Animals left for dead after neighbours reported concerns

Published: 12th May, 2011
by TOM FOOT and PAVAN AMARA

AN investigation has been launched after dead animals were discovered in the basement of a shut-down pet shop.

Pets’ Corner in Malden Road, Queen’s Crescent, had been closed since last week, with a large number of animals including baby rabbits, parrots, cockatoos, chinchillas, iguanas, snakes and a turtle left inside.

The New Journal alerted the ­RSPCA to the situation after being contacted by a concerned reader on Tuesday.

 Four rescue workers from an ­animal charity tried in vain to break into the shop before police and bailiffs forced their way in yesterday (Wednesday).

Lesley Mills, from the Celia Hammond Animal Trust, said: “One baby rabbit was dead, one turtle had died, and there was a hamster who was deaf and had his eyes swollen to the point of blindness. The animals had nothing to eat and nothing to drink.”

The animals that were still alive were taken to the Mayhew Animal Home. Camden Council was last night facing a backlash from residents in the area who claim the Town Hall should have done more to monitor the shop.

Neighbours had warned of pets at risk

SHOCKED neighbours looked on yesterday (Wednesday) as dead animals were carried out of a pet shop which closed last week.

The macabre discoveries in the basement of Pets’ Corner in Malden Road, Queen’s Crescent, have horrified residents and animal rights campaigners. 

Four rescue workers from an animal charity tried to break into the shop late on Tuesday night in a desperate bid to free caged baby rabbits, parrots, cockatoos, chinchillas, iguanas, snakes and a turtle. The shop had been closed since before the weekend and nobody had been seen on the premises. An eviction notice was served on its absent managers by the County Bailiff Company on Monday due to unpaid rent.

Lesley Mills, from the Celia Hammond Animal Trust, said: “One baby rabbit was dead, one turtle had died, and there was a hamster who was deaf and had his eyes swollen to the point of blindness. The animals had nothing to eat and nothing to drink. They were all so thirsty. The ceilings were low, and it was full of flies.”

It is not known if those who ran the store knew the animals were inside and there is no criminal investigation against any member of staff or owner.

“We have been flooded with emails at our charity, and we are based all the way in Lewisham.” said rescue worker Trudi Whiting from the Celia Hammond Animal Trust. “We have phoned the RSPCA countless times, but they just say it’s not up to them because it’s a pet shop, and they don’t deal with pet shops. But I thought they protected all animals?”

An RSPCA spokeswoman said: “If it’s a complaint of animal cruelty in a pet shop then the RSPCA would investigate. If it’s a breach of the licence condition, then we leave it to the local authority as they are the ones that grant licences.”

“Rose”, a Queen’s Crescent resident and animal rights campaigner, said: “One year ago I bought a rabbit from here [Pets’ Corner] purely out of sympathy. A lot of people would just buy the worst-treated animals out of sympathy, but then we realised we couldn’t keep buying them because they’d only be replaced by other animals.”

Neighbours claim they contacted the council with their concerns about conditions inside Pets’ Corner going back a number months. A Town Hall spokesman said last night: “Whenever complaints have been made, the council has investigated each case via its environmental health team with the support of a veterinarian. We have found no grounds to take action against the premises.” 

The last council inspection was on March 18.

Strict licensing rules apply to pet shop owners who must meet guidelines when buying and selling pets.

In January, Pets’ Corner submitted an application for a licence to sell pets and was inspected. It was ruled it could sell animals if living conditions were up to standard and it did not sell dangerous animals, dogs or puppies and cats or kittens.

When the New Journal attempted to contact one of the men named on an eviction notice pinned to the door, reporters were told he had “not been seen for months”.

Yesterday morning, three police officers and two PCSOs were called to the scene to help bailiffs enter the property and turn off the electricity due to unpaid electricity bills.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: “We did attend to help with entry. The investigation is now being led by the RSPCA.”