RSPCA chief fears for his life

RSPCA chief fears for his life
Danny Buttler
17 June 2005

RSPCA chief Hugh Wirth has hired bodyguards to protect him from radical animal rights campaigners.

Police advised Dr Wirth to use a security officer at all public functions after he was attacked at an RSPCA fundraiser in October. The outspoken 65-year-old said his security guard had since had to remove him from at least one potentially dangerous situation.

"The police have consulted the RSPCA and said, quite frankly, that next time it won't just be paint," Dr Wirth said.

"They honestly believe there will be an escalation of this personal assault business."

In the October attack, three members of Animal Liberation Victoria threw red paint over Dr Wirth during the RSPCA's gala ball at the Park Hyatt.

Since then, in an organised campaign, radical protesters have dogged him, objecting to RSPCA policies on live animal exports and battery farming.

ALV members have also invaded Dr Wirth's Balwyn veterinary surgery, forcing him to install tight security at both home and work.

Most recently, he was removed from the Million Paws Walk around Albert Park after a security scare.

"All of a sudden I was grabbed by my security guard who said, 'Get out; they're after you'," Dr Wirth said. "Sure enough, the animal liberation people were making a manoeuvre.

"I don't know what they were going to do, but they were definitely doing something and they were aiming it at me."

Animal Liberation Victoria president Patty Mark said that the Million Paws Walk incident was typical of the misunderstanding of and over-reaction to its campaign.

"We were only more than eager to offer Dr Wirth some tasty mock chicken to save his health and, more importantly, to save the lives of countless birds we know are being abused on factory farms in Australia," Ms Mark said.

"The real threats to Dr Wirth's life are choking on a chicken bone, or maybe a heart attack from his high-fat, animal-based diet."

Ms Mark said she understood the frustrations of the ALV's "younger members" who attacked Dr Wirth last year, but was adamant that the RSPCA chief was in no danger.

"I regret if, for even an instant, Dr Wirth sincerely felt threatened for his life . . . Animal Liberation abhors violence," she said.

Dr Wirth, who is also president of the World Society for the Protection of Animals, said he feared a trend of increasing violence by activists in Europe and North America could be followed in Australia.

"(There have been) personal attacks on humans even to the point of physical damage to their motor vehicles and houses using explosives and other devices," he said.

"I just get a little bit worried about that because it's been more active in the northern hemisphere than the southern."

Dr Wirth said he would not be silenced by scare tactics.

"This militancy is designed to get their point across, regardless of the consequences," he said.

"They're trying to silence a voice, but it won't work while I'm breathing."