May 24, 2018 3.06 pm This story is over 70 months old

Whisby responds to visitors’ animal concerns

They said inspectors gave the animals a “clean bill of health”
Concerns were raised to The Lincolnite by a visitor to Whisby Garden Centre.

Whisby Garden Centre has responded to visitors’ concerns about animal welfare in its centre off the A46.

The family-run business said multiple comments on social media about the health of animals were “misguided” and that inspectors brought onto the site on May 23 gave the animals a “full bill of health”.

As reported previously, one visitor shared pictures with The Lincolnite taken on the site, appearing to show horses with curling hooves and a fly infested sheep.

Whisby Garden Centre did not reply when The Lincolnite requested a response to comments, however they since posted the following message on their Facebook page:

“Due to some misguided reporting on social media we invited all of the necessary authorities to check the welfare of our animals.

“They have been in and checked every animal and all have been given a clean bill of health.”

The Lincolnite was sent photos which appear to show animals crawling with flies and having outgrown hooves.

The company confirmed the animals in the pictures belonged to the company, but told reporters on the morning of May 24 Defra inspectors had visited the site on May 23 and given animals the all-clear. They were not able to provide evidence of the visit.

The Lincolnite contacted the Animal and Plant Health Agency (Defra). The organisation said it does not comment on individual cases, but “takes potential breaches of animal welfare legislation very seriously. Where welfare regulations are breached, appropriate action is taken.”

Yesterday The RSPCA told The Lincolnite that it is unable to comment or confirm if any complaints about the centre had been made, but said it looks into and investigates any complaints made to them.

UPDATE: Lincolnshire Trading Standards confirmed with reporters that investigators had visited the centre in the days following the social media storm.

They said they were happy with the welfare standards of all the animals they had seen.