RSPCA POLICY NOT TO ACCEPT ABANDONED PETS

HOW THE RSPCA DEAL WITH LOST PETS

WHAT THE RSPCA DONT WANT YOU TO KNOW

Wednesday 7 March 2012

RSPCA £115 M AND STILL NOT HELPING ANIMALS

RSPCA NOW ONLY INTERESTED IN PROSECUTIONS


I first had my doubts about the RSPCA when I was visiting one of their centres, Millbrook Farm, in Chobham, Surrey. In 2008, the centre had taken in five of the 111 horses rescued from the notorious Spindles Farm – where a further 32 were found dead in the most appalling conditions.
It was my job to report on how brilliantly the horses and ponies had recovered from their ordeal, but I couldn’t help but wonder why the RSPCA had taken so long to intervene. It turned out there were numerous staff to look after just these five horses. Plans were afoot to build a brand new stable block, when to me the one already there looked immaculate.

Last year, while looking round a farm that was up for sale, I came across two collies in a cage. They had no bedding, not much space and were sitting in their own excrement. Their water was green and slimy. When I got home, I called the RSPCA. They promised an officer would inspect the farm and call me back. No officer ever did call me.

 A friend then told me how a young boy had reported a Staffie pup being kicked by a soldier, watched by his Army mates. The boy called the RSPCA, but they refused to take the puppy away. I think the soldiers should have been court-martialled, ‘heroes’ or not.
Only last week, I got an email from a lady called Barbara: ‘An 82-year-old friend went into hospital. Her son was supposed to look after her six cats but he didn’t turn up. I told the RSPCA but they weren’t interested.’
Before that, at the end of January, I received a letter from Margaret in Hayes, Middlesex. She said she had called the RSPCA emergency helpline on nine occasions – reporting that her neighbour was beating and torturing his dog in sessions that lasted for between 30 and 40 minutes.
Another neighbour also called the RSPCA four times.
Distressing: The RSPCA never called back after a report of two collies sitting in their own excrement inside a cage on a farm (file picture)
Distressing: The RSPCA never called back after a report of two collies sitting in their own excrement inside a cage on a farm (file picture)

Margaret said this man beat his small dog with a stick and a metal rod, then held him down by his neck and repeatedly punched him. ‘I could hear him grunting with the effort he was putting into each punch!’ she later wrote in a letter of complaint to RSPCA customer services. She told me that, despite her calls, nothing happened.
Finally, she rang the police. She said their attitude was very different, showing compassion and a willingness to help. They listened, but said the only people empowered to deal with the complaint were . . . officers from the RSPCA. The police called the RSPCA on her behalf and received the same daft questions: ‘Where were the punches landing?’ and ‘Were bruises visible?’
The RSPCA took three-and-a-half months to finally respond to the call for help and unfortunately, by then, the dog had disappeared and another met a similar fate. Which makes me wonder how the charity is spending its money: £115,288,000 was donated in 2010, the latest figure available. In the South East region there are only six officers in total.

Ill-treatment: The RSPCA took in some of the 111 neglected horses rescued from the notorious Spindles Farm, pictured, but it took time for them to intervene
Ill-treatment: The RSPCA took in some of the 111 neglected horses rescued from the notorious Spindles Farm, pictured, but it took time for them to intervene

While much is made of the salaries of our top bankers, I wonder what salary the new chief executive, Gavin Grant, is on (the chief press officer wouldn’t tell me). I hate giving animal charities a bad press because most of them don’t deserve it.
There was a report in the papers recently accusing People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) in the US of putting to sleep ‘more than 95 per cent of adoptable dogs and cats last year’. PETA tells me it releases its euthanasia figures every year to draw attention to the animal population crisis. Most of the animals it accepts (it is not a rehoming centre) are severely injured, aggressive or otherwise unadoptable. It is a shelter of last resort.

Ignored reports: The RSPCA did not save a puppy that was being kicked by soldiers in the Army and they 'weren't interested' in six abandoned cats

But this story was seized on, attributed to research done by the Center for Consumer Freedom. What the news stories failed to mention was that the CCF is funded in part by Kentucky Fried Chicken, Outback Steakhouse and cattle ranchers. All were keen to smear an animal-rights group that had, in 2004, exposed the awful abuse of chickens, with rogue workers at KFC supplier Pilgrim’s Pride slamming them against walls and using them as footballs. But mud sticks, unfortunately.
When I phoned the RSPCA about the collies and Staffie pup, they said they would investigate. We shall see. But Barbara and Margaret who, from their correspondence with me, seem meticulous and caring members of the public, were not offered anything, not even a piece of advice on the telephone.
So, yes, I could hold back from criticising the RSPCA, as at least they do something to help animals. But on behalf of every little old lady who picks up the phone over an animal in distress, or donates some of her pension each week, or leaves behind a legacy in her will, I really do feel it could do an awful lot better.

 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2109929/LIZ-JONES--115m--isnt-rescue-tortured-dog.html#ixzz1oQrFtPtr

2 comments:

The Spook said...

PART ONE OF TWO COMMENTS
I found a dog a few years ago, it was November the 6th, the morning after Bonfire Night. He was running loose in the busy main, but rural, road. He was confused and scared. I pulled over and tried to get him to come to me but he was scared and ran away, nevertheless, he stayed near.

I got back in the car, opened one of the back doors, whistled, and patted the seat. To my amazement he jumped in. Then I wanted to let him straight back out as he sat right in the middle and never stopped barking!

I drove around all the local farms, and the two surrounding Hamlets, (less than 10 houses between them), asking at each one did anyone recognise him. They didn't.

I was on my way to work, I worked on a farm at the time and was doing a half day that day. I was already running late but I took him to the vets in the nearest town, (St Columb Major in Cornwall), to see if he was chipped. He wasn't, and they couldn't accommodate him so I took him to the RSPCA centre. I said he'd been scanned, they took all my details and the dogs description. I asked them if they could house him for three hours whilst I was at work and then I'd come and get him and continue to try and find his owner. They said no because of the risk of cross infection. I asked if they had isolation kennels, the answer was 'Yes, but we can't house him'. I asked why not?, are your isolation kennels full?, 'No, they're empty at the moment but we still can't take him' I offered to pay them £10 to just keep him there for three hours, and offered to clean it up myself once I'd finished work. The answer stayed the same, 'Sorry, we can't take him in'.


I repeated again that I was on my way to work, I received a shoulder shrug. I then said, 'Well what am I meant to do with him?, I'll have to go and let him go back where I found him in the road'. (I had no intention of doing such a thing, I thought they'd buckle and agree to take him until I got back). I COULD NOT BELIEVE IT when I received another shoulder shrug, the translation being, 'we don't care, we can't take him'

The Spook said...

PART TWO OF TWO COMMENTS.

I repeated again that I was on my way to work, I received a shoulder shrug. I then said, 'Well what am I meant to do with him?, I'll have to go and let him go back where I found him in the road'. (I had no intention of doing such a thing, I thought they'd buckle and agree to take him until I got back). I COULD NOT BELIEVE IT when I received another shoulder shrug, the translation being, 'we don't care, we can't take him'
I took him to work, the reason I didn't do this first off is that we were going up to the barns which are away from the house, to do TB testing. I didn't know how he'd react with the cattle and I didn't want to leave him alone in a strange house. But needs must. I locked him in one of the bedrooms and gave him a bit of the farm dogs dry food along with some water. After I'd apologised profusely for being nearly an hour late I quickly rang the Police, the Dog Warden and a couple of other local vets and left his and my details with them.
Whilst up at the barn I received a 'phone call, it was the owner, he had my details from the Dog Warden. I said I'd take the dog, (Billy as I now knew), home as soon as I finished work.
He had come from Newquay, I'd found him 12 miles from home. He had been in his back garden before tea time the night before, it was still light so totally, and very much unexpected, when the next door neighbours suddenly let off a firework. Billy, (a Bearded Collie), panicked and escaped through a hole that normally only a rabbit would fit through and the poor boy must have been running around all night to escape the bangs. His owners had been up all night looking for him and had concentrated on the areas around the river where they usually walked him, they took it in turns to search and stay home to look after their young children.
Their first 'phone call, (AFTER my visit to them), was to the RSPCA who HAD NO RECORD OF HIM AT ALL!!!!! Then they rang the Police who said to ring the Dog Warden.
The delight on Billy's face and his owners faces as he bounded up to his front door, (securely attached to a very dirty and smelly farm rope!), brought tears to my eyes. (And peace to my ears, the whole of both his car journeys, he barked the whole time!!)

Billy's experience could have had a very different ending. Shame on you RSPCA.

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