RSPCA PROSECUTION SENTENCES 79 YR OLD CAT LOVING PENSIONER TO 12 WEEKS IN PRISON (SUSPENDED)

YET ANOTHER PENSIONER PROSECUTED BY "CHARITY" !

A BIRMINGHAM pensioner who was convicted of cruelty after keeping 40 cats at her home while banned has been given a suspended prison sentence.
Elsie Nash, aged 79, was sentenced to 12 weeks’ imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, and banned from keeping any cats for life.
She was told by District Judge Khalid Qureshi that she had come within a “hair’s breadth” of being sent immediately to jail.
He said, though, he had taken into account her age and the fact that her intentions, albeit misguided, were honourable.
The District Judge said that, for some reason he could not understand, Nash had fallen out with the RSPCA and had chosen not to get any expert advice, which had resulted in her animals suffering.
He said the pensioner had not expressed any remorse, had previously committed almost identical offences and committed a “flagrant breach” of a previous banning order.
The District Judge told her, if people continued to bring cats to her, she should put a notice on her door and phone the police or RSPCA.
Nash, of Kingsbury Road, Erdington, had previously been convicted of 13 charges of animal cruelty, at the city magistrates’ court.
District Judge Qureshi said conditions at her home had been “appalling”.
Timothy Gascoigne, defending, said that at one time Nash had worked closely with the RSPCA and the police, before they fell out.

http://www.birminghammail.net/news/top-stories/2009/02/11/pensioner-elsie-nash-gets-suspended-sentence-for-cat-cruelty-97319-22903398/

RSPCA WASTE NEARLY £57K PROSECUTING PENSIONER ON ONLY £119 PER WEEK

SHAME ON YOU RSPCA, YOU CALL YOURSELF A CHARITY !!!!!

YOU ARE DISGUSTING !

A COTSWOLDS woman found guilty this week of allowing seven pet dogs to starve has been ordered to pay £2,265 in fines and costs.
Margaret Lamont-Perkins, 64, of Cedar Lodge, Avening, kept 14 dogs but the court heard she could not afford to feed them all on the pension of £119 a week she was living on, in a case that has cost the RSPCA a whopping £56,649.
She was reported to the RSPCA by her concerned daughter, Penelope Perkins, who was visiting from her Bedford home with partner Michael Hole in August 2007 when she saw the dogs.
Eight dogs were seized in a raid by the RSPCA and police soon after.
Mrs Lamont-Perkins pleaded not guilty and told the court she did not believe the dogs had been suffering.
"There had been nothing about the dogs behaviour in the months leading up to this that gave me any concern," she said. "None appeared to be weak."
Coleford Magistrates Court found Mrs Lamont-Perkins guilty of five charges of failing to provide adequate food for four Great Danes, two Springer Spaniels and a Dachshund.
Yesterday Ceri Evans, court chairman, said: "It is obvious she could not afford to feed all 14 dogs to a sufficient nutritional standard.
"She saw the dogs each day and we cannot believe her contention that she was not aware of their bodily condition."
Mrs Lamont-Perkins was fined her £150 on each charge, and ordered to pay £1,500 costs and a £15 surcharge.
However, she was cleared of a similar charge relating to another Great Dane, Scooby, after the magistrates ruled he was not in as bad condition as the other dogs.
Seven of the dogs seized have now returned to full health in RSPCA care, the eighth died of an unrelated illness.


http://www.wiltsglosstandard.co.uk/news/courtnews/4122172.Cotswolds_woman_found_guilty_of_starving_seven_dogs/

RSPCA CAUGHT TAKING SCOTTISH DONATIONS DESPITE PREVIOUS DENIAL

PARLIAMENTARY MOTION DEMANDS RSPCA PAY BACK MISAPPROPRIATED SCOTTISH DONATIONS

An English-based animal charity that denied deliberately raising money in Scotland has admitted accepting up to £1.25m a year from Scottish donors.
As the storm surrounding the RSPCA's fundraising practices, the charity confirmed it receives 3.5% of its donations from animal lovers north of the border, despite the fact that it does not operate in Scotland. The charity's income from one-off and regular donations was £35m last year.
As reported in The Herald on Tuesday, the RSPCA, the world's most well-known animal welfare charity, was accused by the Scottish SPCA of "stealing food from the mouths of Scotland's animals" by deliberately fundraising in Scotland, and misleading donors by refusing to clarify the issue on its publicity material.

Yesterday MSP Christine Grahame, who sits on the Scottish Parliament's animal welfare committee, laid down a motion demanding that the charity pay back all money raised in Scotland over the last decade and change its advertising and fundraising materials.
In a statement, the RSPCA denied deliberately fundraising in Scotland and claimed to direct Scottish donors to the Scottish SPCA.
However, when The Herald made a donation to the charity online, no such direction was made, despite using a Glasgow postcode. When the donation was made by phone, using the same postcode, the operator pointed out that "Scotland has its own animal charity" and asked if she should withdraw the cash pledge. However, she did not say that the RSPCA only operates in England and Wales.
The Herald also spoke to an animal lover who has been donating to the RSPCA for the past 15 years, unaware that her money would not help animals in Scotland. Barbara Smith, 64, from Paisley, unwittingly sent £10 cheque to the charity on Monday.
"Until this week I assumed the RSPCA was a UK-wide charity," said Ms Smith. "I was shocked and very angry when I discovered through press coverage that this isn't the case. I've given them hundreds of pounds over the years, but I won't be giving them any more. From now on my money will go to the Scottish SPCA."
The Scottish SPCA said it had been "overwhelmed" with hundreds of donations and messages of support since launching a hard-hitting campaign, featuring a starving dog next to the line: "The RSPCA won't save me."
Scottish SPCA chief executive Stuart Earley said: "The RSPCA previously said it did not raise money in Scotland, but by its own admission this is clearly not the case.
"For all charities in the current economic climate, every single pound donated is extremely valuable. Any figure up to £1.25m may not be much to a the RSPCA, but it would make an enormous difference to us. It would run our Glasgow rescue centre for two years."
Commenting specifically on The Herald's donation experiences, Mr Earley added: "If the RSPCA is referring people from Scotland to ourselves, that signals a change in its policy and we are, of course, pleased.
"However, it is both unfortunate and in keeping with our past experiences to learn that the RSPCA is continuing to accept online donations from Scotland."
A spokeswoman for the RSPCA said she could not confirm the exact amount of donations given by Scottish donors last year, but admitted it was 3.5% of the total amount - as much as £1.25m. She also confirmed that, in light of The Herald's findings, the charity would consider changing its internet donation policy.

http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/news/display.var.2487059.0.RSPCA_admits_taking_1_25m_of_Scots_cash.php

SPCA TELLS RSPCA TO STOP STEALING

The Scottish SPCA today challenges the RSPCA to stop stealing food from the mouths of Scotland's defenceless animals and tell the truth to the Scottish public.
Scotland's animal welfare charity has launched an unprecedented campaign calling for the English and Welsh charity to admit it can't save a single animal in Scotland.
Chief Executive Stuart Earley said, "Many people do not know that the RSPCA does not rescue or rehome any animals in Scotland and by advertising here it has been intentionally adding to the confusion to make money.
"The RSPCA is in breach of Institute of Fundraising guidelines it helped draw up which require charities to be explicitly clear about where they work. Occasionally using small print to tell the Scottish public it is registered in England and Wales is in no way explicit.
"We are a completely separate charity and have asked the RSPCA to make it clear it does not save animals in Scotland so people can make an informed choice about who to donate to. However, after six months of talks we are no further forward.
"This has been increasing the huge pressure on our resources for many years and enough is enough. It's time the RSPCA told the truth."
Research has demonstrated that 70% of the Scottish public believe the RSPCA saves animals in Scotland. High profile RSPCA campaigns in Scotland last year included a membership drive in Scottish supermarkets and adverts on Scottish radio stations.
"The RSPCA seems determined to portray itself as a UK charity, even if it is at the expense of animal welfare in Scotland," said Mr Earley.
"Further RSPCA advertising has included television adverts on UK channels. While these particular adverts cannot be restricted to England and Wales, they should not deceive the Scottish public.
"We are therefore calling for the RSPCA to be explicitly clear in its advertising that it does not rescue or rehome animals in Scotland.
"This could be by explicitly stating where it works or even describing itself as the ‘RSPCA for England and Wales'. Either would clear up the confusion almost immediately.
"We are also calling for the RSPCA to at all times make it clear to anyone donating from Scotland that their donation will not help animals in their country.
"This should extend to any legacies it receives made out to the ‘Scottish RSPCA' or ‘RSPCA Scotland'. We believe these should come to us and be used to care for animals in Scotland but even this basic and fair principle has been rejected.
"It is impossible to quantify how much we have lost to the RSPCA but any loss is damaging because we receive no government or lottery funding and rely on public support.
"While anyone can of course support any charity they wish, we know the majority of the Scottish public would prefer their donations to help charities in Scotland and it is on this basis, in defence of the abandoned and neglected animals in need of our help, that we are taking this stance.
"We did not want to have to campaign in this way and very much hope this brings about a change in RSPCA policy."
Mr Earley continued, "People will ask why we don't merge. The answers are simple, the most significant of which is the Scottish SPCA is subject to Scottish law and, like the police in Scotland, is a reporting agency to the Crown Office, a status far greater than that afforded to the RSPCA.
"Animal welfare is also a devolved issue in Scotland and the Scottish SPCA is in effect a legally recognised defender of animal welfare on behalf of the Scottish Government, which again is a status the RSPCA does not have in England and Wales.
"Indeed, we are extremely proud of our influential role in the development of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act of 2006 and subsequent legislation, which is a reflection of the excellent reputation the Scottish SPCA has with MSPs.
"The Scottish public have their own animal welfare charity in the Scottish SPCA and it is essential they are aware of this fact."

http://www.scottishspca.org/news/142

RSPCA ACCUSED OF POACHING FUNDS FROM THE SCOTTISH

TURF WAR BREAKS OUT BETWEEN ANIMAL CHARITIES AS RSPCA DECIEVE SCOTTISH SPCA DONATORS

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, one of Britain’s richest charities, was accused yesterday of dirty tricks by a fellow charity, including deliberately fundraising in areas outside its remit.

In an unprecedented turf war within the charitable world, the equivalent Scottish welfare society claimed the RSPCA poached donations and legacies intended to help animals in Scotland.

The RSPCA, which denies the accusations, operates only in England and Wales.

The Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Scottish SPCA), which is a completely separate organisation, challenged the RSPCA “to stop stealing food from the mouths of Scotland’s defenceless animals and tell the truth to the Scottish public”.

The Scottish charity, less than a tenth of the size of the RSPCA, accuses the English organisation of TV advertising in Scotland; a membership drive in Scottish supermarkets; and adverts on Scottish radio stations.

It also believes the RSPCA are guilty of accepting legacies dedicated to "RSPCA Scotland" or "Scottish RSPCA".

The Scottish SPCA challenged the English organisation to admit that it cannot save “a single animal” in Scotland.

Stuart Earley, chief executive of the SSPCA, said, “Many people do not know that the RSPCA does not rescue or rehome any animals in Scotland and by advertising here it has been intentionally adding to the confusion to make money.

“The RSPCA is in breach of Institute of Fundraising guidelines it helped draw up which require charities to be explicitly clear about where they work. Occasionally using small print to tell the Scottish public it is registered in England and Wales is in no way explicit.

“We are a completely separate charity and have asked the RSPCA to make it clear it does not save animals in Scotland so people can make an informed choice about who to donate to. However, after six months of talks we are no further forward.

“This has been increasing the huge pressure on our resources for many years and enough is enough. It’s time the RSPCA told the truth.”

The issue of recognition is a long running bone of contention with the SSPCA, which in 2007 had an income of £10.1 million and an expenditure of the same amount. “We are desperate for every penny we can get,” said an insider. “The RSPCA spent £17m on marketing in 2007 - that’s 170 per cent of what it costs us to run.”

By contrast, the RSPCA was ranked the seventh top charity in Britain by the consultancy Intangible Business, with an income in 2007 of £114m, of which £63.1m was from legacies. Its expenditure was £111m.

The RSPCA also has reserves in the order of £150m.

Both charities have a venerable history. The RSPCA was founded in 1824, the first national animal protection in the world. It was granted royal approval in 1840. It now hads 172 branches in England and Wales.

The Scottish SPCA was founded in 1839 and now has 10 animal rescue and rehoming centres across Scotland, plus two wildlife resuce units in Fife and Shetland.
However, the SSPCA said research had demonstrated that 70 per cent of the Scottish public believed the RSPCA saved animals in Scotland.

“The RSPCA seems determined to portray itself as a UK charity, even if it is at the expense of animal welfare in Scotland,” said Mr Earley.
“We are therefore calling for the RSPCA to be clear in its advertising that it does not rescue or rehome animals in Scotland.
“This could be by explicitly stating where it works or even describing itself as the ‘RSPCA for England and Wales’. Either would clear up the confusion almost immediately.
“It is impossible to quantify how much we have lost to the RSPCA but any loss is damaging because we receive no government or lottery funding and rely on public support.”

A merger between the two charities is ruled out because the Scottish SPCA fulfil a semi-judicial status. The charity has a similar status to the police in Scotland in that it is a reporting agency to the Crown Office, a status greater than that afforded to the RSPCA.

In a statement, the RSPCA said it did not deliberately advertise in Scotland and in fact went “to great lengths” to ensure wherever possible that adverts are not distributed outside of England and Wales.
“Every piece of printed literature, television advertising and internet banner advertising always features the wording "The RSPCA is a charity registered in England and Wales". We always make every effort to exclude advertising messages reaching Scottish consumers. All Scottish donors, who contact us via RSPCA fundraising campaigns, are directed to the Scottish SPCA so that they can donate to them if they so wish.

“We do not send direct mail or door drops as these can be controlled by postal codes. With television advertising, if a station is able to restrict Scottish coverage, we only buy English and Welsh airtime. However, many satellite channels only enable us to purchase UK wide.
“The RSPCA is fully aware of the difficulties arising from cross-border fundraising and was party to the creation of the Institute of Fundraising code. The Society fully supports the open and honest approach that the code promotes.”

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/scotland/article5644077.ece

RSPCA CHEFS PATRONISING TOWARDS CUSTOMERS

AND WE ASK, HOW MUCH IS THE RSPCA PAYING THESE CHEFS TO PROMOTE "FREEDOM FOODS " ?

Celebrity chefs such Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and Jamie Oliver are "patronising" shoppers on a tight budget, according to Andy Bond, head of Asda, one of Britain's biggest supermarket groups.

Andy Bond, the group's chief executive, has launched a stinging attack on celebrity chefs, claiming they are out of touch with real shoppers, many of whom do not have enough money to pay for better-quality food.

His attack, which is published as an editorial in the Grocer magazine, follows Channel 4's latest series, Great British Food Fight, which featured separate programmes from Fearnley-Whittingstall, Oliver as well Heston Blumenthal and Gordon Ramsay.

Many of the programmes involved the chefs persuading consumers to pay more for higher quality food.

Mr Bond argues that while most customers like higher-welfare and locally-sourced food, but they "can't afford to pay more for" ethical food.

He writes: "It sticks in my throat a little when highly paid celebrity chefs make sweeping assumptions about what people can afford, and preach to them about how they should choose to spend their hard-earned money."

In Blumenthal's programme, the Michelin-starred chef revamped the fare at the Little Chef chain of restaurants, attempting to put braised ox cheeks on the menu.

Oliver's programme, "Jamie Saves our Bacon", called on shoppers to spend more buying British pork, rather than cheaper cuts shipped in from Europe, where animal welfare standards are often not so high.

Most of his ire is directed at Fearnley-Whittingstall, whose programme centred on his battle during 2008 to encourage Tesco to improved the welfare standards of its basic chickens.

Viewers saw Fearnley-Whittingstall fail to garner enough votes at Tesco's annual general meeting to force the company to change its policy. It also involved Hugh struggling to persuade Hayley, a single mother, to spend £1 more by buying Freedom Food chicken, a label certified by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

"Was I the only one who found Hugh's manner patronising to the single mum who should pay more for higher welfare chicken?" Mr Bond writes.

"I'd like to see the reception he'd get if he joined me on an accompanied shop or customer listening group – not on camera so it turns into a pantomime – but so he can get closer to the challenges real people, ultimately his audience or customers, face on a daily basis.

"Without a dose of reality the celebrity chefs many hold so dear risk losing touch, and disappearing into obscurity. Which will no doubt hurt them even more than the thought of too many chickens being crammed into a shed."

During 2008 food prices climbed very steeply because of the global surge in commodity prices, squeezing many families' shopping budgets. While food prices are starting to fall sharply, with it possible now to find a loaf of bread for less than 50p, most items, especially meat, remains much more expensive than a year ago.

Food inflation is still running at 10.4 per cent, and though British Gas has trimmed some of its customers’ bills earlier this month, the average gas bill is still about £230 higher than a year ago. With many families fearing for their jobs as the recession deepens, there are increasing signs that consumers are trying to cut back on their spending in order to reduce their household bills.

The think tank Centre for Economics and Business Research calculates that the average family has £4 less disposable income a week than a year ago.

Tesco said it was sympathetic towards Mr Bond's views.

"It's important for Tesco to offer a range of meat for people on a tight budget," a spokesman said.


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/foodanddrinknews/4399037/Hugh-Fearnley-Whittingstall-patronising-customers-Asda-boss-says.html