Pet health care failings land well-meaning animal lover in court

Monday, 8 February 2010 10:30

The importance of finding out about proper pet health care has been reinforced by a court case in Plymouth.

Pamela Stephenson admitted one charge of causing unnecessary suffering to a rabbit and one of failing to protect another rabbit from pain and suffering.

However, magistrates gave Ms Stephenson a conditional discharge after hearing she was not responsible for the condition of the pets, reports the Herald.

The 52-year-old was known in the local community as an animal lover and only took in the two rabbits a fortnight before the RSPCA called at her house.

As Ms Stephenson was not fully aware of the pet health care issues associated with keeping rabbits, she did not notice that they were in a poor condition and failed to take them to a vet for treatment.

"I should not have taken them on. I was grateful for the RSPCA for taking them and caring for them," the contrite pet lover told the court.

The RSPCA recommends that anyone who is thinking of taking on a pet rabbit should check what health and behavioural problems it has previously had before making a final decision.

Animal Friends are a specialist pet insurance company providing dog insurance and cat insurance to British pet owners since 1999 and we now offer horse insurance too.

Posted by Elaine