RSPCA Friends of West Hatch Newsletter Summer 2018 | issue 14 | Page 6

Trapped: a case of cruelty
In November 2016 we received a call from
an Inspector to say they had removed 27
poodles from a property in Cornwall.
month for a health check and flea treatment,
and our groomer Asha (pictured below) kept
them all trimmed throughout this period.
In these circumstances our network team
leap into action, and help to transport the
dogs in question to any RSPCA centres who
are able to make room at short notice. At
West Hatch we received ten.
21 poodles had been kept in just 5 cages,
so it was understandable that they were
very fearful of us and their surroundings.
They also badly needed dentals, bathing
and clipping.
With time and patience they began to trust
us, and we set about seeking foster homes
for them while their case awaited trial. We
were very lucky to find foster placements
for every one of the poodles in our care. This
meant they could learn to behave as normal
dogs and experience a caring home for the
first time in their lives. Every one of them
blossomed. They returned to the centre each
6
In November 2017, their owner was banned
from keeping dogs for 10 years and we were
finally able to rehome them. All bar two of
the poodles were adopted by their foster
carers, some of whom who had waited for
almost a year to know the outcome.