
The charity Dogs Trust said: “Dogs Trust is horrified to hear that Stella was reportedly caged for two years without exercise because she was deemed too aggressive to be exercised by handlers.The charity Dogs Trust said: “Dogs Trust is horrified to hear that Stella was reportedly caged for two years without exercise because she was deemed too aggressive to be exercised by handlers.
“Adequate exercise is essential for the mental stimulation of dogs as well as keeping them fit and providing environmental enrichment through sniffing and social contact. These are basic welfare needs and are a crucial part of the life of a dog; a lack of any of those needs results in poor welfare and the possibility of adverse behaviours. It added: “While we do not know the exact circumstances around this particular case, we do feel that the courts should make an effort to expedite their proceedings in situations such as this. Dogs Trust would question why any dog should be held captive for prolonged periods, particularly when for some the court decision is a destruction order.”
“While we do not know the exact circumstances around this particular case, we do feel that the courts should make an effort to expedite their proceedings in situations such as this. Dogs Trust would question why any dog should be held captive for prolonged periods, particularly when for some the court decision is a destruction order.”