GARY CLARK'S HORRIFIC ANIMAL CRUELTY IN TRURO: PIGS, POULTRY, AND LLAMA LIVING IN FILTH AND DANGER
Gary Joseph Clark, a smallholder residing at 30a River Street in Truro, Cornwall, was found guilty in 2020 of multiple animal welfare violations that exposed the neglect and hazardous conditions in which his animals were kept.Clark, who also works as a taxi driver, faced serious allegations related to the improper care of pigs, poultry, and a llama at his property, Trevarth Farm allotments in Lanner, near Redruth.
Over the course of three separate inspections conducted by Cornwall Council’s Animal Health officers and a veterinarian from the Animal Plant and Health Agency, disturbing details about the state of Clark’s smallholding emerged.
The enclosures housing the pigs were consistently waterlogged, with mud reaching up to the animals’ bellies, creating an environment that was both filthy and dangerous.
The pigs’ drinking water was found to be contaminated, muddy, and unfit for consumption, while the animals had access to hazardous objects such as nails and sharp protrusions, posing a significant risk of injury.
Similarly, the llama kept at the site was found to be without any shelter from the elements, leaving it vulnerable to adverse weather conditions.
Its enclosure contained sharp objects, including nails and other sharp projections, which could cause injury.
The poultry housed on the property was also neglected; it lacked clean, dry bedding and did not have access to fresh water, further highlighting the poor standards of animal care.
Despite numerous advisories and recommendations issued by the authorities during the inspections, Clark made only minimal efforts to improve the conditions.
Requests to remove the hazardous objects, provide dry lying areas, and supply clean water were largely ignored, demonstrating a blatant disregard for animal welfare.
In sentencing, Clark was ordered to pay a total of £792 in fines and surcharges.
Additionally, he received a five-year ban from keeping any farm animals, including llamas, a restriction that will remain in effect until September 2025.
The case underscores the importance of animal welfare laws and the consequences of neglecting the basic needs of animals entrusted to one’s care.
