RSPCA remove animals from troubled Capricorn Animal Rescue centre in Padeswood

RSPCA officers have launched an operation today (Tuesday) at Capricorn Animal Rescue in Padeswood after being called in by the Charity Commission.

Livestock such as pigs and smaller domestic animals have been taken from the site, which has catered for over 100,000 animals since opening in 1969.

The rescue facility has been at the centre of a two-year investigation by the commission due to 'continued concerns about the governance and management' of the charity.

And this morning, a large number of RSPCA vans arrived at the facility and starting loading its animals into the vehicles.

The Charity Commission began the probe into the running of the centre in February 2017 following an investigation by the BBC.

BBC Wales’ Week In Week Out programme featured the centre in which an undercover volunteer visited the centre over a period of 10 days and said she found dirty conditions, a lack of water and a lack of effective disease control.

Sheila Stewart, who founded the sanctuary, said: ''The issue revolves around a lack of funding. We don't have the money we need to keep the centre open so the RSPCA have turned up and starting taking the animals.

''They are taking some but leaving others with me. I've been told I have three months to find a new place to live, as I gave up my lease on the house to try and keep the centre open even if I wasn't here. The centre would have been open 50 years in January.''

An RSPCA spokesperson said: “RSPCA Cymru has been ready to offer any help the Charity Commission needs, including assisting with animals, while they have been conducting their statutory inquiry, and dealing with issues relating to Capricorn Animal Rescue.

"Following a request for support, RSPCA officers have today been at the site. 

“We are unable to comment on the progress of any on-going operation; but wish to reassure the public that the RSPCA always works tirelessly to deliver the best possible outcome for any animal we deal with.”

A Charity Commission spokesperson said: “We have an ongoing statutory inquiry into governance issues at Capricorn Animal sanctuary, as part of which we appointed an interim manager to the charity earlier this year.

"We were made aware of the IM's decision to have the animals removed and are aware that the removal of animals has now taken place.

"We recognise there is considerable local interest in this matter.

"However we are unable to comment further at this time so as to avoid prejudicing the outcome of our investigation.”

Watching the RSPCA staff carry out their work was Dan Rose, who was a volunteer at the centre and is also a volunteer for RSPCA.

He said a complaint to the Charity Commission about Capricorn was made for the first time in 2014.

He said: “We started to write everything down and gather the evidence. We just wanted to help the animals.

“The work the RSCPA do is a necessity in the modern world. I don’t think we can do without them but the actual powers they have are very poor.

“I believe the Charity Commission should have stepped in years ago and if they had, this charity would still be here in some way, shape or form.”