Village rallies round after RSPCA 'raid'

A COMMUNITY has united in support of an elderly man who has had his beloved pet dogs taken away.
A crowd of villagers and residents gathered last Monday evening as the RSPCA, West Mercia Police and Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service were called to the home of John Spicer, of Old Whittington Road, Gobowen to remove his two dogs following reports at least one of them was in a poor state.
His friends claim the former vet, an eccentric character who is well-known and liked around the village, loved his animals dearly but admitted the older of the two sheep dogs needed help.
Mr Spicer was arrested on suspicion of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal, known as Pup, which has since been destroyed on welfare grounds. The other is still in RSPCA care.
Concerned neighbour Mark Breeze said Mr Spicer was bereft without them.
“It’s very sad it came to this, he really loves those animals and believes he’s doing the best by them.”
Some villagers were outraged by what they saw as the “excessive” size of the operation, which involved two RSPCA officers in two separate vans, backed by a police sergeant and constable as well as firefighters who looked for Mr Spicer through windows before forcing entry.
Another PC and two PCSOs attended later.
But a spokesman for the RSPCA claimed the action was necessary to safeguard the animals.
“We had received a number of calls from people concerned about the poor welfare of a dog at this property and had recently been told that the condition of this dog was deteriorating.
“We will always attempt to work with owners to safeguard the welfare of their animals where this is possible and our officers had made attempts to get in touch with this owner on a number of occasions.
“Two RSPCA officers attended in separate vans as we had to remove two dogs and they needed to travel separately.
“We would refute any claims that the man was not treated with respect and there was no undue force.
“The RSPCA did not go in to the property and is unable to remove animals without police assistance,” they added.
Meanwhile, Mr Breeze said the outpouring of support for Mr Spicer has been overwhelming and added: “So many people have been asking me how he’s been getting on since, people I’ve never even spoke to before but obviously knew him from his dog-walking route.”
Friends Malcolm and Carol Cheetham described Mr Spicer as an “independent, intelligent and educated” man and claimed the village was “up in arms” about his loss.
“He still has people bringing their pets to him and he tries to help – it’s his life.
“When he was released by the police he said: ‘I don’t know how I’m going to live without my dogs’.
“It’s so sad,” they added.
And local business woman Beccy Russell, of The Sandwich Bar, said she felt deeply for Mr Spicer.
“He’s a lovely man and is really popular. It’s sad about his dog but I think he just needed a bit of help.”

Well I'm sure we can all bear witness.to the 'respect' they treat people with.
Let's hope they've shot themselves in the foot with their actions and that the villagers start to spread the word about what uncaring bastards they really are

It's the lies they tell and the money they waste...Fire and Rescue Service? It costs a lot if money to call out an emergency vehicle, and what in God's name was the fire engine for? TWO vans...for two dogs which presumably had lived together all their lives? He has also already been 'named and shamed' and address given, and as far as I can see, not yet been to court and not found guilty. Can this be right?
More lies ... 'RSPCA is unable to remove animals without police assistance'...since when did that stop them from doing whatever they like... they do it all the time, we all know that. It surprises me that they didn't have a couple of trigger-happy police marksmen in case the dogs were rabid Pit Bull Terriers.

Dunno about you guys, but this reminds me of Clwyd Davies. What happened to him? Did he ever turn up? The only positive aspect is that it will not endear people to the RSPCA, not one bit, a) because of the way they treat vulnerable old people who love their pets and b) the money they waste.

Something tells me that they organise these over-the-top animal fiascos simply so they look as tho' they are fearless and dedicated in their pursuit of animal abusers. Look at us, see the risks we take to stop animals from suffering, gosh we work so hard. Remember that saddo Gavin Grant, trying to justify the £300k spent on the Heythrop trial announced 'You cannot put a price on justice'. This was not Spindles Farm with a few tough characters to deal with, this was one poor old man. Why the fire engine? Did he keep the dogs on the roof or what? Or was he up there pouring boiling oil on them?

I'd like them to itemise every penny spent in that 'operation'. 

It won't endear them to normal sane people but to a lot of their supporters they will be heroes for their actions against this poor man.
Let's hope that his neighbours will be prepared to bear witness to the bullying he was subjected to. If enough of them saw it they can't all be accused of lying.

Let's hope his neighbours do get a petition together or the like...don't want the poor old guy to disappear like Clwyd. And of course these days, nearly everone has a phone with a camera/video facility and there's proof of what's happened. I am amazed something like that didn't hit the national papers...and I'm sure Private Eye would have a field day with it.

I found a community forum for Gobowen where two of his neighbours are discussing this. Apasparently the Daily Mail have visited and also Radio 4 picked up
on story.
r$pca denied they treated the 71year old with such disrespect. Hope enough people witnessed the events, they can't all be branded liars.

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Glad one of the nationals covered it. They seem to delight in persecuting people who are old and a bit eccentric. One of the officers looks like she needs to lose a bit of weight too.

In their 'comment' column today the last paragraph states 'As a nation of animal lovers, we give the rspca licence to enter homes where cruelty is suspected. They do not have the right to act like the gestapo'.
Perhaps someone should put them straight that they DO NOT have licence to enter anyones homes!

Funny thing is that several of us have called them the Gestapo for a year or two. WE know and THEY know that they break the law at every level, but no-one seems to be inclined to take action. Even for them to walk into a stableyard and start sniffing and snooping round the horses, the feed bins etc then start rounding up horses (like cattle rustlers) is trespass and common theft; but when did you ever hear of them being charged with it...Mr Spicer has had his name plastered all over the place but they haven't yet decided what they are going to do (ie whether or not they will prosecute). I feel so sorry for this chap...but at the same time there is a satisfaction in knowing that this article will be read by a lot of people and discussed with those who have not read it. And, as Misty pointed out, there are those who will think this was a fine thing, but there will be thousands more who decide that they will no longer send donations to RSPCA. That can't be a bad thing.

Everything they do is so over-the-top...so desperate for (what they think is) good publicity. My guess, and it's only that, a guess, is that they will now be desperate to carry out a 'damage limitation exercise' to cancel out the bad press they have had with this fiasco. A lot of peope read the Mail. My guess is that the younger dog (the one still alive) will be treated by an RSPCA vet. He will then be photographed looking in ace condition, then in front of a film crew, he will be handed back to his 'delighted owner' by a kindly smiling Gestapo officer. That is, of course if his owner doesn't disappear like Clwyd.

i think the public are gradually turning against them but...the animal rights brigade are the problem. I also think the rspca manipulate them to do their dirty work for them. Post something about an 'animal abuser' on their facebook page and then sit back and wait for them to come out of the woodwork. The sad thing is they may be animal rights but definitely not animal lovers

Found a report from 2005 about a Newsnight report pre the new AWA by a journalist called Katharine Quarmby. She seemed to predict how prosecution-happy that mob would become, how right she was! Rattled their cage at the time.
She put a transcript of the programme on her blog in January this year. Wonder if she would do an update documentary?

hi there misty - pease can you get back in contact with her and see if she is interested in doing a followup now the Act has been in place for 7 years

Not actually been in contact with her but will try to get in touch.

Just looked at the Gobowen forum (still not approved me to post in there). A documentary company for Panorama were due to visit today, apparently they're doing a programme about that mob and are highlighting his story 'along with many other similar incidents'.
Let's hope the tide is turning

Well done on finding that out ...sure there must be a lot of people who would be able and willing to contribute details of incidents...and Panorama is VERY Highly respected. There must be hundreds of people that we don't know about; all we know about are the ones we see in the media and ones on Forums such as this one. Think we should change your Forum name to Miss Marples!! 
And interesting about Katharine Quarmby...have googled her name and she is also well-respected. I think things are hotting up as far as the Gestapo are concerned. I do think that people ARE beginning to see thro' them.

This is my therapy. Channeling my hate into something positive as I don't much like the person they've made me.

Hi Misty I think we all feel the same - sadly at the time most of us went through the RSPCA hands our blood was not up so to speak - those who can get on this forum early in their experience can be helped alot to steel themselves and fight for their animals.

None of us like what we have become - bitter and suspicious and I certainly dont give to charity like i used too!

Put a message of support for Mr Spicer on the forum. Had reply last night from one of his neighbours who said he was overwhelmed by the support not only from the community but also many who have read the Daily Mail article and driven to Gobowen for a chat and to share similar experiences.
The neighbour has written to the Rt Hon Owen Paterson MP and he has written to the Chief Exec of rspca, Chief of police and Chief Fire Officer. Their PR people will have to be working overtime on this.
Looks like the word is spreading

So pleased tp hear that John Spicer is getting some support from people who know him...it would have been awful if he had just disappeared like Clwyd; I must say that thought did occur to me... it only takes one 'concerned member of the public' (aka a nosey good-for-nothing busybody) to start a pantomime like the one with Mr Spicer. And  am delighted to hear that those involved are being asked to explain their actions.

If you wish to write to Gavin Grant, there is a freepost address:
Gavin Grant
RSPCA FREEPOST 10503
Horsham
RH13 9BR

This is on the envelopes they send to people they think are going to leave them their country estates, villas in St Tropez, apartments in New York City etc etc; oh, I almost forgot, they also send to people they have persecuted, prosecuted and whose animals they have stolen and murdered.

What I could NOT quite 'get my head round' (as the trendies say) is why Fire Sevice personnel were going up ladders and peeping thro' his upstairs windows if they were going to break the door down eventually anyway? Why bother going up the ladder? Anything for a bit of drama, anything to get people looking and saying how marvellous the RSPCA is in its eternal pursuit of justice for abused animals. Blow the fact that the owners are routinely abused. Yes, I also think the Fire Service should explain why they were doing this...maybe they are not kept busy enough with real (life-threatening) calls? Fortunately there was no-one in a burning house at the time. It's not cheap to call out emergency vehicles, as you can imagine. Was this paid for by the tax payer? Or by well-meaning people who have donated to their huge moneybags? Delighted to hear that someone has some explaining to do.

There is an aspect of this case which worries me more than a little: namely, if John Spicer is taken to court and found guilty, he will quite likely be 'struck off' by the RCVS. Even if he is no longer practising, it would have quite a stigma attached to it. What made me think of this was the dreadfully sad end to my horse vet's career. He was about 75, the best horse vet in the area (had forgotten more than most of them will ever know) and still working fulltime as no-one would let him retire. He cared about the horses and not about the money. Secretary of the British Horse Society for several years, totally eccentric but always spot-on with his diagnosis.
His ex-wife was a junkie, addicted, I think, to painkillers. So to fuel her habit she took some stuff from his medicine cupboard (he lived alone and he worked from home) when she was visiting, injected herself, and managed to kill herself. He was struck off for not keeping the stuff safe, not sure what it was, something like immobilon (used on large horses to keep them still). It was a very sad end to a 50-year career.
John Spicer's address is all over the place and I am seriously thinking of writing him a letter of support; I know my vet said it meant a lot to him after his ordeal that people did show their support.

I'm sure he would appreciate it.
I did wonder if at some time he had been involved in defending someone against the rspca and now they're getting their own back.
The neighbour has also expressed concern over the fate of the surviving dog 'Little Boy'

I'll certainly put my story in if we get the opportunity.

I've uncovered yet another lie today and Millie1 can vouch for me. Sick to death of it and hoping to question them in Court about it!

misty02 wrote:I'm sure he would appreciate it.
I did wonder if at some time he had been involved in defending someone against the rspca and now they're getting their own back.
The neighbour has also expressed concern over the fate of the surviving dog 'Little Boy'

Misty

...the same thought had fleetingly occurred to me. But what I did...and still do... ask myself is what Mr Spicer MRCVS thought of the R$PCA before this Animal Welfare extravaganza? As you say, had he had previous 'dealings' with the Nazi Party in his professional capacity as a vet? Had they hoped for a damning report and he wrote something mild and innocuous and not sufficiently incriminating? ...who knows? I know for a fact that they came after me as I had written a letter to World Horse Welfare complaining about the R$PCA 'inspector' the previous year. I said I thought she was an arrogant and ill-bred bully who should learn some inter-personal skills. You know, the sort of people who think that you are thick, but that if they shout like fishwives they might get thro' to you? WHW kept the letter on file as they are in cahoots with each other.
Was in the waiting room today at the vet's and in marched a Gestapo Officer. Yikes!!! So I crossed myself and dived under the seat with Gatsby (my sex-change boy cat) while listening to what he said to the receptionist. I could not hear what he said, but she was totally unfriendly and unwelcoming to him and snarled 'Stay there...I'll get it for you'. Put it this way, he did not exactly get a hero's welcome. She then came back and chucked an envelope at him then turned away. I did not get the impression that he was welcome and my guess (and it's only that) was that there had been a complaint about a pet belonging to a client of the practice...the vet...the adorable one...loved by everyone, and especially me... did not show his face.

Glad you joined the Forum Misty... love your contributions...I would love to meet Mr Spicer and ask him a few questions (for publication) but he is quite likely totally freaked out after being arrested barefoot!!!  Saying which he looks like quite a big fit guy...on the pix he seemed  to be as big as the PC's ... and does not look like he cannot speak for himself. He does not look like a disabled old man certainly.

Glad he has not gone the way of Clwyd. That was certainly a funny business...one minute he was all over FB with his own page and so much support, then some 'concerned members of the public' dug out some ancient pictures of horses which might/might not have belonged to him...I had to ask why they had waited so many years to dig out these pictures. Was it five years? If I saw obvious examples of terrible suffering, I would not wait until the owner (Clwyd) was in court on later charges before I spoke up. They took photos back then, but saved them until Clwyd was recently in court for totally different charges...it made no sense at all to me. But Clwyd has disappeared and we guess he will not be found alive. How sad is that?

Is very sad.
From comments made by Mr Spicers neighbour I think perhaps he was becoming 'eccentric'. He mentioned a vermin problem a few years ago and that the local authority was supposed to be monitoring his situation and giving help if needed. Obviously he has been neglected but of course nobody will be tsken to task over that.

I'm hi-jacking John Spicer thread, Admin, not because it has really anything to do with him, but...what totally amazes me is this: John Spicer MRCVS had two dogs, one of which was clearly nearing the end of his life and a younger one with a skin condition. Acting on a tip-off from the usual 'concerned member of the public', John's house was raided by a posse of no less than 13 people, that's right. Five police officers, in God knows how many cars and vans...(dunno); two R$PCA uniforms in TWO vans; and to round it off, SIX Fire Officers who, I assume, were in a fire engine. John was dragged out barefoot as I read it (he was in bed at the time) and his DNA, prints and mugshot taken. John is a harmless old lad of about 70, somewhat eccentric perhaps.  He was kept in a police cell. The older of the two dogs was pts, and the fate of the younger one is, as yet, unknown. My guess is that, as this case has evoked already such bad publicity, which the RSPCA hates, the younger dog will be treated and returned. I wouldn't be surprised if there is a camera crew there to record the happy event...call me cynical! Yes, indeed I am. Aren't we all?

BY COMPARISON[/b:Daniel Pelka, aged just four was systematically starved, beaten and immersed in freezing water (in winter) by his mother and her b/friend. When Daniel wanted a drink his mother and her ghastly boyfriend gave him salt... he was so hungry he used to steal food from his classmates' lunchboxes as his own lunchbox contained half a sandwich. He was locked in a dark room and not allowed to come out to use the bathroom. He had a sibling who wanted to help him and saved bits of food for him. So mother and stepfather took the lock off the door so the sibling could not get in and give little Dan any scraps of food. Apparently he was so thin he had loose skin hanging off his limbs, plus black eyes and bruising to his neck. I think what caused the start of the abuse was, that little Dan, when he was hungry one day, went and took something from the fridge...a bit of cheese, a tomato or the like, and that ugly boyfriend decided he must be punished. And it escalated from there as I see it. I am not sure what was the actual cause of death..beating...starvation...drowning...who knows? He was subjected to all, so maybe the actual cause is not relevant?

I am just wondering why the 'concerned members of the public' who can spot a flea on a cat at 100 yards and a louse on a horse at 50, and accordingly call the RSPCA, do not notice a little chap starving before their (normally) observant eyes? As young as he was, when he had PE or games or swimming, he would have needed help from a teacher to get dressed, do up his laces, dry himself. They did not think to report that he 'looked like a Belsen inmate'. I find it odd. I did supply teaching for a while, and I must say that the teachers seemed to show a really genuine interest in their students and I could not imagine any one of them seeing a kid in such a state and not reporting it.
So how come people are so quick to call RSPCA about a cat with fleas/horse with lice/dog with dermatitis, but are completely reluctant to save the life of a child? So sad...so many couples in this country would give all they had to adopt a little chap like Daniel. So many loving homes would have cherished him, he is so lovely, but it was never to be.
My guess is that it was reported and Social Services blew it again. And to be honest, as a class teacher, if you had a youngster like Daniel stealing from lunchboxes, if you were his class teacher you would be sure to take in something for him to eat? Some cheese...some fruit...a  ham sandwich..a bottle of orange juice...a few muesli bars, anything to stop the kid starving? You would ask him a few discreet questions on the side, like what he had for breakfast, what he normally has for his tea....if you report anything to the Police, they only take immediate action if they think there is a Pitbull Terrier in the High St which contravenes the dangerous Dogs' Act and they swamp the area with police marksmen.
I am not at all violent, but I'd be happy if they shot the people who tortured this little boy. It's small consolation, I know, but at least your average 'decent crim' has standards...maybe they rob banks, but torturing innocent kids does not come into the equation. I cannot get this child out of my mind today...it is doing my head in...maybe because he is called Daniel like my son.