Distressing videos and pictures suggest animals are held in cramped and unsanitary conditions, with leaky roofs, uneven floors, pooling urine and algae-covered water bowls
Appalling conditions at UK Government approved dog quarantine facility
Distressing videos and photos appear to reveal appalling conditions at a UK Government approved dog quarantine facility.
Ministers today launched an immediate investigation into the facility, where animals appear to be held in cramped and unsanitary conditions, with leaky roofs, uneven floors, pooling urine and algae-covered water bowls. Officials at government’s Animal and Plant Health Authority (APHA) said Ryslip Kennels in Bracknell had passed an inspection as recently as last month.
But dog owner Hannah Fowles discovered the facility had been given a 1-star rating in May by the local council. Emails seen by this newspaper reveal Bracknell Forest Council stating Ryslip Kennels had “failed to meet minimum standards and was on its last warning and at risk of closure.”
Ryslip is one of just six quarantine facilities for dogs approved by APHA in England – two of which are closed or closing for refurbishment. Ms Fowles is calling on Steve Reed, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), to intervene to help her dog Milo, who has been held at Ryslip for three months.
He faces another month in the facility before he’s eligible for release, unless a minister intervenes.
Milo, a rescue dog from South Africa, was forced into quarantine after his microchip malfunctioned and couldn’t be matched to his vaccination records. Dogs from South Africa are required to be microchipped, have a rabies vaccination and a clean blood test 30 days from their vaccination – and wait a further three months in quarantine after the blood test before being allowed out.
Video footage taken by Ms Fowles of the conditions at Ryslip revealed pools of urine on the floor in Milo’s run, with an indoor sleeping space apparently measuring just 1.3 square metres, less than half the 2.8 square metre minimum required to meet DEFRA guidance.
“There is an irony that the conditions we rescued Milo from in South Africa are far superior to these the Government has forced him into, in a country that prides itself in being a nation of dog lovers,” Hannah told the Mirror. “What the pictures and videos cannot demonstrate is the rancid smells and constant noise of dogs barking, the distress is palpable We visit several times a week, and its heartbreaking to see his anxiety rise and a depressive state develop in these terrible conditions”
A DEFRA spokesperson said: “These reports are concerning.
“The Government is committed to preserving the highest standards of animal welfare and biosecurity. We have launched an immediate investigation into the case to ensure these standards are being met.”
Hannah welcomed the department launching an investigation.
“The whole situation has been devastating,” she added. “From the moment Milo arrived in the UK, his rights were stripped away due to a technical malfunction beyond anyone’s control.
“He’s been unfairly punished, placed in quarantine despite clear evidence that he poses no threat. Watching him endure these substandard and distressing conditions, I have felt completely helpless to protect him. As a responsible pet owner, I did everything I could to ensure Milo’s safety and compliance with the regulations, but this technical failure has led to a cruel and unnecessary situation.
“No animal should be subjected to such treatment, and it’s heartbreaking to see Milo and the other dogs in quarantine suffer like this. What adds insult to injury is that I am having to pay an extortionate amount of money for him to be kept in these conditions. “
Ryslip Kennels were approached for comment.