Should authorities have more powers to punish animal cruelty?

[AB Asks]

New figures show that the RSPCA rescued 23% more animals in 2007 than the year before. This included an increase in abandoned domestic pets. Should the authorities be given more powers to clamp down on people mistreating their pets?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7370163.stm

[wildwood]

The authorities have all the power they need to clamp down more on pet cruelty. The resources to enforce that authority is another matter.
I hope that you do not regard the RSPCA as 'the authority' to be given more power, at least not until more thorough training is give to the field officers.

[woofgang]

actually it was sri lanka!

I think that a bit of it is education and a change in society's attitude (hops on soap box) A large part of society think now that if it wants something them it should have it (like the mortgage thing...when we got a mortgage back in the late 70's you didn't expect to have holidays as well or to go out and furnish the house, now it seems that a sizeable chunk of the populace expect to have everything at once...sorry digression)
Anyway as I was saying...a lot of the problem is people who think that because they want a dog/cat tortoise/lizard/snake/bunny and can pay for it then that's the only consideration and when they don't want it or can't care for it well just dump it.
personal responsibility....its getting to be a dirty word
(climbs off soapbox)

[bensmum]

I think you're right woofgang - everything today is disposable and unfortunately this seems to apply to pets as well.
I think that once it has been established that an animal has been mistreated the penalties should be more severe.

[Noweia]

The authorities have power but unfortunately it is very hard to follow a cruelty or a welfare case through the courts.

Also an increase in abandoned pets won't be countered by clamping down on people mistreating their pets.

[showcatbenga]

We should follow the USA's lead. They have had much stricter welfare laws than us for decades now. It is an offence to leave any animal without the basics of food, clean water, proper healthcare & appropriate shelter at any time. The animal can be seized immediately just with a policeman's say so & photographic evidence used to get arrest warrants & bring successful prosecutions.
The link between animal abusers going on to become future abusers, attackers, wife beaters, muggers, rapists & murderers is well established. Correcting the behaviour at the first (animal) stage can make a huge change to future behaviour. It works just like the 'zero tolerance' approach to anti-social behaviour. So how about it?

[robotics]

Interesting site about the RSPCA.

http://www.webtribe.net/%7Eanimadversion/

The ?16 million they spent on new offices could have made such a big difference to dogs in puppy farms .Somewhere over the years the RSPCA seem to have lost their way ? putting their own comfort before that of the animals.

[gelda]

Robotics. I hope everybody reads this, this is one organisation I would NEVER give money to!

[tigerlily11]

I have read it but I still give to it because they have done good work in the past and they have helped when I have reported animal abuse. Besides who else is there.
I think it would help if like the NSPCC it was taken over by the goverment and all those who own pets could contribute through a small tax on pet food. That way old people whos only companionship is there dog/cat can get free medical help for their beloved pet instead of being charged extortionate fees by the local vet. My MIL of 84 was charged �64 by her vet to treat her cat that had developed an allergy. All she was given was a tube of cream. �64 for a tube of cream!!!
In the USA the Aspca or SPCA have the same powers as the police. Most of them were police officers before joining it.
I think it would be good to have a force that will stop some of the horrendous things people do to their animals.