Post by brandykins on Feb 21, 2009 11:57:29 GMT
What are your views on this - I think it is awful and the council should be ashamed of itself.
Pets' Corner becomes death row as council axes funding for 70-year-old animal park
By Tristan Stewart-Robertson
ITS residents have brought smiles to the faces of thousands of young visitors for more than seven decades.
But now many of the animals at Pets' Corner in Ayr face a death sentence, after its funding was axed by the local council.
It means many of the 200 animals may have to be put down if they cannot find an alternative home by 1 April.
Ickle, the Welsh pony, who was rescued nine years ago, is one of those at risk. The park's supporters say he cannot be ridden, and so is unlikely to be taken in by anyone. He will probably be forced to go to a market, where most horses are sold for meat.
At least a quarter of the park's animals, including Barnie, a 37-year-old donkey, are too old to move and would have to be put down, campaigners claim.
The rest, including sheep, deer, pigs and rabbits, will need new homes, and animal parks are bursting at the seams.
Pets' Corner has been owned and run by Ayr's local authority for 70 years.
The council tried to pull its funding last year but granted a stay of execution, giving the sanctuary a year to come up with a business plan, after a public uproar. The plan involved extra land for a new educational centre, but shortly before the plan was to be submitted, the council said it could not give up the land.
South Ayrshire Council has confirmed it will not be funding the park in future and its gates will close for good on 31 March. The council expects to save £20,000 a year.
Henry Pimentel, the chairman of Friends of Pets' Corner, said they had raised £33,000 in donations and £162,000 in kind from companies willing to redevelop the park and add an education centre. But there was little hope of a reprieve.
He said: "I think this is it. I'm very disappointed. It is such a beautiful park and I'm sad for the community and sad for the animals. If the council had even given us £20,000, Pets' Corner could stay open.
"My understanding from the veterinarian who has been taking care of the animals for many years is that about a quarter of the animals are too old to move and will have to be put down. Up to a half of all the animals could be put down if they don't find homes for them."
The park's animals include Velma, a 14-year-old sheep, 33 rabbits, ten button quail, red firetail finches Fudge and Fidget, two Patagonian parrots, 14 Java doves and Perci, the lone love bird.
More than 7,000 people signed an initial petition to keep Pets' Corner open, and Friends of Pets' Corner gained charitable status in October. The group asked for £50,000 in November but insisted it was for one year only and was merely a starting point for negotiations.
Mr Pimentel said it would cost the council more to rehome all the animals than the £20,000 a year it aimed to save by axing the park.
The local authority said it was seeking suitable alternative homes for all animals, and that the closure decision had nothing to do with the economic crisis.
The council leader, Hugh Hunter, said: "The decision taken in February 2008 to close Pets' Corner was not an easy one and we agreed to a six-month delay in closure to give local Rotarians an opportunity to form a trust and submit a sustainable business plan to us.
"At the request of the Friends of Pets' Corner Trust, we then agreed to a further six-month delay to give them the opportunity to finalise their business plan. The submitted business plan was assessed by our finance department and was not considered sustainable."
A spokeswoman for the Scottish SPCA said there were no known legal issues surrounding the closure, adding: "We will be happy to check any potential new homes for the animals."
She stressed that the putting down of any animals should be a course of last resort after all alternatives had been explored.
Financial problems are 'no excuse to condemn animals'
SOUTH Ayrshire Council's axeing of Pets' Corner is just the latest of cuts across Scotland as local authorities struggle to balance the books against a dismal economic downturn.
The council insisted the closing of the animal park was a remnant of the 2008 budget, not a result of the current crisis. But despite £70 million in funding from the Scottish Government to ensure council tax freezes for a second year, several authorities are feeling the economic pinch.
Glasgow City Council has faced angry protests in recent weeks over plans to shut schools and nurseries. East Dunbartonshire said they would still need to make £6 million in cuts, and Falkirk Council would need to find £9 million in savings. Highland Council announced earlier this month they would need to shed the equivalent of 111 full-time jobs to tackle a £13 million budget deficit.
But animal campaigners warned that tough economic times were no excuse for reducing their care and responsibility for animals.
Scottish SPCA Chief Superintendent Mike Flynn said: "We would not advise pet owners to cut back on the feeding, bedding and veterinary care of their animals during times of financial difficulty.
"Not taking your animal to a vet when it is poorly could lead to more significant welfare problems.
"Instead, we would encourage pet owners to have their animals insured so that they do not have to pay expensive vets bill should their animal become injured or unwell."
Pets' Corner becomes death row as council axes funding for 70-year-old animal park
By Tristan Stewart-Robertson
ITS residents have brought smiles to the faces of thousands of young visitors for more than seven decades.
But now many of the animals at Pets' Corner in Ayr face a death sentence, after its funding was axed by the local council.
It means many of the 200 animals may have to be put down if they cannot find an alternative home by 1 April.
Ickle, the Welsh pony, who was rescued nine years ago, is one of those at risk. The park's supporters say he cannot be ridden, and so is unlikely to be taken in by anyone. He will probably be forced to go to a market, where most horses are sold for meat.
At least a quarter of the park's animals, including Barnie, a 37-year-old donkey, are too old to move and would have to be put down, campaigners claim.
The rest, including sheep, deer, pigs and rabbits, will need new homes, and animal parks are bursting at the seams.
Pets' Corner has been owned and run by Ayr's local authority for 70 years.
The council tried to pull its funding last year but granted a stay of execution, giving the sanctuary a year to come up with a business plan, after a public uproar. The plan involved extra land for a new educational centre, but shortly before the plan was to be submitted, the council said it could not give up the land.
South Ayrshire Council has confirmed it will not be funding the park in future and its gates will close for good on 31 March. The council expects to save £20,000 a year.
Henry Pimentel, the chairman of Friends of Pets' Corner, said they had raised £33,000 in donations and £162,000 in kind from companies willing to redevelop the park and add an education centre. But there was little hope of a reprieve.
He said: "I think this is it. I'm very disappointed. It is such a beautiful park and I'm sad for the community and sad for the animals. If the council had even given us £20,000, Pets' Corner could stay open.
"My understanding from the veterinarian who has been taking care of the animals for many years is that about a quarter of the animals are too old to move and will have to be put down. Up to a half of all the animals could be put down if they don't find homes for them."
The park's animals include Velma, a 14-year-old sheep, 33 rabbits, ten button quail, red firetail finches Fudge and Fidget, two Patagonian parrots, 14 Java doves and Perci, the lone love bird.
More than 7,000 people signed an initial petition to keep Pets' Corner open, and Friends of Pets' Corner gained charitable status in October. The group asked for £50,000 in November but insisted it was for one year only and was merely a starting point for negotiations.
Mr Pimentel said it would cost the council more to rehome all the animals than the £20,000 a year it aimed to save by axing the park.
The local authority said it was seeking suitable alternative homes for all animals, and that the closure decision had nothing to do with the economic crisis.
The council leader, Hugh Hunter, said: "The decision taken in February 2008 to close Pets' Corner was not an easy one and we agreed to a six-month delay in closure to give local Rotarians an opportunity to form a trust and submit a sustainable business plan to us.
"At the request of the Friends of Pets' Corner Trust, we then agreed to a further six-month delay to give them the opportunity to finalise their business plan. The submitted business plan was assessed by our finance department and was not considered sustainable."
A spokeswoman for the Scottish SPCA said there were no known legal issues surrounding the closure, adding: "We will be happy to check any potential new homes for the animals."
She stressed that the putting down of any animals should be a course of last resort after all alternatives had been explored.
Financial problems are 'no excuse to condemn animals'
SOUTH Ayrshire Council's axeing of Pets' Corner is just the latest of cuts across Scotland as local authorities struggle to balance the books against a dismal economic downturn.
The council insisted the closing of the animal park was a remnant of the 2008 budget, not a result of the current crisis. But despite £70 million in funding from the Scottish Government to ensure council tax freezes for a second year, several authorities are feeling the economic pinch.
Glasgow City Council has faced angry protests in recent weeks over plans to shut schools and nurseries. East Dunbartonshire said they would still need to make £6 million in cuts, and Falkirk Council would need to find £9 million in savings. Highland Council announced earlier this month they would need to shed the equivalent of 111 full-time jobs to tackle a £13 million budget deficit.
But animal campaigners warned that tough economic times were no excuse for reducing their care and responsibility for animals.
Scottish SPCA Chief Superintendent Mike Flynn said: "We would not advise pet owners to cut back on the feeding, bedding and veterinary care of their animals during times of financial difficulty.
"Not taking your animal to a vet when it is poorly could lead to more significant welfare problems.
"Instead, we would encourage pet owners to have their animals insured so that they do not have to pay expensive vets bill should their animal become injured or unwell."