The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Community => Coffee Lounge => Topic started by: shygirl on June 01, 2013, 08:12:01 pm

Title: Shame on them!
Post by: shygirl on June 01, 2013, 08:12:01 pm
Iv just had to report a nearby farm park/ childrens park to the SSPCA for neglect.
There was a sole highland cow/bullock covered in mats and looking terrible and unresponsive. I couldnt see if it was male or female due to the mats everywhere. It was constantly itching on a wooden toy house everytime we went to see it, poor thing.
the pigs i think were pot bellies, i only saw one pig walking as the others were sleeping,but this one was so lame on all 4 feet it could hardly walk. its feet were so overgrown it was walking on its pasterns, and at least one of its feet had curled up slippers (like neglected pony feet).

i have reported them to the SSPCA and also the council as there were terrible health and safety issues such as metal spikes sticking out of the ground in the childrens playground.

I looked on tripadvisor for this park and saw at least 3 people state that they had called the SSPCA as long ago as 3 yrs ago and as recently as last august. So how can this neglect still be occurring?
iv never seen a pig with slippers before. these animals were on display to the public.i saw pigs in their backgarden too so i dread to think what condition they were in. 

We only went their for a day out and most people just walked past these animals thinking this was normal. Condition wise they all looked plump so do people only recognise neglect if they are emaciated?
Poor beasts.
Title: Re: Shame on them!
Post by: jools66 on June 01, 2013, 09:19:02 pm
Hi I always worry about these places . I am on holiday on Friday and was thinking of visiting the animal park up at Comrie for the first time so fingers crossed
Title: Re: Shame on them!
Post by: Lesley Silvester on June 01, 2013, 09:44:36 pm
Well done for reporting them. Hope they listen this time. Maybe you will need to keep on at them.
Title: Re: Shame on them!
Post by: Eastling on June 01, 2013, 10:17:26 pm
I would contact Animal Health.
If the SSPCA are as bad as the RSPCA  in England  they probably haven't even been out to see them yet!
Title: Re: Shame on them!
Post by: happygolucky on June 01, 2013, 10:20:29 pm
I bet they do not get much excersise due to being lame or not enough space....thats possibly why they are fat...funny how people see a chubby animal and think thats well looked after......You maybe should ask to speak to the manager...it they have been reported before why is nothing being done I wonder ???
Title: Re: Shame on them!
Post by: shygirl on June 01, 2013, 10:32:26 pm
I would contact Animal Health.
If the SSPCA are as bad as the RSPCA  in England  they probably haven't even been out to see them yet!

thats a good idea. according to the trip advisor, there was a shetland pony with feet in terrible condition too but we didnt see that one today. the rabbit and chicken coops were filfty too.
i wasnt sure if they were kunes or pot bellied pigs but its belly was almost touching the ground.
it really upset me. how can you charge the public to see these animals when they are neglected?  unless the owners are ignorant?
Title: Re: Shame on them!
Post by: Eastling on June 01, 2013, 10:36:38 pm
Call Animal Health they will be out the next day! you can do it anonymously if you prefer
Title: Re: Shame on them!
Post by: Beewyched on June 01, 2013, 11:07:23 pm
Definately contact AHealth - from the sound of the pigs feet etc they've been overfeed & under-exercised for a long time  :furious:
What an appalling state to keep animals in  :o
 :love: :pig: :love:
Title: Re: Shame on them!
Post by: doganjo on June 02, 2013, 09:40:32 am
And tell us where it is. or the link to tripadvisor.  I don't want to take my grandkids there in teh summer.
Title: Re: Shame on them!
Post by: happygolucky on June 02, 2013, 10:16:06 am
Quote
And tell us where it is. or the link to tripadvisor
Yes...Name and shame....I hate to see poorly looked after animals   or children or Old people or anyone.
 
Title: Re: Shame on them!
Post by: shygirl on June 02, 2013, 08:45:21 pm
Storybook Glen. Aberdeen.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g186487-d212152-Reviews-Storybook_Glen-Aberdeen_Aberdeenshire_Scotland.html (http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g186487-d212152-Reviews-Storybook_Glen-Aberdeen_Aberdeenshire_Scotland.html)

read the "terrible" reviews, there are 3 pages...il phone AH in the morning.
Title: Re: Shame on them!
Post by: doganjo on June 02, 2013, 08:48:17 pm
That was started when my kids were little - it was really good then.  What a shame it's got to this.

Have you been in contact with Aberdeen Council - they possibly have a licence from them.
Title: Re: Shame on them!
Post by: shygirl on June 02, 2013, 08:58:38 pm
i have emailed health and safety cos it was a hazard for  kids too. we went about 4 yrs ago and it was lovely, but now its a mess. i know its credit crunch etc  and money is probably tight but its no excuse.
Title: Re: Shame on them!
Post by: lachlanandmarcus on June 02, 2013, 09:44:29 pm
Good for you Shygirl, trimming feet doesn't cost money and nor does keeping animals trim and healthy. Good luck with the call, at least you know lots of other reviewers have felt the same way.
Title: Re: Shame on them!
Post by: plumseverywhere on June 03, 2013, 08:37:13 am
Wow, that's awful. Poor animals.  We had somewhere nearby with a similar issue, it was reported a lot but nothing done.  New ownership has seen an amazing difference in welfare.
Well done for taking a stand.
Title: Re: Shame on them!
Post by: shygirl on June 03, 2013, 10:55:28 am
i phoned the AH, who were well aware of the place. they said sspca had been in the past and "work had been done", so you would think they would be checked on a regular basis. huge mats in the coat and curled up feet dont happen over night. the AH are going to liase with the sspca and the AH vet i spoke to guranteed someone would visit.  :relief:
iv had AH on my doorstep before with no notice to check my records and 24hrs notice to check the livestock, so you think  a place with "history" would be checked more frequently. i know the sspca need someone to report something before they can turn up but surely the AH are different?
the park is building a new indoor play centre at the moment so they obviously do have money to burn.
Title: Re: Shame on them!
Post by: doganjo on June 03, 2013, 04:03:42 pm
As I said, contact the Council too.
Title: Re: Shame on them!
Post by: shygirl on June 06, 2013, 11:38:17 am
the council are so useless.  :rant: :rant:
i was sure Storybook Glen was based in aberdeenshire as we drove past the aberdeenshire sign en-route to the park.
Aberdeenshire Council told me it wasnt in their area and that i had to contact Aberdeen City Council.
Aberdeen City Council then told me it wasnt in their area and i should contact Aberdeenshire Council!!! now is this why the parks health and safety record is shot???
Title: Re: Shame on them!
Post by: happygolucky on June 06, 2013, 11:49:26 am
No wonder, a case of city not knowing what county are doing....I worked for both in Leicester so understand, they do not seem to communicate and for some strange reason appear to be competative!!
You need to find out who pays the wages, thats who is responsible....and do say that its a discrace to the city/county
Title: Re: Shame on them!
Post by: lachlanandmarcus on June 06, 2013, 12:37:38 pm
the council are so useless.  :rant: :rant:
i was sure Storybook Glen was based in aberdeenshire as we drove past the aberdeenshire sign en-route to the park.
Aberdeenshire Council told me it wasnt in their area and that i had to contact Aberdeen City Council.
Aberdeen City Council then told me it wasnt in their area and i should contact Aberdeenshire Council!!! now is this why the parks health and safety record is shot???

You might be able to tell by seeing if the business rates valuation roll is online, they will be paying rates to whichever is the right council. Hate this buck passing, would be a lot quicker for them to just take responsibility and sort out the situation.