Police on the Isle of Wight have seized a total of 65 dogs from a van and a house in Cowes overnight after concerns were raised for their welfare.
Local residents stopped a van in its tracks on Fellows Road and prevented it from driving away after members of the public became increasingly concerned for the welfare of whimpering animals inside.
The Police were called to the scene at 23:02 and a white Fiat van was found to contain a large number of dogs, with even more packed into a nearby house.
Due to the conditions of the animals, the dogs were seized by officers and handed over into the care of the RSPCA.
According to those living nearby, the owner only moved into the Cowes property yesterday having moved from Pallance Road, Northwood.
Hampshire Constabulary say no arrests have been made at this time. The RSPCA are investigating the situation, however.
UPDATE @ 12:05 – A spokesperson for the RSPCA has this afternoon told Island Echo:
“We are so grateful to people who report suspected animal suffering to us and we would like to reassure people we will always look into and, if necessary, investigate any complaints made to us about animal welfare.
Article continues below this advertisement “We’re unable to comment any further as we are unable to discuss ongoing enquiries about specific people and what action may have been taken.
“We understand how frustrating that is for animals lovers but releasing information could prejudice a future investigation or could lead to us being fined.”
How on earth can people expect to care for 65 dogs? Especially in a house, not on a farm etc
Like dog farming …… how can they afford to care for that many….. wow I rspca got to but I’d foster some if needed
Care for??
They were probably going to sell them on.
Care for??
Richard its turn of phrase used to discribe their displeasure
Please keep us updated on the weflare of these poor dogs also if there is anything we can do to help in any way.
Theres 65 poor dogs in 1 van and 1 house and no arrests have been made? …..uh okayyyy……
Takes time, sadly
Yep could lose any chance of a prosecution if not handled correctly and following all legal channels.
RSPCA are prosecuting agency they don’t arrest. I would like to think the person responsible will be reported summons once the RSPCA have all the evidence they need to get this through court
They are a charity. Most of their prosecutions are Private Prosecutions. Criminal prosecutions have to go through the CPS for approval before getting to court. Only the police can instigate a criminal prosecution.
The police yes, or any man or woman is my understanding
Pat Kiss the Animal Wefare Act allows anyone to take out a prosecution. If you read the RSPCA website it states they investigate and prosecute cases of animal cruelty. The reason for this is they are the experts in their field and have better access to veterinary expertise to support their prosecution. Not all criminal law is investigated by the police as there are other agencies that do this as well such as trading standards, local authorities, DEFRA, the list goes on…
They need flogging,
At the very least. More effective than a fine or ban on keeping animals.
Yes very strange no arrests. These dogs have obviously been stolen and will be i think not sold on but used for food!!!
Actually she just kept breeding them because she didnt want to spay or castrated them.
Or badger bateing. We must protect animals more.This is a sad cruel world we live in. Well done the people who stopped the van and called the police. I think we should all give more freely to the RSPCA.
Whose going to eat them? This isn’t China.
you would think at least one arrest but Martin said it
Name and shame
If NON British the media are pressured to keep quiet.
Any evidence to back up this claim, or is merely something that has emerged from underneath your tin hat?
Maybe have a look for some evidence yourself? what is your hat made from?
Disgraceful
So so wrong even if they are not British. They should be named and shamed to the highest judicial offences
Naming and shaming will prejudice any prosecution
Let us know who these cruel people are so we can look out for them and safeguard our beloved dogs. They should be named and have there photo displayed to discourage others from carrying out the same cruelty.
Well done to those members of public for stop this person drive off and reporting it to the police. Thank god these animals are getting the proper care they need and I hope the RSPCA prosecute the owner as there is no excuse for this level cruelty.
How on earth can anyone look after that amount of animals!!
Absolutely disgusting I really hope all these poor dogs find new loving home.
This person should be prosecuted and banned from keeping any animals for life.
Well I done to every one who stopped this.
I don’t think they were being cared for in any way. The opposite to care I believe
Yes well done those guys. Think I read on this thread someone heard dogs in that van in the afternoon but failed to act
Lock the bastards up!!!
Here here
if the police arrested the thing with all the poor dogs imagine all the paperwork,, thats why hes free (for the moment) hes got to be a nutjob 65 DOGS.
She’s*
I hope these dogs are scanned for microchips. So many aren’t are failed by the system.
http://chng.it/gH4xWDmsqT
poor babies. how can some people be so evil.
Can we put him in the van
If they are evil we should not do what they do
Well done residents who stopped this van and called the authorities.
That was a terrific thing to do.
Hope it doesn’t take too long that the dogs can be offered for re-homing.
Hope that 65 new homes come forward fairly quickly too.
I hope that they will be returned to their rightful owners and the ones who aren’t chipped are found loving homes..
They probably stolen
Exactly. A white van just like that was parked in a very odd place at Puckpool park recently. The park is right on the beach and a great favourite with many dog walkers.
Yes I think so
Could be that the majority are actuly stolen dogs. So hope that each and every one of them is fully scanned all over.
How come the neighbours in Pallance rd didn’t suspect anything
Maybe they did.
That’s probably why he moved?
Absolutely disgusting. No arrests????. Why????
That van was in Holyrood St yesterday, about midday, terrific noise of dogs coming from it, obviously lots in there.
12 hours earlier and no one acted? .
Why did you not report it JHVF!!!
Well done to the people involved hope the dogs are ok, maybe some are stolen and they can be returned to the rightful owners that would be great
Maybe these dogs have been stolen
Yes, I believe so
Wonder is some of these dogs are stolen
I’m wondering if one of these is my Stolen girl Izzie, who was taken from us in January 2019..I’ve emailed the RSCPA in question.
I hope so for your sake a terrible thing having a dog stolen.
Hope and pray for lacy return..
Ooooh, I hope so. Good luck. xx
I hope you find her.
I hope all these dogs are scanned for a chip and the dogs that are not chipped are shown to the public. There are so many missing and stolen and whenever a large number of dogs are seized the rspca never make them public.
Why have no arrests be made ??
Why have no arrests been made ??
I think this is suspicious,dogs are being stolen and ending up every where , there was a spaniel bitch named Fern found in Reading England, this bitch had
Been bred and been missing some time she originally came from the ISLE of WHITE!!!, These could be stolen and ended up here
Isle of Wight
Are these stolen dogs …..for someone to have so many they must be
I think so too. I hope they show pics of the poor boo’s.
I think so too. Possible bait or for meat trade or farming. Like the rest of us i love animals but 65 dogs. There was a purpose for that. So glad they were removed. Poor little things .
Why meat? Given that we don’t eat dog in the UK.
I hope that micro chips are checked and not just given away leaving thier familys devasted and the dogs sad.as well. They dont automatically belong to the rescuers,who sell them for profit legally. result is the same.
Are they stolen?
Just glad the animals are safe now though shouldn’t have been in this situation … Big thank you to the local residents who contacted the authorities and stood their ground to help and no doubt saved these poor innocents animal lives!!
Stealing dogs obviously and they’re probably ill with those living conditions. Hopefully the ones that aren’t microchipped have been reported missing so they can be returned home too.
We live in Portsmouth and are currently looking for a rescue – if we can help please let us know x
They are with the How RSPCA now. Try them.
Such a large number of dogs, my mind is going over such awful scenarios – what was their destiny!
Very well done to all concerned for stepping in.
I’m guessing a lot of these animals are stolen. Hope they all get scanned for microchips
Does anyone know the breeds yet?? x
I believe they are chihuahuas.
This is so good that the public are helping with all this dog cruelty,well done.
Could some of these poor dogs be some of the dogs that have been stolen/missing sence xmass 2018 such as Ruby and Beatle. If this is the case i hope their oners are found. Shocking state for those poor animals. Do let me know the outcome please
The law needs to change,much harsher sentences for these animal abusers.
No need to change laws just enforce them
Really needs the island to get involved in monitoring these dogs. Could be stolen family pets. If the rspca are involved many of the dogs are likely to be put down very quickly with “veterinary reasons” given if finally discovered. Apart from where they’ve been taken from it’s the worst place they could end up.
What breed of dog was found ?
There’s a special place in Hell reserved for people who abuse animals. Thank God for the RSPCA.And the Hampshire Police who have rescued these poor dogs.
Losers who can only pick on animals that cannot fight back Brian!! They are the lowest of low I’m afraid!
Along with those who abuse (in any way) children
What will happen to these dogs now???
Brave residents
Please get these dogs checked there are so many missing from all over the country. Even my own been missing 10 months from South Wales
I agree with Caroline , we need to break the culture of not ” grassing people up “. The more suspicious behaviour reported to the Police, the more crime they can investigate it . The criminals thrive on fear to keep people quiet , time to turn the tide before it’s too late for the sake of future generations.
All credit to the residents of Fellows Road.
Should be arrested those dogs are most likely to be stolen someone’s pets whose owners are heartbroken
Heavy fine is no good for them they need to do time they do not care for these animals just want money evil people I hope Tilly is among them
That makes me very sad. Dogs should be loved and their welfare should be number 1. Why are people so irresponsible and stupid. X
You can bet the dogs are stolen or potential for starting of puppy farming. Just hope RSPCA do as they say and follow up in their investigations and don’t hand the dogs back
I hope to god that these people are investigated. They are in my eyes irresponsible to even look after dogs having that many in a van and a home. Which clearly is unfit for them to live in………
We were concerned that one of those poor dogs were linked to many thieves over here on the main land that look for dogs ppl have “ordered”. There was a missing small dog over here that has now been found and think the two are linked.
rspca needs to scan all the dogs just incase there been stolen
101 Dalmatians maybe