MAN GUILTY OF CAUSING SUFFERING TO PUPPY
RENEWAL FOR THREE YEARS MADE TO STOP HARASSMENT
A MAN has been convicted for causing unnecessary suffering to a French bulldog puppy after refusing to pay for treatment to his broken leg.
Saied Arab, of Harmondsworth, Hillingdon, was supposed to attend Willesden Magistrates’ Court on February 2 for trial but failed to turn up.
Arab, 32, was charged with causing unnecessary suffering under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. Magistrates heard the case and found him guilty in his absence
The small bulldog was called King and he was only five months old at the time the RSPCA found him, in May 2019. RSPCA Inspector Callum Isitt was called to Chiswick after the police took the dog, which clearly had a problem with its leg, from a member of the public.
At the time, police thought King’s leg was broken. Upon further investigation they found the dog had been taken to the vet but the owner had refused treatment for the injury.
The injury had apparently happened three to four days before this.
Inspector Isitt described King’s condition: “When standing, he raised his leg off the floor as if to keep his weight off of it, even though he was already receiving pain medication.
“The vet who had originally seen King said his owner had explained that he’d accidentally trod on him or kicked him and he’d fallen down the stairs.
“She said there was swelling to the dog’s foot and that he yelped when she touched it.”
King was clearly in pain. However, the vet claimed the owner became irritated when she explained she was not sure if it was soft tissue damage or a fracture without an X-ray to confirm.
Inspector Isitt continued: “He refused to pay for an X-ray. She explained that King would need pain relief, an X-ray and would need to see another vet, but his owner left and refused this treatment.”
From this evidence Arab was deemed guilty of ‘causing unnecessary suffering to a certain protected animal by failing to seek appropriate professional veterinary care to address the dog’s lameness.’
This went against Section 4(1) of the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
Since Arab did not turn up to court, a warrant has now been issued for his arrest.
Magistrates issued a deprivation order for King meaning the court will not allow Arab to keep the dog.
King is now in RSPCA care, meaning he can be rehomed permanently.
He has even be renamed Marcel since he has been in a foster home and will now be adopted by a foster family.
RSPCA worker Lisa Stokes and her sister, Joanne, have been caring for Marcel for the time being.
Lisa said: “Marcel loves to snooze with his Staffy brother, Ben, and go for long walks in the countryside.
“He was struggling to breathe and was unable to play so he recently had surgery to help with his breathing and he’s now fully recovered and doing really well.
“He’s very active and can now play and run.”
A PUBLIC space protection order (PSPO) in place to stop harassment of women entering an abortion clinic, in Mattock Lane, has been renewed for a further three years.
Ealing Council’s cabinet members approved a plan to extend the 2018 action, which was due to come to an end in April this year.
More than 4,600 people shared their views during a consultation for next steps for the safe zone, with an overwhelming 97% agreeing with the plan.
Health boss, councillor Binda Rai, who also lives in the area, told cabinet colleagues in a meeting on February 9: “We’re very grateful because it has made a substantial change to the lives of people living and using the local health care services in that area. We were one of the first councils to do this and it would be good to see more and more councils doing this in order to protect their residents.”
Before the safe zone was set up it was reported members of pro-life groups would congregate at the gates of the centre, now called MSI Reproductive Choices, and would “routinely” try and engage with women entering and leaving the site.
Other activities recorded by the centre include spitting, praying, singing, handing clients leaflets, or offering them money or shelter if they agreed to not have an abortion, displaying models of fetuses on the pavement, and shouting at them, such as calling them “mum” and “baby-killer”.
While the buffer zone has been in place, pro-life groups have continued to hold vigils, protests and more in a designated area away from the gates.
In the three years the safe zone has been active, three breaches of the order have been recorded.
The PSPO has also defeated a number of legal challenges, including in the Supreme Court, bidding to remove the buffer zone.
Cllr Rai added: “These groups have only moved their activity a short distance from the gates of the clinic, they have not ceased nor permanently relocated.
“It is clear from evidence we have seen...that the impact on women of this direct and targeted interference as they attempt to enter a clinic was significant. It is equally clear to me that it is inevitable these harmful behaviours will return to Mattock Lane if we do not take action to extend the current PSPO.”
Responses such as from the Metropolitan Police, British Medical Association and the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) also supported the action.
In comments from the RCM, the trade union recognised the PSPO is currently the “only solution” available to manage harassment outside of abortion clinics, and calls continue for a national approach to the issue.
The statement said: “The RCM acknowledges that the PSPO mechanism is inadequate due to the strain its maintenance places on local council’s resources, and the fact that PSPOs create a postcode lottery whereby some women and staff receive protection, while others do not.
“And [we] will continue to lobby for the establishment of ‘buffer zones’ around abortion clinics in England, Wales and Scotland.”
Lib Dem group leader Gary Malcolm
also expressed support for the move, adding: “The Lib Dem group have supported the council in these actions over the past number of years and again, this consultation is very detailed, very long.
“I think it’s very clear what the council should be doing, and we will be very happy to support the administration in extending this three years.”
THE pandemic has been a tough time for lots of people as companies have been forced to cut jobs and save money.
However, a new scheme is helping over 50s get back into the jobs market by launching their own businesses across London.
From a professional boxer who became an artist to a researcher who launched a vintage hat website, over 50s have gone back to the classroom to learn some new tricks as part of Startup School for Seniors.
The eight week virtual course is the brainchild of two Londoners and the scheme is being funded by Hammersmith & Fulham and Camden.
Helen Smith: From Researcher to vintage hat maker
Helen was working as a freelance researcher when the pandemic hit in March 2020.
At 66 she was “definitely one of the older kids on the block” but was able to find interesting work due to her 25 years’ experience.
However when lockdown struck, a six month contract she had been relying on “evaporated” into thin air and she was forced to look for alternative income.
After taking part in Startup School for Seniors, the creative, who had always been interested in making clothes, launched a hat business inspired by vintage designs.
“A friend happened to show me a book on vintage knitting from the 1940s and an idea was born,” she said.
“The 1940s was a high point of the art of knitting in the UK as well as a time of great creativity in hat design.”
She explained during the Second World War the garments were thought to be moral boosters and textiles were not rationed to make them. She thought they would make a great item to “lift spirits” in troubled times and an ideal starting point for a clothing business. The course gave her the confidence to make it happen.
“I discovered Startup School for Seniors online and enrolled to learn more and found myself part of a supportive and inspiring community,” she added.
“Now I have a fledgeling new business and an eCommerce website ( www.madeofmoxie.co.uk ) for the hats which are handmade by talented knitters in the UK and produced as one-offs or made in small quantities”
Claire Pearce: From Corporate world to writing workshops
Having worked for large corporate businesses, Claire said she “never felt connected” to her previous work although it gave her a lot of experience and she met some “great people”.
She changed track and took a role in the charity sector supporting people with disabilities to get into work, but the fit still not was completely right.
In the end she took a sabbatical and gave focus to the writing workshops she ran on the side.
Startup School for Seniors gave her the tools to go self-employed.
Speaking about her workshops she said: “Startup School has helped me to look at aspects of being self-employed that I have less experience in and gave me the confidence to continue my journey, knowing I wasn’t alone and that it’s never too late to start.
“I really love what I do and hope to make a full time living soon.
“I’m taking a risk by living off my savings, at least for now, but I believe it’s worth it.
“I’ve learned so much about myself and my capabilities on this journey and whilst I’m not there yet, I feel hopeful for the future. Something I never felt when I had a paid job.” centre in West London for 16 years when the pandemic struck.
After losing his job, he got help from the course to set up a wellness centre.
He has now found a venue in the borough to launch Health Defence - a company committed to helping the community through fitness, clean eating and providing free health checks.
He is also a keen artist and has brought out a collection of drawing and prints.
He said: “Recently, with everything that is going on with Black Lives Matters and just basically trying to get people to come together; I brought it out again and I’ve titled it ‘Linked Together For Change”.
Startup School for Seniors is an eight-week eLearning programme providing people aged 50 and over the skills, network and support they need in order to start their own business.
It was co-founded by Suzanne Noble and Mark Elliott during lockdown as a result of a grant from London Community Response.
Suzanne said: “It comes with prerecorded videos (we made over 50), a weekly Zoom session and homework. Everything is captioned and transcribed to support all those who may have accessibility issues.
“We delivered the first programme September to November 2020 from which we’ve received some fantastic testimonials and also case studies including an ex-pro boxer who has set up a wellness centre in Hammersmith, a developer turned hat maker and many others.”
She explained figures from the Centre for Ageing showed unemployment among over 50s has risen by a third since 2019
She hopes the scheme will not just give people the skills to be self-sufficient and contribute to the economy in a meaningful way but help with participants’ wellbeing and selfesteem.
“We’re not halfway through the course, which has had nearly 100 people enrol,” she added.
“We plan on running it again from April and we are currently seeking new attendees.”
To find out more, go to academy. advantagesofage.com.