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Clive & Jackie win battle for Silo

A very happy Silo, erunited with Clive, right and Jackie Cullen, left.

A very happy Silo, erunited with Clive, right and Jackie Cullen, left.

The Village Voice is delighted to announce that Silo the Welsh border collie has been returned to her owner Clive Coleman. Clive got a call from the RSPCA on Monday 4th June to say they would bring the dog back to him on condition that he would sign the Society’s standard adult caution. Clive agreed, though reluctantly. ‘What choice did I have. Even though I think I’ve done my best for Silo, if I hadn’t signed it I wouldn’t have seen my dog again, and they’d have taken me to court. It was emotional blackmail.’
 Silo was formally returned to Mr Coleman on the following Thursday by Inspector Farquett, who had originally confiscated the dog, while Clive was officially cautioned by the charity’s Chief Inspector Dockery. Owl Lady Jackie Cullen was also present at the hand-over, and later remarked to us, ‘The caution Clive was obliged to sign refers to the Protection of Animals Act 1911, and this has recently been superseded by the Animal Welfare Act 2006. It’s not a police caution, and thus has dubious legal status to begin with, and now we see they’re quoting redundant law.’
 Meanwhile, Clive is just happy to be reunited with his dog. Clive told us, ‘The RSPCA gave me some tablets to carry on with, and they said they’d check on her in about a month, when the tablets run out. She needs a good run – her legs are pretty spindly and her nails have been clipped, both a sign that she hasn’t had much exercise. But I must admit, she does look a lot better, and her coat has come back beautifully.’ Silo certainly seemed excited to be back with her owner when they came to see us. But Jackie Cullen is keen to remind people that the RSPCA has no powers of entry or arrest. ‘They can’t even demand that you answer questions, if you don’t want to,’ Jackie says.  Jackie is currently looking for a new home for herself and the animals she looks after, so in the interim the Village Voice has agreed that anyone needing Jackie’s help in dealing with the RSPCA should contact us in the first instance.

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