'Kicked' puppy died from virus
It did not have the fractured skull as the RSPCA had claimed - indeed there were apparently no signs of any injury whatsoever.
How much money did the RSPCA gain from the fund-raising exercise that they conducted in tandem with this shameful episode? Perhaps the 'charity' would consider donating this money to a proper animal welfare organisation, which spends its time looking after animals, rather than trying to prosecute non-existent hoodies on the basis of dodgy evidence from a vet. Perhaps they would consider apologising for all the remarks made by their PR department about "youth culture" in connection with the "stamping"?
An inquiry into the "kicking to death" of a 10-week-old puppy has ended after police found the animal had died from a virus and showed no sign of injury.
The Jack Russell was being walked by its owner, a 15-year-old girl, in Priory Park, St Neots, on Monday, when the RSPCA said it was attacked.
An RSPCA spokeswoman had called the attack "shocking and sickening".
But Cambridgeshire Police have now ended their investigation after veterinary tests.
'Intensive investigation'
A Cambridgeshire Police spokesman said: "A detailed veterinary medical examination revealed that it was most likely to have died suddenly from a virus and showed no sign of injury.
"Despite an intensive and thorough investigation, police have been unable to locate any other witnesses to an alleged incident in which the puppy was reportedly injured."
Police said no further action would be taken with regards to the owners of the dog.
An RSPCA spokeswoman said the charity had been informed of the ending of the investigation.
She said the first vet consulted had told the RSPCA that the dog's condition was consistent with the account given by the puppy's owners of the attack.
She said anyone with more information or any witnesses should contact the RSPCA.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cambridgeshire/8340811.stm
This case brings into focus the concerns that many sensible lawyers have about the proximity between prosecuting authorities and expert witnesses, and many welfare lawyers have about the particular proximity between the RSPCA and its experts. 33 news stories, many in national newspapers, covered the RSPCA's nationally advertised "appeal for information" about the "thugs" who "stamped on the puppy's head" and killed it - only 7 so far have covered the fact that it was an invention, supported by yet another (now nameless) dodgy expert report.
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