Time to increase powers

Ordinary everyday folk can’t even begin to grasp what makes anyone cause pain and suffering to animals.

What they do know, however, is that the punishments for such appalling acts of brutality are rarely strong enough.

While it is often easy to blame the courts for failing to deal with offenders adequately, the sentencing magistrates are unfortunately held back by weak and inadequate sentencing powers.

For the worst animal abusers, the maximum penalty that can be handed out is a paltry six months.

As we reveal today, the abuse suffered by two animals in our community beggars belief.

In one, a Shetland pony was slashed and stabbed while, in another, a horse was killed in a suspected arson where stables were set alight. The animals would have suffered great distress, as do the poor RSPCA workers and the animals’ owners who have the pick up the pieces of the these awful attacks.

RSPCA inspector Terri Ann Fannon described the scene she encountered on discovering the pony, called Murphy.

She said: “It was an absolutely terrible thing to have to deal with. Murphy was in an awful state. He was very distressed, as you’d expect.

“He had numerous slash and stab injuries all over his body. One stab wound on his back left knee was so deep the damage was irreparable.

“Very sadly the vet decided that there was no other option but to put him to sleep.”

There is a motion, backed by the Government, to increase the maximum sentencing powers for animal abuse from six months to five years in prison.

On this evidence, it can’t come soon enough.