| Jester’s
Law |
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Back in May 2005, Nikki Powditch’s Rottweiler, Jester, disappeared
near a busy road. It was thought that a dog found dead by the
road was Jester, but as the body was removed and incinerated before
Nikki could check, she was unable to know for sure whether the
dog that had died was Jester.
Outraged
that this could happen, Nikki began to campaign for the Highways
Agency to take the details of deceased pets and scan them for
microchips. Jester’s Law also campaigns for scanning policies
to be implemented within Network Rail and local government authorities.
Nikki
recently had the results of a DNA test which showed that the dog
found that day was indeed Jester. Yet, Nikki’s campaign
continues.
D for Dog reader Caroline Chapman contacted DTA and Nikki to bring
us this report.
In
Memory Of Jester
The Hideous Truth – Nikki Powditch |
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On
Tuesday morning (24th May 2005) I walked Jester my 3 year old rescued
Rotweiller in Twyford Woods, when he casually bounced into the undergrowth
and disappeared. He always did this and then bounced right back
to me. This time he didn't & there was no noise of snapping
twigs, no barking, no startled deer hooves, and no undergrowth movement.
He was gone. I called & called for about 20 - 30 minutes in
that spot believing that he would track back to me but there was
nothing. I carried on calling constantly, I just couldn't understand
it. |
I went around the entire woods twice more then went back to the
car to get his water bowl hitting the bowl and calling him. The
wind was coming from the direction of the A1 and several walkers
said they heard me quite a way in. I came back to the car again
and sat on the roof calling & still hitting the bowl –
nothing. I drove down to the lorry park, the truckstop cafe and
service station asking everyone to keep an eye out. I went across
the roundabout to the police station. I gave details to an officer
who said he would look around. A young lad who was working on his
car offered to help me and I returned to my car.
The lad, Leonard, soon shouted he'd found him - but he was dead!
I followed his car to the spot and saw blood and tyre skid marks
- but no body. It had gone. Within 5 -10 minutes of Leonard spotting
him and me getting there- the body had been removed.
To cut a very long tale short I contacted councils / police / dog
wardens and vets to find out what had happened to the deceased dog.
I finally found out that Highway Services were responsible for collecting
debris etc.... I rang them & sure enough they confirmed that
they had picked up a dog but there was no collar. My dog was wearing
a big black leather half check collar. He said that it had not been
scanned and had already been incinerated! After further investigation
I learned that the deceased dog had been PROCESSED ALONG WITH 3
BADGERS! Being shocked I asked for the ashes and was told there
were none. I asked about any distinguishing marks and was told they
couldn’t give me a description and that they do not have scanners
or facilities to store deceased animals awaiting collection by their
owners. I discovered that this company is licensed by the government
to incinerate animal waste, they also render & process waste
for bone meal etc..... which makes me feel sick to my soul that
Jester could be sprinkled on someone’s garden and not cremated
by me and given a dignified end.
The shock of losing Jester was one thing, but not having a body,
a collar or ashes is very hard to live with. My biggest frustration
is that these people are collecting pets nationwide and PROCESSING
them without the owners’ knowledge. If we as owners have to
identify our dogs by law, why on earth isn't there legislation to
make sure that deceased pets are scanned for microchips and held
for at least for 24 hours before being INCINERATED - not PROCESSED?
I am calling for a change in the law. I still go to the woods morning
and night searching in the hope that Jester is alive but that would
mean some one else’s dog was treated in this despicable way
and it must stop !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Reproduced
with kind permission from Dog Theft Action
Update from Nikki following confirmation that the dog was Jester
At least I have an answer now which
is more than most people with missing dogs ever get.
The Highways Agency has now fully incorporated
Jesters Law across the whole of England which means that on HA roads
from now on, all deceased dogs will be bagged separately and taken
back to the depot where they will be scanned all over for a microchip
and checked for a tattoo. Relevant bodies will be informed if these
are found. Collars & tags will be searched for & owners
contacted. All bodies will be stored for 7 days for owners to collect
should they wish to.
All bodies will be recorded on a new form
to include size measurements, coat colour & type, distinguishing
features etc....
The police & dog wardens will also be
informed.
The local councils & Network rail are
my next targets as they still don't currently scan dead dogs &
bodies are simply left to rot on landfill sites or buried where
they fall.
The Jesters Law petition is still running
& will do so until the end of 2007 to make sure these changes
stay in place.
Click here
to sign online.
Reproduced with the kind permission of
Jester's owner Nikki Powditch, Dog Theft Action Co-ordinator
Submitted by Caroline Chapman
To find out more about DTA, visit our Charities
section.
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