General Chat

Maggie mentioned on another thread that the RSPCA appears to be more interested in lawsuits than animal protection now. Having had time to think about this I can see why.

It seems to me that that is now their specialist area. The animal rescue societies specialize in their own fields, they have all the equipment and facilities specific to their particular interests and the RSPCA have their own specialisms.

It is probably the best way to provide so many diverse services and I suppose that, should one of the other charities need to take an animal away from where it lives, the RSPCA would have more clout to back them up and involve the police.

I could be wrong on this because I did work it all out in my mind by considering all the areas I could think of that were involved and I didn't look on Google to see what somebody else said.

We will see.

My view of them is all from personal experience, and from experiences my friend (Cat & Kitten Rescue - so one of the smaller charities) has had.

I have no time at all for the RSPCA after several really disappointing experiences with them over the years.. very uncaring organization unless you are giving them money..

Like Stella from personal experience with them I would not give them the time of day.

I had a good experience with them a few months ago when we found a baby calf all alone in a field calling for it's mother. They not only got onto it straightaway but without being asked they rang to let me know when an inspector was on his way to it and to say others had rung them about it since.

Could it be that you are expecting them to do something that somebody else now does?

Well, I thought RSPCA stood for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, so I suppose they could claim they're not there to help, say a stray cat, as, by the time they're stray, they are beyond protection, the cruelty can't be prevented. :-S


....and it's up to the much less funded Cat's Protection League (sometimes very fussy themselves) to pick up the pieces

Here we are, the RSPCA at work.

http://www.heart.co.uk/dorset/news/local/18-horses-rescued-from-flood-in-christchurch/

We live in a society where most of what goes down is lawyer driven. Only the RSPCA and the RSPB have the know how and financial muscle to protect and promote animal rights. Like any other organisation they have to prioritise and simply cannot rescue every last moggy that has fallen on hard times.

I rang the RSPCA last year, when loud blackbird shrieking in our garden drew my attention to an almost-ready-to-fly-away youngster which was lying on it's side on the grass, with a magpie hovering nearby.

I couldn't just leave the young bird to fall prey to the many cats of the neighbourhood, so I covered it with the wire part of a discarded hamster cage, which I half covered with a piece of cloth to provide some shade and rang the RSPCA for advice.

An officer came within about half an hour and waited and watched the youngster, which managed to upright itself. He decided it was probably severely shocked, as an examination revealed no blood or obvious injuries.He took it back to their centre, saying it was so near to being independent, that a couple of days rest would probably see it through OK.
........A quick and satisfactory response, I thought.

I gave him a donation, which he logged and gave me a receipt, but I have had numerous draw / raffle tickets and appeals letter since then, because they now have my address.....Not so pleased about that.

...and here's the RSPCA NOT at work:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/10943417/RSPCA-refuses-to-remove-feral-cat-destroying-couples-home.html

...and here's there advice on HEALTHY feral /stray cats

http://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/cats/straycats

The stray cat I reported was definitely not healthy, he had an ear infection and needed to see a vet ASAP - RSPCA weren't interested.
Surely, with their contacts etc (I presume they have to inspect various animal refuges, so have their numbers/addresses) THEY could phone the 'relevant' people if they are unable/unwilling to deal with the situation..

It is absurd to expect the RSPCA to evict feral cats, foxes, wild boar digging up the garden, stray peacocks, ostriches, nesting seagulls and so on solely because they are a nuisance! In all of these cases the animals were healthy and there was nothing for the RSPA to do.

There is a grand old English tradition that your home is your castle. That includes defending it. A grown man who cannot evict a cat is a bit of a wimp.

What is really behind the D.T. gripe is that the RSPCA is very effective at improving animal husbandry which big agri hates.

foo bar

Ah, so if that elderly couple had 'caused distress' to the cat, the RSPCA would have removed the cat - and then gone on to do what they're famous for - sue the couple!!

So simple!

The cat I called them about was in severe distress - but there was no-one to sue, hence no action.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/lifestyle/pets/10149908/The-RSPCA-made-US-feel-like-criminals.htm

I think they specialize in the law side, which is expensive, so that the rescue groups can specialize in their particular species.

That way, I would think that they can afford to employ law specialists because they would not have to spend money on equipment that somebody else already owns.

On the odd occasion I have had to take a hedgehog ( do remember them?) the vet has suggested that the RSPCA would pay the bill but I would have to leave the little critter there. (Caring For Wildlife Pie Company?).

As it is illegal to keep a wild animal captive I can see why that would be so but I paid the bill myself anyway. The legal precedent set by them paying for a wild animal to be treated and sent back into captivity could be exploited no end.

The animal protection need is so great now that it is probably best served by being horses for courses.

...but I still think the RSPCA should call the particular rescue centre most able to solve the problem.