Gamekeeper Rhys Davies today looks forward to an eight-month stretch behind bars for an appalling catalogue of destruction on animals. The sheriff in Davies’ case should be commended for applying a sentence befitting the crime.
The 15-year ban on keeping animals may even be seen as light, as this man should never be entrusted to keep dogs ever again. On too many previous occasions, similar offences have been met with a slap on the wrist.
It is sickening that Davies was not acting alone, but working within a sophisticated network. Through his work as a gamekeeper, Davies was able to keep and train dogs to kill in plain sight.
He used social media to network with other brutes, all of whom were aware of the criminality in their actions. We are aware of a seedy but thriving subculture that exists in Scotland.
Rising numbers of foxes and badgers have brought a boom in illegal slaughterings, carried out by oddballs who keep photographic trophies that can become evidence in court. Wildlife crime can be seen by some as trivial with some sections of society believing “vermin” should be fair game for any form of hunting.
But the level of suffering put on a terrified badger, cornered and fighting in vain its life, should not be
under-estimated. The desire to inflict such hurt is something which most is us will be simply incapable of understanding.
The medieval bloodlust that drives people like Davies has no place in a modern, civil society. Every urban hunter or rogue gamekeeper who dabbles in the torture of wild animals should be made to feel they will be following Davies to jail.
Canal concern
The regeneration of Scotland’s canals over the last 20 years has been a real success story. Older readers will recall with a shudder what an eyesore the former industrial waterways became when they were effectively abandoned in the 60s.
The rebirth of the Forth and Clyde and Union canals has taken time and money – but it’s been worth it. The old towpaths are now used by thousands of walkers and cyclists every day.
The Falkirk Wheel has become a visitor attraction in its own right. So we should be concerned when the public body in charge of maintaining our waterways warns they could be damaged by shrinking budgets.
Scottish Canals is working to yearly budgets and says it is unable to plan for the long-term. We can’t afford to let our waterways disintegrate for a second time. Canals are a community asset and deserve to be treasured.
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