I foundout about this the day it happened but haven't said anything on here until now (Although Admin & Mods were informed at the time).

All I will say about this is I am still in shock about it & it's hit me quite bad! And I would like to add that Claire is no longer a member of this forum.

Those poor poor animals

Quote:

Dogs found dead near Marlborough 9:56am Thursday 9th July 2009 Comments (1) Have your say » By Nigel Kerton » Police and the RSPCA are investigating the deaths of dogs at a pet sanctuary in East Grafton where a woman and a man were arrested on Friday on suspicion of causing unnecessary suffering to animals. Wiltshire Animal Rescue and Sanctuary (WARAS) was run by Claire Strong from her home at the Severalls in Grafton and that is where police and RSPCA officers found two dead dogs in a downstairs room on Friday. They were called by a neighbour, Peter Vallis, who had been asked by a passer by to help return a dog that had escaped through a partly open ground floor window. There was no reply when they knocked at the front door and when they opened the window to put the dog back inside they saw two dead and partly decomposed dogs on the floor. Police confirmed that they were called to the rented semi-detached house by the RSPCA on Friday to help its inspector, Will Hendry, gain entry. One police source said officers had been to the house on previous occasions after allegations about the conditions pets were kept in. Sgt Andy Peach confirmed on Monday that a 43-year-old man and a 21-year-old woman were arrested at the house on Friday evening on suspicion of causing unnecessary suffering and that they had been interviewed and released on bail while inquiries continue. An RSPCA spokesman said that in view of ongoing inquiries it had no comment to make. Sgt Peach said that when officers entered the premises they found two dead dogs, another in a severely emaciated condition and five other dogs.The animals were all removed by the RSPCA. Neighbour Peter Vallis said he had been concerned for a long while about the welfare of animals being looked after by Mrs Strong at the WARAS sanctuary. He said: “We have had lots of problems with it and have been trying to get the RSPCA to do something about for about two years ever since she moved in.” Mr Vallis, an engineer, said: “We called the RSPCA and the former Kennet council on numerous occasions about dreadful smells coming from the house. We knew there were a lot of dogs in there but they were never taken out or allowed out in the garden.” On Friday he called the RSPCA and police after seeing two dead dogs. “One of them was in a state of decomposition and the smell was just disgusting,” he said. There was no one at the house when the Gazette called yesterday. The garden was full of stacks of empty pet crates and cages. WARAS had its own website appealing money to help pay vets’ bills and homes for animals, but it was taken down on Tuesday.

http://www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/news/4482963.Dogs_found_dead_near_Marlborough/

such a sad sad story

It's an absolute tradgedy !

the poor dogs had been dead for months and months paul wouldnt bury them and claire couldnt bring herself to do it

Disgusting to treat animals like that they dont deserve to own any at all or ever again, how could you live with a smelling carcus's under your nose

Oh that's just so sad..What a shame...I really feel for the WARAS helpers at this time xxxx

I'm still so upset over this.

I was co ordinator for WARAS and some of those animals were arranged to go into the rescue because of me.

I just don't know what to say, as far as i was aware everything with the rescue was fine, and the rescue did do a lot of good and helped alot of animals find loving forever homes.

I just don't understad how this could happen.