Herefordshire Council’s Trading Standards Service are committed to ensuring the best standards of animal welfare in the county – and prosecuting those responsible for cruelty and neglect.
Animal Health Officers make sure that animals are being kept according to regulations and provide many services, including: Responding to complaints regarding animal welfare; planning and managing the response to animal diseases; inspecting markets, vehicles, farms, slaughterhouses and other premises to encourage good practice.
They also liaise with with the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), along with other local councils and agencies to improve compliance, as well as offering advice and help on animal health and welfare.
Recent prosecution
In a case brought by Herefordshire Council’s Trading Standards Service, a man was sentenced on 16 July to 30 weeks imprisonment, suspended for 18 months. Worcester Crown Court also banned Christian John White from keeping animals except one pet dog and poultry for a period of ten years.
A complaint was made to Herefordshire Council in June 2022 after a number of llama carcasses had been spotted decaying in a field. There were also concerns regarding the condition of a live llama present in the same field.
A Senior Animal Health Officer from the Trading Standards Service visited the site where the animals were kept. Upon inspection he was shocked to find a Llama severely infested with maggots.
Unfortunately the animal could not be saved and died whilst the Officer was present on site. A number of Llama carcases were found in a decaying state with signs the animals had also died from fly strike.
White, age 50 and formally of Aylton, Ledbury, had previously pleaded guilty to five charges of causing animals to suffer, having failed to ensure the animals were protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease, plus failing to correctly store and dispose of animal carcasses.
As well as the ban and suspended sentence, he was given a 200 hours community order, and required to pay £2,500 towards costs, with a victim surcharge and required to carry out 25 days of rehabilitation.
Charles Yarnold: Head of Regulation and Technical Services said: “This was a deeply disturbing case of animal cruelty and neglect. Whilst the vast majority of livestock keepers and farmers in our rural county adhere to high welfare standards, a small minority every year fall below and indeed in this case, well below what is acceptable.
“In those cases our Animal Health and Welfare officers will investigate thoroughly and where necessary we will bring offenders before the courts. This sentence shows the courts take such matters extremely seriously.
Anyone concerned the welfare of livestock within the county should report the matter to Trading Standards on 01432 261761 or via ethelpline@herefordshire.gov.uk
