Jessica Valpied and Aston check out the plans for 24-7’s new kennels and cattery. (Picture by Aimee Le Cocq, 0733905)
A ST SAVIOUR’S kennels and cattery should shut down immediately, according to a local animal charity.
The GSPCA said it feared for the welfare of animals at 24-7 Pet Care.
But owner Jessica Valpied questioned the independence of the GSPCA – which runs a rival kennels and cattery – and said that her customers were happy and free to inspect the premises.
‘We have nothing to hide,’ she said.
A report by the Guernsey Sociaety for the Protection of Animals claimed that dogs and cats were kept in cold and, in some cases, dirty conditions.
‘Cat pens still had not been cleaned out from the day before,’ it read. ‘The cattery was freezing cold and draughty.’
And the kennels were allegedly no better.
‘There was a 16-year-old Yorkshire terrier in a draughty kennel with no coat. He was curled up as tightly as possible in an attempt to stay warm,’ the GSPCA said.
Miss Valpied conceded yesterday that the 40-year-old buildings were dilapidated, but said she had submitted plans late last year for a modern cattery and kennels. Work is expected to start in September.
‘If we had shut it before, the customers would not have had anywhere to bring their dogs,’ she said.
GSPCA welfare officer Lorna Prince said: ‘The proposals are about the future, but we are concerned about now.’
The kennels hit local and national headlines in October when Miss Valpied was fined £400 for stealing the carcass of the Van den Bossche family’s border collie.
Arte had been savaged to death while boarded with 24-7 during August.
Miss Valpied buried the body and told the Van den Bossches that their dog had escaped but were tipped off about what had really happened.
In September, the family, GSPCA operations director Jayne Le Cras and Ms Prince visited the kennels.
A report on conditions there was produced and given to Miss Valpied.
The Van den Bossches started civil action but dropped it on the understanding that there would be GSPCA inspections.
After three visits the charity pulled out because, it said, its advice was being ignored and it was worried that continued visits could be taken to condone inaction.
Mrs Le Cras said: ‘We went there to help. We did not go there to pick faults and find problems. The problems were obvious.
‘We can’t afford to keep sending staff up there to offer help when it isn’t acted upon.’
One report from 6 January said: ‘There is no excuse for the lack of cleanliness, heating and a warm and dry living environment.
‘It is our recommendation that they close down with immediate effect.’
This was reiterated in the final report on 19 February.
But Miss Valpied felt that the GSPCA’s attitude was being influenced by the Arte case.
‘The kennels have been here 40 years and they have not visited once. We asked for their guidance and help and they have been quite nasty towards us.
‘I’m quite upset.’
As the animal welfare law has not come into effect, there is nothing legally that the GSPCA can do.
‘I think the fairest thing to say is there are animals that are at risk,’ said Ms Prince.
Miss Valpied said: ‘If people don’t want to use us they don’t use us.’
nÊ24-7 Pet Care has been awarded the Bill Green Award by the Young Business Group of the Guernsey Chamber of Commerce and was National Pet Sitter of the year in 2005.
Why we had to wait Page 2
Article posted on 7th March, 2009 - 9.30am
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