Use of CCTV footage

DrPhilG

We have a pet sitting company who look after our cats and dogs while we're away. They collect at our house and look after them at their home. Have been using them for a few years.

3 months ago I had cctv installed outside the house. They are not concealed, clearly visible on the soffit. However there is not a sign stating that cctv is in use and the guy clearly didn't spot them.

Pet sitter collected the animals today and when I got home I checked the cameras out of curiosity. Not going into details as yet but I witnessed mistreatment of the animals.

I will be contacting the ISPCA, but can I upload this footage online? This is not a case of lashing out in bitterness, I just think that people should be aware of how their animals are likely to be treated when nobody is looking.

Will the fact that I don't have a cctv warning mean that I can't use the footage? If so it will just be taken down and I worry that I would end up being sued.

What are my options?

Thanks in advance.

ED E

If you plan on pursuing legal action I'd keep it private.

[Laymans opinion]

In a commercial setting it must be installed by a PSA installer and requires clear signage, but the same stipulations are not all placed on home use. If you dont have to appoint a DP controller I would *assume* you also don't need the signs. Should be in the clear to post it as I see it, but you may find the company in question still files illegitimate DMCA/Abuse reports against it on social media just because they can.

DrPhilG

I'm not planning legal action. I don't want to seek compensation or anything. I just think the company need to be named and shamed so others are aware of the chancer that he is. Any time I have been around when they are collected he is a charmer. All fun and playing with them etc. Much different story today. I dread to think how our pets have been treated when we're not looking.

Fred Swanson

This post has been deleted.

liquoriceall

Oh no my heart breaks for you! You spend money and hope that they are being well cared for 😕
Can I ask where abouts are you based??

markad1

I wouldn't be posting anything online.
There's also data protection implications.

DrPhilG

liquoriceall wrote: »

Oh no my heart breaks for you! You spend money and hope that they are being well cared for 😕
Can I ask where abouts are you based??

North West.

Little CuChulainn

If I'm reading this right, the guy called to pick up cats and managed to mistreat them between the door of the house and the van? How do you mistreat a couple of cats in crates?

DrPhilG

Rather than pick them up and put them in the van, he tied a rope/string around their necks, dragged them to the van and then hoisted them in with the rope.

Not nice watching your pets being hung by the neck and dragged around the ground I can tell you.

Little CuChulainn

DrPhilG wrote: »

Rather than pick them up and put them in the van, he tied a rope/string around their necks, dragged them to the van and then hoisted them in with the rope.

Not nice watching your pets being hung by the neck and dragged around the ground I can tell you.

Are these cats or dogs? Surely cats are transported in crates. How did he catch them? Leading them by a rope isn't a big deal but does your cctv clearly show him lifting them off the ground with the rope or could he have been leading them into a jump?

DrPhilG

Little CuChulainn wrote: »

Are these cats or dogs? Surely cats are transported in crates. How did he catch them? Leading them by a rope isn't a big deal but does your cctv clearly show him lifting them off the ground with the rope or could he have been leading them into a jump?

Cats. They were in a room which is part of the garage. He went into the room, where there were crates for transportation, and emerged a few minutes later dragging them on ropes.

When the cats resisted he dragged them, and one he simply lifted and carried around the front of the van swinging in mid air. 3 or 4 steps from him with the cat suspended a foot off the ground.

Then each of them was lifted by the noose into the van. Definitely not lifted into a jump.

The footage is really shocking.

Little CuChulainn

I take it you've sent the footage to the employers? I'd start there. If they don't deal with it to your satisfaction then consider going further.

jungleman

Little CuChulainn wrote: »

I take it you've sent the footage to the employers? I'd start there. If they don't deal with it to your satisfaction then consider going further.

+1

The employers might have no idea that one of their employees acts like this. Chances are, if they care about their company, or about animals, they would be horrified and would deal with it.

Might be worth dealing with them first. It wouldn't really be fair to potentially ruin a business based on a single rogue employee.

Fred Swanson

This post has been deleted.

DrPhilG

There is no employer/employee.

One man band.

DrPhilG

My current problem is that I want my pets back. We are going on holiday to the states on Saturday morning and if I can't get them back and into alternative digs by Friday evening then the whole holiday may well go down the pan.

The pet guy isn't answering the phone or returning texts and he's still not home (I've been outside his house for nearly 4 hours).

This is bloody awful.

DrPhilG

Grolschevik wrote: »

I second the idea that you start with the employer.

See above.

Grolschevik

DrPhilG wrote:

See above.

Yeah, phone too slow!

deco nate

Like I said in the other thread,call the spca asap and tell them the story and give show them the video. They will call into him and if need be get the Gardai involved. Also give them his phone number. They will do all they can. The cops will tell you to do this first.

jungleman

DrPhilG wrote: »

There is no employer/employee.

One man band.

Send on the footage to the ISPCA so!

DrPhilG

Local Garda station is ringing out. Great stuff...

DrPhilG

Quick update...

Finally got him on the phone just before 1am. He had been in the house the whole time! Says he has been sick all day and was in bed.

Denied any wrong doing, until I told him I had cctv footage. Claimed that the cat's scratched him when he tried to get them into the crates so he used the string as a last resort to resolve the standoff.

I told him that there was never any circumstance whereby lifting a cat off its feet with a string around its neck was acceptable.

Not sure what the next step is. Main thing is my cats and dogs are safe.

I'm not sure about legal options here, but I'd imagine if you have footage of inbside your house, and it's easy to see,/ not hidden, then you can do what you want with it
Probably not worth putting online until you get your pets back though!

the_syco

DrPhilG wrote: »

I'm not planning legal action.

IMO, pop down to the local Garda station with a copy of the footage, and have them press charges against him. When you successfully get a conviction against him of animal cruelty, ensure the local rag hears about it, but not before.

DrPhilG

bubblypop wrote: »

I'm not sure about legal options here, but I'd imagine if you have footage of inbside your house, and it's easy to see,/ not hidden, then you can do what you want with it
Probably not worth putting online until you get your pets back though!

Not inside the house, the footage is taken across the back yard from the house towards the garage.

Cameras are not hidden.

And I have the pets back, thank goodness!

Speedwell

Oh, thank whatever there is to thank that your cats are safe.

TopTec

Well, you cannot do nothing. Either Garda or ISPCA have to be involved or maybe a private prosecution. Just think of all the other animals he is mistreating and will mistreat if you take no action.

Let the authorities decide if your footage is allowable in court or not, but action has to be taken against this twallop.

Glad your pet are safe now.

TT

Little CuChulainn

Yeah report at the station. If you're lucky enough to get the station animal lover they'll be eager to take the case.

Duvetdays

I was reading this thread last nite were you said you were sitting outside his house for 4hours and the first thing I did this morning when I woke up was check to see if you got them back ok.

Did you get the key back to the garage if there was one? Did have a key to the
whole house? Maybe I'm being a bit dramatic but if he knows he's in trouble with the police and possibly facing an animal cruelty prosecution and his business is ruined could he try and get the memory card for the cctv if there is a key floating around and he knows you're on holidays.

DrPhilG

Keys are back in my possession.

Cctv footage has been backed up to a USB drive.

He only had garage keys, not house keys. And the house is alarmed anyway.

Duvetdays

Good, as reality of the situation might be setting in with him this morning. I'd definitely report him to the ISPCA and hope they look for a prosecution as he shouldn't be looking after animals. Hopefully you source another sitter for them and enjoy your holiday.

Pat Mustard

DrPhilG wrote: »

can I upload this footage online?

Mod:

Legal advice is not allowed.

Advice is to report to Gardai.

Thread closed.