I'VE COME across two instances recently where boaters have been threatened or actually reported to the police for alleged 'cruelty' to their, (almost certainly) much loved, boating dogs, writes Ralph Freeman.
Case 1
The dogs in question, three Italian Greyhounds and a Whippet were in two crates in a van.
The owner was accused of all sorts of cruelty and threatened by being reported to the police and the RSPCA by an arrogant 'Know-All'.
The Facts:
1) The vehicle was a van with no rear or side windows.
2) The van was parked in the shade of a tree.
3) The van was white in colour.
4) The vehicle was insulated i.e. plywood lined.
5) The rear and side doors were OPEN(!).
6) Both crates had beds and water dishes for the dogs contained therein.
Case 2
A boater received a call from CaRT stating the police were investigating him because there was an unattended dog aboard their narrowboat.
Why a problem?
Now can anyone explain why this is a problem? From the towpath the boat may seem enclosed, but I often leave my boat plus dogs moored with the offside of the cratch open, offside windows open and offside side doors open. Note all this is on the offside of the boat for security reasons; but how can an observer from the towpath see this?
Now given the insulation and shade provided by the interior of a narrowboat I'm prepared to bet a dog kept under those circumstances is many degrees cooler than a dog being walked on the towpath or one sat outside a pub in direct sunlight!
How can they know?
Can anyone tell me how a bystander on the towpath can know the temperature of a dog inside a narrowboat (or van) in the circumstances described above? The boaters I know with dogs love their 'mutts' to bits and treat them much better than any 'do gooder' could possibly contemplate?
Might I suggest these 'do gooder' know-all's please either check their facts first, or mind their own business, before wasting police time with silly accusations.