Rescue Stories
RSPCA vs Mrs V. Whitehouse of Newtown, Powys. Ebony Great Danes.
Puppies Jack and Jill were brought in to Daneline on 30th August 2006. Jack, the male puppy, at nearly 7 weeks weighed only 500 grams and Jill at 9 weeks weighed 1.20 kg.
These puppies originated from a breeder in Cwmbugail, Powys (now relocated to Newtown), and we were told of the appalling conditions that many other puppies were being kept in. Daneline immediately contacted the RSPCA to investigate.
On 4th September 2006 the RSPCA took 19 puppies from Mrs Whitehouse; Daneline took in 14 of them (16 with Jack and Jill), all of which survived, against the odds.
Jack, who believe to be the smallest Great Dane of his age in the world to survive, now weighs 56kg. He turned out to be the biggest, we think he might have the X-factor.
This is the largest cruelty case the RSPCA have brought and won - with Daneline's support - against a Great Dane breeder.
At Cardiff Crown Court on 21st December 2007 Mrs V. Whitehouse had her appeal dismissed. The judge said that “prosecution against you was emphatic. Had this Court been sitting at the first instance then the ban would have been longer”. He dismissed Mr Vogel’s evidence, as he did Mrs Whitehouse and all her witnesses.
Read below the text of the latest judgement, dismissing a further appeal as a frivolous attempt to prolong proceedings.
Mrs Whitehouse was banned from keeping dogs for a period of three years and ordered to pay prosecution costs which are likely to be in the region of £30,000. If she fails to pay them, in default she will receive a term of imprisonment as a result of causing unnecessary suffering by failing to provide a proper nutritious diet and failing to provide necessary veterinary help.
We are very disappointed by the Kennel Club’s decision to have only seen fit to ban Mrs Whitehouse for a period of six years. The Kennel Club’s inference that these puppies merely suffered from a parasitic infestation and that “it is particularly with rapidly growing breeds where nutrition is a very difficult thing to balance”, seems to minimalise the unnecessary suffering caused to all these puppies.
The photographs below speak for themselves.
Some good news - here are the latest pictures of Jack and Jill:
Here are photographs of the 16 surviving puppies, including Jack and Jill, resulting from the Whitehouse cruelty case. Unfortunately they will pay the price of the legacy left behind from the awful neglect caused by Mrs Whitehouse, such as hip joint and leg problems and some have never recovered from the mental trauma. They have also had eye ops galore. On the positive side, all the puppies are very much loved. Here they are shown at two years old, our miniature Great Danes!
THANK YOU
from Lissi & Sue at Daneline
Daneline would like to say a huge thank you for all of your help and support, care, love, devotion and hard work over the Mrs Whitehouse cruelty case puppies.
Thank you to :
- Tracy Curtis
- Jill Till
- Julia & John Fish
- Sharon & Andy Chappell
- Mrs & Mrs Anderson
- Jack, Silas and Matthew Cripps
- Mr & Mrs Vaux
- Rosemary Lord
- Carol & John Cartwight
- Charlie Brooks
- Card Ward
- Maggie Down
- Sarah Wilson
- Donna Morris
- Karen & Lauren Grundy
- Chris James
- Alan & Ann Larkins
- Jo Lampard & Robert Dawson of Highcroft Vets Bristol
Last, but not least, to Jack & Jill’s new Mum & Dad as well as the Mums & Dads of all the other puppies.
PS If we have left you off the list we are so sorry, but exhaustion has taken over.
If you know of a Great Dane in need, please click here to see how to contact us.