Pet shop customers sign petition over RSPCA action
DOZENS of customers have signed a petition in support of a pet shop owner under investigation by the RSPCA.
As previously reported in the Mail, 32 rabbits and 18 guinea pigs were removed from Randa Pets in Holderness Road, east Hull, by the RSPCA at the beginning of the month.
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STRONG SUPPORT: Ray Scott, of Randa Pets, Holderness Road, east Hull, with a petition signed by customers after he had all his animals confiscated by the RSPCA. Picture: Simon Renilson. Prints can be ordered at www.thisisphotosales.co.uk/hullandeastriding
The charity has now launched an investigation into the conditions they were being kept in.
But owner Ray Scott, who has run the shop for 12 years, claimed the animals had not been mistreated.
Now, he has collected a petition with signatures from 41 customers in a bid to clear his name.
Customers who signed the petition include Chris McLoughlin, of Marfleet Lane.
She said: "I have used this shop for many years and have not witnessed anything other than caring people.
"The animals are always in excellent condition and kids love the shop, they help to clean them out.
"I can't believe this has happened to him."
Gloria Pratley, of Kilnsea Grove in east Hull, said: "I've used this shop for many months and every animal has always been fed and watered, with shelter.
"Ray keeps this shop in a good condition with every bit of food for every animal."
Mr Scott told the Mail he was determined to get his animals back.
He said: "We have never had any problems in this shop and it's great that our customers have come out in support of us.
"I want the animals back – the RSPCA hasn't been in contact, so I have no idea what is going on.
"Kids are coming in asking where the rabbits are. My mum looks after them and she is very upset about it.
"I am determined to get them back – I have done nothing wrong."
Mr Scott told the Mail selling pets was not the shop's main business.
He said: "We sell pet food and plants, that's what we do.
"We don't make any money out of the animals, but children like to come in and feed them after school."
A spokesman for the RSPCA told the Mail: "An investigation is under way at the moment.
"We can't comment further as the case is active."
14 Comments
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by ROBERTSENIOR
Friday, January 20 2012, 10:17AM
“I was a very loyal cusomer to rays randa shop and still would be if i hadnt moved to scotland his manner was great with the customers helpful and informative his bait was and still is as fresh as it ever could be at an exellent price the animals he sells e.g, rabbits, birds, guinnee pigs are all in the best of health and cleaned reguarly. its just peole with more time then work on there hands trying to ruin the small shop owners of this world for big commercial companys back the independants of this world not fat cats hope your well mate see ya on the beach”
by carolxcx
Friday, June 24 2011, 6:55PM
“32 rabbits and 18 guinea pigs were removed.....that is alot of babies :( unessesary Breeding) 8 years of over breeding.
I have indeed seen the conditions your rabbits were kept in, i was looking last year when my daughter was wanting her own pet rabbit.....she lives in a 10ft x 4 ft converted summer house with a permanant outside extention of 4ft x 4ft.
I didnt buy my rabbit from you, and that was purley down to the fact, IMO they didnt look healthy and looked like they didnt get the best start in life.
Like i said in my earlier post there is no smoke without fire, i understand the need for you to run a business, but if that business entails selling live animals, standards must be high.
On the bright side, yours were not the worst i saw on Holderness road "Paws" petshop come groomers was absolutly diabolical so much so i was going to buy them to save them.”
by TonySGay
Friday, June 24 2011, 8:48AM
“The RSPCA have missed the gerbil that is sitting on Ray's top lip.”
by RANDA PETS FISHING
Thursday, June 23 2011, 6:41PM
“TO THE PERSON WHO SAID THE CAGES WHERE TO SMALL I BET U HAVE NEVER SEEN THEM IF YOU HAVE PUT ON HERE HOW MANY THERE IS AND HOW THEY ARE SET UP
IF NOT COME AND SEE THEM AND I WILL GIVE YOU A DVD TO LOOK AT YOU DONT HAVE TO SAY WHO YOU ARE WHEN YOU COME JUST PICK THE DVD UP”
by RANDA PETS FISHING
Thursday, June 23 2011, 6:13PM
“the cages are 4 ft x 2 ft x 1ft 10 ins with a 4 ft x 4 ft run when the rspca came last year they said we give them to much food and were over weight this timr there were under weight i have a vidio of them which any one can come and pick up and make your own mind up most of the rabbits taken where babys we only keep 4 does and 1 buck which we have had for a least 8 years
we now have overe 100 in the petition all for us and loads of people have rang us up to suport us
i will post the vidios on utube then every one can see them”
by carolxcx
Thursday, June 23 2011, 3:42PM
“well i actually thought the cages were a bit small, and not very clean either, why so many had to kept in there is beyond me. Breeding unessesarily springs to mind.
Ok kids will miss them, maybe they should go to a petting zoo.
I dont actually think that the new place even sells live stock, and im pretty sure its not just a pet feed shop, it sells all accessaries that might be needed to keep pets.
RSPCA dont just take animals for the sake of it, there must have been good reason, they already have lots and lots of neglected animals to look after, why would they want more.”
by bigsteve
Tuesday, June 21 2011, 12:08AM
“@antyflo, the law says animals should be housed in cages of a suitable size, their is no actual size stated in law. the rspca have recomended size's of cage for diferent sizes of rabbit but this is only their opinion and is not a legal requirement. it allso dosnt take in to account wether or not the rabbits spend time outside of the cages. the rspca can be very arragant about this issue and try to pass their recomendation of as legal requirments.”
by Bjorkliden
Sunday, June 19 2011, 2:50PM
“Now call me an old cynic but hasn't a brand new animal feed shop just opened further up Holderness Road this wouldn't have anything to do with this story in any way at all ....”
by Mark_Hull_65
Sunday, June 19 2011, 1:47AM
“Shiella.... Their, they're, there.”
by antyflo
Saturday, June 18 2011, 8:11PM
“I know that there are a lot of bad things said about the RSPCA but my experience of them - so far - has been very positive.
There are new laws about the size of rabbits' cages and if these rabbits were in hutches that are too small and someone complained, they will have had no option but to confiscate the animals if Ray Scott refused to listen to their advice.
I'd be ashamed to say that there were only 41 signatures on the petition. Surely he has more than 41 customers?”