Inside U.K. Animal Abuse Numbers Increasing in Britain By STEVE HILL	フレームで見る  英文をプリントする  脚注をプリントする
動物虐待が増える英国 英国では最近、飼い主がペットを捨てたり、家畜にエサを与えなかったりするなど、動物の虐待問題が深刻です。社会の関心が高まる中、英国動物愛護協会は、虐待防止に懸命に取り組んでいます。

Britain's reputation for being a nation of animal lovers is under serious threat after the recent publication of a devastating report.

Figures released by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) reveal that court convictions for cruelty to animals increased by 17.5 percent, from 2,650 in 1997 to 3,114 last year. There was also a worrying upsurge in the number of cases involving the mistreatment of dogs and cats.

And it is a similarly depressing story on farms across the nation. In the southwest, the number of convictions for cruelty to sheep, pigs and cattle rose from 35 in 1997 to a staggering 129 last year.

In 1997, a total of 57 prison and suspended sentences were imposed by the courts on people found guilty of cruelty toward animals. And that figure increased to 73 last year.

There are several clear reasons for the increase in the figures, the main one being heightened public awareness about animal welfare.

It is difficult these days to switch on the television without seeing a program focusing on the work of RSPCA inspectors in the community, or animal equivalents of hospital dramas such as the popular American television show "ER."

Viewing figures for these serials are enormous, and presenters, or the vets that feature prominently, can become national celebrities after helping rescue trapped cats each week or restoring neglected dogs back to full health. The popularity of the programs means British attitudes toward animals have never before been under such intense scrutiny.

But that popularity is behind the number of reported cases of cruelty rising toward animals. It may not be that more cases are occurring, but members of the general public may be more willing to ring the RSPCA and voice their concern about the way a neighbor is treating his or her pet.

There is also an underlying reason for the increasing numbers of farm animals being mistreated. The farming industry in Britain is under severe pressure, following the mad cow disease crisis and the import of cheap meats, which is making it uneconomic for many producers to carry on. When their animals become sick, some farmers are failing to call in a vet because they cannot afford to.

But, as John Tresidder, the RSPCA's superintendent for the Southwest, said: "Although these figures reflect the deeper economic crisis in the farming industry, there is absolutely no excuse for abuse and neglect.

"Farmers must take a long, hard look at whether they can afford to provide good food, bedding and accommodation standards for all the animals they keep, and if not, they should reduce numbers."

The RSPCA believes one way in which the number of acts of cruelty toward household pets can be reduced is to make microchip identity tags compulsory.

At the moment, if a dog or cat is abandoned, it is often very difficult to trace the owner. But RSPCA southwest regional manager Jonathan Silk said: "Unsolved cases clearly show the need for animals to be microchipped, so that pets are permanently linked to their owners."

"Our inspectors work tirelessly to prevent cruelty but they continue to see an increase in the number of animals found abused and living in appalling conditions, or simply dumped like pieces of litter."

Amid all the sadness and neglect, though, there are heart-warming stories of sick animals recovering and finding new homes and happy lives.

Frank the lurcher, a crossbred hunting dog, was found in Bristol with a massive wound to his head, while his nose was hanging off. He may have been hit by a car or attacked deliberately. But he underwent a complex operation to repair the damage to his head and three months of care. And before being given a new home, he gave blood that helped save the life of a German shepherd!

It's not just farm animals or cats or dogs that are mistreated. In the west, RSPCA inspectors found an abandoned iguana in a field of sheep. The 3-foot- (1-meter-) long reptile, called Sylvester, had abscesses on her tail — part of which was missing — head and chest. She was cold and hungry. After undergoing several operations and being nursed back to health, Sylvester was rehomed. But, as RSPCA inspector Ralph Evans said, there is a growing problem regarding exotic pets.

"People buy them when they're small, not realizing how much they cost to look after properly. And when they grow bigger they don't have the room to look after them.

"Sylvester survived her ordeal, but others that have been neglected or abandoned have been less lucky."

Cyber pets clearly have their advantages.

Shukan ST: May 21, 1999

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