An elderly inhabitant of St Cirq, near Caussade, was due to appear before Montauban magistrates to answer a case of cruelty to animals. He lived in pretty squalid conditions himself in a mobile home and housed 21 dogs around the property, some in rabbit hutches.
Police called to the farm a year ago thought they were in "fourth world" conditions and obtained an order to remove the animals. The man, who was to plead guilty, had failed to attend a previous hearing and equally was absent on Friday for the postponed hearing. Magistrates decided to proceed in his absence and will announce their decision on 14th December. Despite the seriousness of the offences the prosecutor and magistrate seemed more sympathetic to the man's state of mind than the various lawyers representing the civil complainants.
