Lucy Bannerman
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ALDENHAM A sacred cow with a muscle-wasting disease that was being treated by its keepers with reiki, acupuncture and massage was put down by officials from the RSPCA.
The death of Gangotri, a Belgian Blue-Jersey cross, at the Hare Krishna Bhaktivedanta Manor in Hertfordshire has caused outrage among worshippers, who say that they were deceived. “This is shocking and duplicitous behaviour. We have been deceived by those who had given us their word,” Gauri Das, president of the temple, said.
Mr Das said that the RSPCA and police had given assurances that they would not take drastic action and that the temple would be allowed to form a legal case, but that they returned to kill the cow when many of the monks were praying. Three monks were physically removed from the barn in which Gangotri was being kept, he added.
The RSPCA said that the 13-year-old animal was in constant pain, with painful and infected sores and breathing difficulties. “We have done everything we can to take account of religious sensitivities and it is sad that we have had to take this action, but the most important thing has been to stop this poor animal from suffering,” it said.
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not sure what the beatles have to do with the RSPCA, but anyway... i can see that, if the cow was in severe pain that it would be merciful, but as Elfreda said, they have probably done more harm than good with this. if the RSPCA becomes militant nobody will trust them.
Alison, Glynneath,
Are the RSPCA a privare police force? Do the RSPCA have a case to answer in imitating the police? They wear police uniforms, they use similar titles such as inspector, they give people the impression they have police powers, they use police style note books, they are often accused (even at there own admission) that they breach laws in the name of animal welfare. Why is this allowed
Tony Hankin, london, UK
This means the monks won't be able to trust their vets anymore, so instead of helping protect these animals, the RSPCA has probably done the opposite. I'm sure I wouldn't call the vet out to my dog, if I thought he would have it put down without my consent.
Elfreda, Bristol, UK
I look at you all see the love there that's sleeping
While my guitar gently weeps
I look at the floor and I see it need sweeping
Still my guitar gently weeps
I don't know why nobody told you
how to unfold you love
I don't know how someone controlled you
they bought and sold you
I look at the world and I notice it's turning
While my guitar gently weeps
With every mistake we must surely be learning
Still my guitar gently weeps
I don't know how you were diverted
you were perverted too
I don't know how you were inverted
no one alerted you
I look at you all see the love there that's sleeping
While my guitar gently weeps
I look at you all
Still my guitar gently weeps
rowan, Newcastle, England
I find it quite challenging that a society constructed to aid animals has such a bullish reputation for actually killing huge amounts of animals they actually take charge of.
Jonathon, Greater london,
There are people suffering too, thank goodness we don't have relatives bundled out of hospital rooms by people in uniforms so that the patient can be prevented from suffering.
Charles, London, UK
If only our elderly were treated as kindly in their care homes.
Ed, London, UK