This Is Guernsey

By Natalie Harrison

A CASTEL man is mistreating his dog, according to some of his neighbours and Animal Aid. But Colin Help says that the charity’s founder, Sue Vidamour, has got it wrong.

‘We’ve had complaint after complaint after complaint,’ said Mrs Vidamour, adding that after receiving one she routinely made three visits to the Chemin des Monts property - often unknown to Mr Help.

Each time, she said, the dog was chained.

‘It was out in the pouring rain on one occasion that I visited,’ she said.

‘It’s out all day and all night and many of the neighbours have complained to us, saying it’s not being treated correctly and howls.

‘It’s a friendly dog that should be in the house with the family.’

But 46-year-old Mr Help said that on 12 January, after being woken by Mrs Vidamour, he had told her that the dog was not permanently chained up.

‘I tried to explain that that wasn’t the case and I asked where the problem was, in that even if he was, he is fed, watered and well sheltered in his kennel,’ said Mr Help, who has had the dog since it was nine months old. ‘But she said it was against the law, which I don’t believe.’

Mr Help refused to let Mrs Vidamour see the animal, at which, he said, she raised her voice and threatened to call the police.

‘He’s on a chain in his kennel because he chews through everything,’ he said.

‘Mrs Vidamour isn’t concerned about the dog because he’s in poor condition - it’s only because he’s kept on a chain.’

Bailey, a two-and-a-half-year-old Labrador, is allowed in the house, but due to a bowel disorder is kept mainly outside, said the single father, who has three daughters aged 10, 12, and 17.

But Mrs Vidamour said that she had seen solid stools all over the garden.

One neighbour said yesterday that the dog was kept in a tiny yard in all weathers.

‘It howls all night and I’ve never seen the dog being taken for a walk,’ she said.

Mr Help denied this and said that the dog was very well exercised.

‘Under the Welfare Act, it was deemed not good to keep a dog on a chain,’ said Mrs Vidamour.

And she said that a previous dog owned by Mr Help, a black and white collie cross, had been taken in by the charity after complaints from neighbours.

‘The dog was very nervous and it took a long time to get him to the stage where he could be rehomed,’ said Mrs Vidamour.

‘Mr Help, from what I gather, is brilliant with the children and his house is lovely and clean. So why can’t he look after the dog properly?’