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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Entertainment
Lizzie Edmonds

Jodie Marsh quizzed by RSCPA over meerkat pub visit

Jodie Marsh has hit out after her farm was visited by the RSPCA.

The television personality, 44, has a £1 million farm in Hailsham, east Sussex, where she homes about 250 rescued animals.

The former glamour model has now hit out after the RSPCA and APHA protection officers went to the farm over reports of an emu in distress and the fact that Marsh took one of her pets to the pub.

In a video posted online, Marsh said her meerkat Mabel "cried if I left her" so she felt it was more humane to take the animal with her than leave her behind.

The Big Brother star has said she thinks an online troll reported her - hence why the animal protection agencies attended her farm.

Filming the visit on her Instagram, Jodie explained: "We have just had 2 full hours of our day wasted by the RSPCA, APHA and some woman from trading standards.

“And it’s all because of my obsessed lunatic stalker. They turned up here mob-handed and demanded to see our animals."

She added: "They have been here for an hour because they have had reports an emu is in distress because it has a tube down its neck.

"As you all know emu would have died if we had not tube fed her.

“The vet came round, the vet showed us what to do and we put all our time and effort into getting her better and she now eats by herself.

“As you all know, my animals are my whole world and there is NOTHING I wouldn’t do for them. Every penny I earn goes on them.”

Speaking about the meerkat, she said to The Sun: “No-one made a fuss or complained about her [Mabel] – everyone is very supportive but I have a troll – I think it’s a woman – who is just out to cause trouble.

“The teams looked over the rescue centre and asked about the meerkat incident.

The RSPCA said: “Trading Standards asked us to attend the location, but we did not enter the premises.

“We are unable to discuss complaints about specific people and what action may or may not have been taken, for legal reasons.

“However, our officers often deal with issues by advising owners on how to provide the best possible care for their animals.”

The APHA said: ““We take breaches of animal welfare legislation very seriously and investigate every allegation that is reported to us.

“We will always take appropriate action where welfare regulations are breached.”

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