UK To prosecute couple who fed dog till it was 160lb's

hsmith · 12-01-2006, 12:10 PM

The 11½ stone dog 'that was cruelly overfed' | the Daily Mail

This is Rusty, the chocolate labrador who was allegedly made so obese by his owners that he 'looked like a seal' and could barely waddle a few steps.

Brothers David Benton, 53, and Derek Benton, 62, are the first pet owners to be prosecuted for causing unnecessary suffering to an animal on the basis of overfeeding.

They claim the dog was given a normal diet of dried food and the occasional bone. But the RSPCA says they allowed Rusty's weight to balloon to more than 111/ 2 stone - double the average for his breed.

Yesterday, RSPCA inspector Jason Finch told magistrates in Ely, Cambridgeshire, of his first visit to the Bentons' home in Fordham, near Soham, Cambridgeshire, in February.

'My immediate reaction was that the dog was grossly overweight to a point where it didn't actually appear like a dog - it looked like a seal,' he said.
The court heard how David Benton was served with a notice ordering him to take Rusty to a vet as soon as possible.

But when Mr Finch returned five weeks later, no action had been taken - because the brothers claimed it was not necessary. They were eventually persuaded to allow an RSPCA vet to carry out an inspection, but Mr Finch then struggled to load Rusty into his van.

'It was 40 or 50 yards to my vehicle,' he said. 'Rusty was only able to go four or five paces before he had to sit down.'

Prosecutor Stephen Climie said the brothers had ignored vets' advice over five years to put the dog on a diet.

Vet Alex Wylie said Rusty also had an ear infection which should have been treated, adding: 'He looked like a walrus.'

The court heard the dog had lost three-and-half stone since he was moved to an animal carer in March.

David Benton yesterday told the court Rusty ate a small bowl of dried food in the mornings and a larger one in the evenings, with an occasional bone.
He said the dog had been walked at least twice a day until 2004, when he began to suffer badly with arthritis.

'We tried to cut his food down, but he would get hungry and irritated. We also tried him on diet food but it made him ill. His food was his enjoyment, I suppose.'

The brothers deny two charges of causing unnecessary suffering - for the obesity and for failing to treat the ear infection. The case was adjourned until January 12.

'Food was his enjoyment'

seriously, wtf is wrong with england

ballz2wallz · 12-01-2006, 12:29 PM

Same thing that's wrong with Americans:

WTKR.COM YOUR NEWSCHANNEL 3 - NewsChannel 3 Exclusive: Woman Assaulted While Getting Her Hair Done

Grant says there was no confrontation at that point, because she left the salon to use an ATM to get cash to pay her stylist. But she says after she returned and paid her stylist, she addressed the woman who took her phone.

I mean seriously, who goes to get their haircut and doesn't have cash on hand to pay their stylist? I mean, was she really not thinking that far in advance?

Diamond Cross · 12-01-2006, 01:14 PM

So let's outlow obesity and put overwieght Americans in jail and force them to lose wight until they're more manageable.

6SpeedTA95 · 12-01-2006, 01:26 PM

Originally Posted by ballz2wallz

Same thing that's wrong with Americans:

WTKR.COM YOUR NEWSCHANNEL 3 - NewsChannel 3 Exclusive: Woman Assaulted While Getting Her Hair Done

I mean seriously, who goes to get their haircut and doesn't have cash on hand to pay their stylist? I mean, was she really not thinking that far in advance?

Happened to me, I thought I had 20 bucks but forgot the day before I stopped to get lunch and only had 15.

ballz2wallz · 12-01-2006, 01:50 PM

Originally Posted by 6SpeedTA95

Happened to me, I thought I had 20 bucks but forgot the day before I stopped to get lunch and only had 15.

You missed my joke

JaJae · 12-01-2006, 09:34 PM

It's just a dog. The US typically doesn't even prosecute for overfeeding your damn kids. I can't imagine putting the well being of dogs ahead of humans.

It's just a friggin dog. They didn't seem to mean to harm it. What crime are they guilty of? Being bad pet owners? These animal rights activists go too far... it's just a damn pet.

Diamond Cross · 12-02-2006, 02:09 AM

Animal abuse. Even in America people are sent to jail for animal abuse.

hsmith · 12-02-2006, 09:56 AM

Originally Posted by JaJae

It's just a dog. The US typically doesn't even prosecute for overfeeding your damn kids. I can't imagine putting the well being of dogs ahead of humans.

It's just a friggin dog. They didn't seem to mean to harm it. What crime are they guilty of? Being bad pet owners? These animal rights activists go too far... it's just a damn pet.

You know it is a matter of time before what the children eat is regulated.

It is only the next step in socialized medicine. Control what everyone eats to "keep costs down"

WickedLou9 · 12-02-2006, 09:57 AM

Good. People should get in trouble for animal cruelty. Fuck em. People who are cruel to animals are disgusting human beings that should be beaten to within an inch of thier lives.

Scrum · 12-02-2006, 10:49 AM

Originally Posted by WickedLou9

Good. People should get in trouble for animal cruelty. Fuck em. People who are cruel to animals are disgusting human beings that should be beaten to within an inch of thier lives.

WickedLou9 · 12-02-2006, 11:01 AM

I think it's a mistake to equate this with telling us exactly what to feed our own children. There is nothing wrong with giving a dog, or a child for that matter, a treat, candy, or even taking them to McDonalds.. once in a while. all things in moderation. But what if you fed your child ONLY McDonalds fries and burgers? Is that child abuse? Any reasonable person would know that doing this would lead to obesity and health problems. So you knowingly do something to harm your child... That's abuse and it's not the same as the government telling us what to feed the child.

Diamond Cross · 12-02-2006, 06:16 PM

Well, did you hear about the guy who ran an experiement involving McDonalds food? He was very healthy and decided to see what eating nothing but McDonald's food would. Within a month he was a hundred poundoverweight and experiencing other effects of being that badly overweight caused.

hsmith · 12-02-2006, 07:30 PM

Originally Posted by Diamond Cross

Well, did you hear about the guy who ran an experiement involving McDonalds food? He was very healthy and decided to see what eating nothing but McDonald's food would. Within a month he was a hundred poundoverweight and experiencing other effects of being that badly overweight caused.

and there was a guy who did the same thing but did exercise and lost weight AND was healthier at the end of his cycle

Dumpy Dooby · 12-02-2006, 08:55 PM

Originally Posted by Diamond Cross

Well, did you hear about the guy who ran an experiement involving McDonalds food? He was very healthy and decided to see what eating nothing but McDonald's food would. Within a month he was a hundred poundoverweight and experiencing other effects of being that badly overweight caused.

He wasn't 100lbs overweight. Liar.

Donkey® · 12-02-2006, 09:16 PM

An animal is not a fucking human being idiots. It can't provide for itself...especially being a "PET". This is animal cruelty. Period.

Diamond Cross · 12-02-2006, 11:24 PM

Originally Posted by Dumpy Dooby

He wasn't 100lbs overweight. Liar.

Not at all like you saying cocaine doesn't hurt anyone.

motivez · 12-03-2006, 12:03 AM

Good, people should be prosecuted for animal cruelty.

Linking this to regulating what children eat is a stretch.

Originally Posted by JaJae

It's just a friggin dog. They didn't seem to mean to harm it. What crime are they guilty of? Being bad pet owners? These animal rights activists go too far... it's just a damn pet.

Wow. Just wow.

JaJae · 12-03-2006, 12:15 AM

Originally Posted by motivez

Wow. Just wow.

His weight is just double the average for his breed the article says. I know people who's dogs are twice the average and I know people who have kids who weight twice the average. What crime is committed? I had a fat hamster once, should I be prosecuted?

It wasn't intentional. I love dogs as much as the next guy, but prosecuting someone cause their dog is fat is taking it a bit too far.

Not directed at anyone specifically, but half the forum would argue against giving a fetus any form of rights, yet a fat dog in Europe is something to clammer over. I don't get peoples' priorities.

Diamond Cross · 12-03-2006, 04:56 AM

It's all based on their perception. Their point of view.

Donkey® · 12-03-2006, 10:22 AM

Originally Posted by JaJae

His weight is just double the average for his breed the article says. I know people who's dogs are twice the average and I know people who have kids who weight twice the average. What crime is committed? I had a fat hamster once, should I be prosecuted?

It wasn't intentional. I love dogs as much as the next guy, but prosecuting someone cause their dog is fat is taking it a bit too far.

Not directed at anyone specifically, but half the forum would argue against giving a fetus any form of rights, yet a fat dog in Europe is something to clammer over. I don't get peoples' priorities.

Dogs != kids. Their physiology, their bodies are NOT and can NOT be equated to a human's. PERIOD. Even healthy dogs have issues with old age, liver, heart and kidney function, arthritis, etc...this dog will be suffering in a very short period of time if it isn't already and it will be suffering BADLY. A fetus can not suffer. A fetus has a distinct cut off line as to where it it can't be aware or feel pain. And again, human physiology != dog's.