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RSPCA KILLS YET ANOTHER PET ANIMAL
DOG owner who sued the RSPCA for putting her pet down has lost her case in the small claims court.
Jackie McKevitt was claiming neglect, professional misconduct and corruption against the RSPCA at Halewood.
She had left her dog Tiger, a lurcher cross, at the Halewood kennels while she waited to be re-housed. But while he was there, Tiger developed kennel cough and was put down.
Judge Alison Jones said the case hinged on who was the owner of the dog when it was put down. Mrs McKevitt, of Waterloo, said she completed a form when she took Tiger to the RSPCA kennels at Halewood, signing him over until she had been re-housed. She said it was on the understanding that she wanted him back once she had settled into her new home.
She said she later spoke to the office on the phone and it was authorised for her to take Tiger home once he had got over his kennel cough as she was getting re-housed. She said a form should have been put in the office saying that Tiger was her dog. But Tiger was put to sleep.
John Smallwood, the RSPCA's secretary and administrator said it was only when a dog left their care that the ownership passed from the RSPCA to a customer. He added: "Sadly, some people put reserves on animals and then don't turn up. Some of the dogs that have been reserved will be put to sleep for medical reasons." (KENNEL COUGH...THEY'RE JOKING!)
He said it was the RSPCA's intention to return the dog to Mrs McKevitt but he said the manager was not aware of Mrs McKevitt's interest in the dog.
Vet Ian Crawford said the decision to put Tiger down was because he had kennel cough.
Judge Jones ruled in favour of the RSPCA, saying that legally the dog was in their ownership. She told Mrs McKevitt: "My view is that unless you owned Tiger at the stage that he was put down, any claim you have does not get off the ground. It is quite clear that in law the RSPCA was Tiger's owner.
I am not saying the decision to put him down was right, but as far as a court of law is concerned, unless you can show that you were Tiger's owner, I cannot help.
" Mr Smallwood said the RSPCA were all very upset about the case and had tried to put things right, but he added: "On behalf of the branch I would have to challenge the allegation that there was corruption here. "We have admitted that we made a mistake but the management and staff there are of the utmost integrity and take their duties very seriously."
Mr Smallwood said that if the manager at the Halewood branch had known that Mrs McKevitt wanted Tiger back, he would not have given authority to the dog to be put to sleep. Mrs McKevitt, 51, said that she intended to pursue the case via other means. The RSPCA at Halewood handles about 4,000 dogs a year including strays and unwanted dogs.