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)

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

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.

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