That'll Learn Them

A couple have been jailed for four months and banned from keeping pets for life after cramming 34 cats and seven dogs into a 7ft by 12ft caravan.

William Cannon, 47, and 50-year-old Angela Edwards, both now homeless, were themselves living in a tent at Todmorden Cricket Club when they were arrested for 15 animal cruelty offences of causing unnecessary suffering and failing to meet the needs of the animals.

The pair, who admitted neglect, were each jailed for 16 weeks and banned from owning or keeping any animal for life by Calderdale magistrates. Most of the animals were kept in the caravan, with one of the dogs being kept outside in a small cage.

Douglas Brill, chairman of the bench, said the animals lived in "appalling conditions".

So did the owners. Isn't this too a case for the social services, rather than cluttering up the prisons? Of course I have not seen the facts that the bench did, but just how 'normal' are a couple who live in a tent or a caravan, and surround themselves with animals?