The owner of a large cat sanctuary has been informed that he will face a ban from owning animals following his conviction on animal welfare charges. Terrence Moore, who runs the Cat Survival Trust in Welwyn, Hertfordshire, was convicted on four counts of causing unnecessary suffering to animals.
The court heard that the 77-year-old favored homeopathic treatments and failed to seek professional veterinary care.
At St Albans Crown Court, he was informed that he would face a five-year ban after provisions were made for the 31 animals under the trust’s care.
Judge David Mayall stated that he would also impose fines totaling £10,000 on Moore.
The sentencing, which began earlier on Monday, has been postponed until May 30.
“Despite your significant contributions to your life’s work, it’s time for it to end,” Mr Mayall remarked.
Additionally, Moore was found guilty of seven counts of commercially exploiting an animal species without a license last week.
Nevertheless, he was acquitted of eight counts of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal and four counts of unlicensed commercial exploitation of an animal species.
At the trial, prosecutor Charles Miskin KC stated that the Cat Survival Trust was not classified as a zoo, yet it was accessible to the public and offered memberships.
He accused Moore of failing in his fundamental duty of care for the animals, attributing this to either outright neglect, an aversion to modern veterinary practices, or financial motives.
Miskin depicted the facility as chaotic, noting the unhygienic practices in food preparation, storage, and disposal. He pointed out that the enclosures for some animals were substandard or not secure, and the presence of numerous unvaccinated domestic cats posed a disease risk to the trust’s cats, particularly since they were not vaccinated either.
Daniel Higgins, the barrister, urged the judge to recognize that the suffering wasn’t motivated by profit and no harm was meant. “Mr. Moore, along with others, has welcomed a significant number of neglected animals to provide them with the best life possible,” he stated. “His life’s work has been dedicated to the preservation of big cats.” The director of the sanctuary didn’t receive any financial benefits, and any profits from visiting photographers were reinvested into the charity, according to his barrister.
Mr. Mayall acknowledged that the welfare of the animals was always the foremost concern and was convinced that any suffering was unintentional. However, he pointed out, “Your failure stems from your hesitation to seek veterinary care for the animals, believing that the homeopathic treatments you administered were superior.” Moore established the sanctuary in the 1970s with his wife.
RELATED: Don’t ignore homeopathy as a possible treatment for your cat
I am on the fence with regard to homeopathy. I am a cynical person and would normally decry homeopathy but it works to cure foxes of mange. I know as I have direct and ongoing personal experience. Homeopathy can work. Don’t think blindly that it is all mumbo-jumbo as it is not.
