2008 has been another hectic year for the Fenland Group. We are now fully staffed with the addition of Inspector Lythgoe who returned to this group after taking the local recruitment option after his Inspectorate training. Also ACO Stubbs transferred from Leicestershire group to cover long-term sick. We wish them both well.

The Fenland group investigated nearly 6,000 complaints of alleged cruelty, of which 45 were reported to H.Q. for prosecution. ACO’s and Inspectors attended over 3,700 rescues and collections.

The RSPCA has hit the headlines this year with their involvement with animal rescues during the floods of this year. Assisting the Fire Brigade, the “Water Rescue Team” was involved with the heavy flooding in Morpeth this year, where they also rescued members of public that had become stranded after their village had flooded.

Within our group we now have several members on the Water Rescue Team. Inspector Finch is the national flood co-ordinator and has been kept very busy this year. He is informed of possible flooding all over the country and then organises the teams to attend, along with national training and new boats to deal with swift water rescues. ACO Plumley is the regional flood co-ordinator and has attended several swift water rescues within our area, and organises the regional recruitment and training.

Chief Inspector Thompson has been involved with several large animal cases this year, from horses to dogs. He has been kept busy organising transport and boarding for large amounts of animals. This is a very time -consuming job, along with all the follow up visits to ensure the welfare of all the animals. Alongside running the group he also has organised new boats for the society to aid with the floods and also water rescues.

Inspector Finch was called to a house in Cambridge this year, where he found three German Shepherd dogs and one puppy. The three adult dogs were kept outside with no shelter on mud and concrete- all three dogs were severely emaciated. The puppy was kept inside but was again emaciated. The couple that owned the dogs were prosecuted and received a 10 year ban on dogs. The man was tagged and had a curfew, and received 200 hours community service punishment along with a £1000 costs. All of the dogs have now put on weight and have been re-homed.

During his first year as an Inspector, Inspector Lythgoe investigated many complaints with several leading to cases. One particular case involved 4 staffy puppies that were found in a house. The puppies were completely bald and had a very scabby skin condition. The veterinary surgeon went on a Section 9 offence and under the new sentencing guidelines the court gave the owner a 15year ban on all animals, with 120 hours community punishment with £500.00 costs. The mother of the puppies was signed over as well. All have been successfully re-homed.

Inspector Knight and ACO Hornig went to a house in the Fens to an alleged complaint about a dog with an un-treated wound. On arrival two dogs were seen tethered by chains in the garden. The garden was very wet and muddy and was covered in faeces. One dog was emaciated and covered in mud and faeces and also had an open wound on its flank. The dog had not been to the vets. The owners were taken to court and the female received 130hrs of community punishment order and banned from owning any animals for 7 years and the male was also banned for 7years with a £515.00 fine and £2,896.00 costs. Importantly the court decided that the RSPCA were to remove the rest of the animals from the property, which were 2 dogs, 5 guinea pigs and a budgie.

In July, Inspector Nice was called to a property in Cambridge on a complaint about a dog. The owner of the dog had previously received a verbal warning and advised to use the Cambridge Clinic. On arrival Inspector Nice observed a Collie X Lab approximately 13 years old with over grown nails, problems with its ears and severely emaciated. She was prosecuted and received a life-time ban on all animals and £200.00 costs. The dog has since recovered and has been happily re-homed.

During the year the ACO’s were involved with a lot of water rescues-from swans with fishing line to hedgehogs in ponds. One rescue that hit the headlines was one in Kings Lynn, ACO Plumley along with Inspector Lythgoe were called by the fire service to help with a deer that had become trapped in a disused, bricked up creek. The deer was becoming increasingly distressed when ACO Plumley and Inspector Lythgoe arrived- they were able to get into their dry-suits and corner the deer and contain. The deer was taken to the local wildlife hospital. Another rescue which involved the flood team was in Staffordshire where ACO Plumley and Inspector Nice attended and took part in the rescue of over 200 sheep that had become stranded by fast flowing water after the river had burst its banks. Unfortunately a few were lost but the vast majority were saved.

In October Inspector Podmore along with Inspector Nice organised a hugely successful Community Animal Action Week in Thetford. Inspector Podmore chose the areas to be targeted and found a very good community centre that helped us tremendously. The entire group provided neutering vouchers for cats and dogs and we were able to microchip over 500 animals and provide veterinary care with the help from Block Fen Animal Home. We received invaluable help from the local branch and a special thanks must go to Kathy of the Bury Branch, who spent the entire week with us at the community centre. This was by far the most successful Community Animal Action Week we have had, and with all the help given made it an enjoyable and very worthwhile project.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our branches and volunteers who make our busy lives a little easier, also many thanks to the emergency services without whom we would struggle and also the assistance given to us by the press and local vets. Thank You.

Mark Thompson

Chief Inspector Fenland Group