Hi everyone having been following another post I'm really suprised at the strength of views against the rspca I've tried doing a search but its not working for some reason. A lot of the anger towards them seems to suggest that unless cameras are rolling their not interested, this honestly isn't a "TROLL" post and I realise I may be opening a can of worms but before reading this post in my naivety(spelling) I hadn't heard much said about them at all really either way but all my personal dealings with them have been very good.
Some peoples experiences of them were truly awful and really shocked me, in my local pub there is someone I know who works for the rspca I don't know what he does I only know him to say hello too but I made a point of mentioning some of the things said on here to him and he seemed genuinely upset by it.
Sorry I've rambled on but this has genuinlely shocked me and I will try another search to see if its working but in the meantime would be really interested in your experiences.

Thanks
Steve

I think you'll find most dog people have a low opinion of the RSPCA. My own is that they are a waste of space. Couldn't tell you what local officers are like because I've never managed to see one.
One very sore point is the RSPCA's attitude to breed rescue. Lack of cooperation & a refusal to admit that breed rescue might have more idea of what constitutes a good home for their breed.

Hello

I have a very low opinion of the RSPCA, for a number of reasons, one of which is the money they take off unsuspecting members of the public, without showing in reality what they are doing with it, other than wasting it.
I have had run ins with them recently and in the past, and the reponse i have had from them is not good, infact less well known animal charities i know have been of more help!
Being totaly honest here, i know a lady that works closely with cat protection, and i have known her pick up animals other than cats, when the rspca cant be bothered.
So that in its self tells me a lot, the rspca are a complete waste of space!
Dean.

well no one wants to make any suggestions that the individual workers are bad or don't care.....it just seems that those in charge, the ones making the decisions, have not been in line with the ideas of those on the board. maybe we want more than they can offer. my cat was stuck up a tree for 3 days and they refused to come. It was a poplar tree, there were no branches to rest, she was hanging on, nearly falling from the tree, screaming the whole time. they said she would come down herself but she couldnt. the fire brigade wont come if the rspca are not involved. I was hysterical, they did not care if she died. after 3 days i managed to get some money together to buy a long ladder, which went half way up. i climbed the rest of the way and nearly fell. all because they wouldnt even come and take a look. :( after that experience i wouldnt even waste the cost of a phone call to contact them, i would just find money and pay to get something done, or contact local rescues.

Thats terrible I thought cats in danger up trees is what they were all about and Dean it was your post that originally shocked me so much, do you both live in very big cities where perhaps they are overstretched more than they are here. I don't like to defend them after hearing what you have both said but as I said all my dealings with them have had positive outcomes.

Cheers
Steve

hi about the RSPCA we use them to treat our dog and in that resoect apart from an ignorant receptionist they have been extreamly good. However after recently moving my friend came to see us and she told us she had seen a really ill looking cat at the end of our road and hed been and bought it a fish. Any way she later phoned the RSPCA and asked them if there was any thing they could do and she gave them my phone number (?). they phoned me and asked me to knock on doors to see if the cat belonged to any body because they didnt want to be accused of catnapping? when i got no joy out of neighbours i found them back and they asked me! to try and catch the cat! so it wouldnt be a waste of there time! can you believe this? when i couldnt they didnt even thank me for trying to help them and no they never came for the cat unless they took it for the day and brought it back. im not too sure what happened to the cat as i havent seen it for a few weeks but i know a neighbour was feeding it so maybe he got some one else to care for the cat. makes you wonder what happens to the cash!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :(

Steve, it's encouraging that your dealings with them have been positive, but I have read so many posts of animals in need, and they don't or won't attend. However I find it impossible to support the richest animal charity who pts thousands of healthy animals every year :( Batterea, Blue Cross and many others manage to keep all healthy animals until re-homed, even if this does take years.

JMHO

liberty

Hi Liberty

I beg to differ on the Blue Cross as have heard a distressing story recently about a Chesapeake Bay Retreiver Bitch being PTS by them for a reason I am very dubious about. I heard the story from a person who rehomed one of the puppies.:(

Lucy

Hi Lucy, now that is upsetting, as I only donate to them, as they always say that they will not put a healthy animal down, it appears you can't trust anyone :(

liberty

I know.

If you go the the site on my profile and look under Doggie Converstaion in the message forum I have posted the whole story. I am sure it is accurate as the woman who told me the story was also very upset by it. I am thinking about writing to them to find out.

Lucy
xx

Thanks Lucy, I found it. It makes for upsetting reading, a very good friend of mine works for the Blue Cross, so I'll tell her and see what she can find out, and why the dog was not handed over to rescue :(

liberty :)

I am not sure why she wasn't handed over.

I have mailed them and asked them for an explanation so perhaps it may throw some light on why it was done.

If I don't get a response I only live about four miles away so may go for a visit. The only problem is it breaks my heart going up there :(

Lucy

I've spoken to my friend at the Blue Cross, Lucy, she's not at work this week but is very interested in following up the story. Can you tell me which of the re-homing centres this was?
If you get a response in the meantime, will you let me know?

liberty :)

Yes it was Burford.

I will let you know once I get a response.

It will be nice to hear their side of this as I think it is important to hear all sides so that no misunderstanding happens.

Lucy

Just read your website and the comment on the NCDL. How is it possible that NCDL are able to keep every dog they take in from Welsh pounds, puppy farms etc and NEVER pts when all the other large national rescues are unable to cope with the influx of strays and are obliged to euthanase. Has no one ever questioned the figures issued by NCDL?

Which website would like to read also.

Coleen

Hi mayhem

Sorry who was the question aimed at ?

Thanks

Lucy

Lucy,
I think Liberty posed the question and I answered. Maybe wrong its been a hell of a day and I should'nt be entertaining myself with posting

I could be wrong here mayhem, but if you look at Lucy's post above, where she suggests if you click on her profile, and look at the site there.

liberty :)

Edited to add: Sorry Mayhem, this post was meant for Colleen it's been a long day, and I am blonde ;)

Battersea Dogs Home pts 2,399 dogs last year

Oh dear Mayhem, i'm not doing very well here :( Where they all healthy dogs? Just curious.

liberty

There may have been a proportion of sick or elderly dogs but the majority were healthy. It seems strange that Battersea are now proclaiming that they have 500 free kenneling space and dogs are being transported from the North East. We are of the opinion that whilst the rescues are boldly advertising that they have a non destruct policy(as the Welsh Pounds do) the dogs are transported to another area and pts from there. The dogs are then untraceable in the system. Animal Aid have just issued figures of pts dogs of 200,000 per year but these figures are based on hearsay information from 15 years ago. This figure equals more than the number of strays picked up each year. No one can possibly estimate or research the figures of pts dogs are so many lies are told and broadcast to the media

Whilst a non destruct policy is comendable I don't necessarily believe it to be correct. Is it right to keep a dog in kennels for years? Surely if no-one has shown any interest in a dog after a few years it would be better PTS and make room for one that is more easily homeable?

Jesse

I don't agree with keeping dogs in kennels for years either, but I do believe in giving them a chance if they are healthy, and maybe moving them to another re-homing centre, where the right owner may be waiting. Perhaps my choice of words could have been better ;)

liberty

The RSPCA has always been my dream in my country where cruelty to animals has not been legally prevented (although we have a law on a bit of kindness to animals now). So to hear ill rumours about it is quite a shock to me. The RSPCA traces its history back to 1824 (if I remember correctly), and perhaps it is difficult for most things under the sun to keep genuine in a long history. I actually can't imagine all the members of the staff have the same spirit as Humanity Dick and his followers had in the 1820s. Nevertheless, I wish I could import the RSPCA more than anything else from the UK because I believe the Society has done something to the British common sense of which I am very respectful. It's a shame all I can import from the UK is product such as wellington boots, waxed jacket and so on, though my neighbours say I look not bad in them.

tobysdad_jp

its exactly the same here (perth, western australia) i really dislike them and have posted before on this subject. they are HOPELESS responding to calls for help. but this pro-euthanasia attitude of theirs is ridiculous, the amount of money that goes through their hands! and they keep them for such a short time and then have them killed!, before i knew better i went to the rspca here in perth, and their conditions were far from what i expected. very small and unclean cages. their was dog urine running from one cage to the next, and across the path you walked on. all the dogs looked absolutely miserable, the exercise area was crap. the staff were far from helpful, and the items they were selling were ridiculously over priced, i know i have preached about the dogs refuge home, but the difference in conditions was just amazing. the staff at dogs refuge home were VERY helpful, they genuinely cared about the dogs, everyone that worked there were volunteers (and there was plenty of them) if you were interested in a dog and wished to take it for a walk they would get you to fill out an information sheet, and if they believed you werent suited for that dog then they would say so and suggest another dog, or as one of the people next to me had written that they wanted a yard dog, the dog rescue said that they would prefer their dogs to be at least allowed some time in the house..etc etc. they had a strict anti-euthanasia policy, they had dogs that had been there for 4 yrs. i visited this dog home several times and the conditions were always wonderful, the dogs were frequently exercised in a marvelous exercise area, they all had toys, had excellent (and very expensive) dogfood the 'cages' cant think of their proper names, were spacious and always immaculate, dogs were well groomed, there was about the same amount of dogs at this refuge as the rspca if not more. and all dogs underwent basic manner training...the differences were amazing and all this was from a non-governement funded dogs refuge!!!!! so where the hell is the large amount of money the rspca is supplied with going?!?!?!?! its just ridiculous...
p.s sorry about the babbling >.<

I've recently become a home visitor volunteer for the RSPCA . I am totally shocked as to other peoples findings and dealings with them as I like you always thought that they would do everything in their power to help animals in distress - not pass the responsibility to others who have no involvement . What I have learnt from them is that every local RSPCA shelter is run differently from the national RSPCA and it is each individual shelter that run from independant funds that they have to raise themselves , Not funding from the National (TV ad's etc) so all I could say is that try calling the local home instead of the National number as I personally found them to be more helpful and concerned than the 0845 number . But by all means don't forget all other animal charities as I'm sure they do as good as or if not better work for caring and home finding for all animals.( I also am looking into volunteering for the NCDL & Blue cross by the way)

I think the set up as an organisation is crap but have mixed feelings about the individuals. I believe like society in general that some care, some don't. A lot of the problems are down to money. Local branches don't get *any* of the donations unless they are specifically donated to a local branch. The top rung of the ladder gets the money and the bottom one does the work (and has to raise it's own cash to do it). :(

Kath.

Many moons ago I had an RSPCA Inspcector come to the house, after I wrote about the awful treatment I and a dog I had found, received from the local RSPCA. He told me that the RSPCA (in his view) had too many fingers in to many pies, and should go back to what it did best - helping the animals. He also said it was becoming to political for it's own good.

Well that was many years ago, and nothing has changed except the RSCPA has become even more 'political' pinning it's colours to the Labour party, rather then staying out of politics, as all Registered Charities are legally obliged to. But, the RSPCA is after bigger and better things in the Political arena, and you do not achieve those by rattling tins, and helping stray cats and dogs.

Coleen

Only last week I heard an elderly lady speak on the local radio a phone-in programe she said that she opened her door to a couple collecting on behalf of the RSPCA. They allegedly asked if she could make a regular donation to the RSPCA, she said she was on a pension and already donated regulary to another animal charity but said she could perhaps offer £2 per month, the same as she gave the other charity, this they declined and said no the minimum would need to be £4 per month. She said sorry she could not afford this amount and they left. What a damned cheek!!!

I think you will also find that most 'horsey' people have the same very VERY low opinion of the RSPCA, it isn't just dog lovers, cat lovers etc, so it seems that animal lovers generally have a similar view, shocked me first too. I think they need to review their policies.

i have a low opinion of the RSPCA too - for many reasons i haven't got time to write about. the last time was at a RSPCA dog show where a puppy was being treated badly all afternoon and not one official picked it up. they were swaggering about in their offical tops with their logos on them, forgetting that they weren't important but the welfare of animals having a bad time [under their noses!] was!

Hi
I dont really hear any bad things said about Birmingham's Rspca...
Ive rang them out on several occasions and they have always been out, I also took a stray dog there recently because it was wondering in and out of the road. They took it with open arms and said i could call back at any time to check its progress, which i did do. Luckily she was claimed a day later.
A friend of mine did not qualify for rspca treatment but found it difficult to pay for her dogs operation so she contacted the rspca. They gave a donation (which amazes me due to the fact they need more money anyway) towards the dogs operation.
You know what they say... speak as you find...

Donna and charliex

I phoned them yesterday.Im not impressed
I've got a Eastern Rosella in my garden.Its like a little parrot beautiful red head yellow front and beautiful blue tail with some green on it also.Lovely coloured.
They said they would pick it up if I caught it.They couldn't give me any tips on how to catch it.
I tried all yesterday no luck.At one stage I got it on a cane but it flew of when I moved.
I did nothing all day yesterday but watch and make sure the sparrow hawk didn't come and get it.
Its back again today.Ive just been out and bought some apples for it for tomorrow.
I've phoned all over and no one has reported it missing.
Ive got the dog cage down with seed in it and wire on the door just in case it goes in.
Any Ideas anyone.

Chow

if it gets low down enough, try and throw a towel over it.....my cat catches live birds and brings them in, and this is how i catch them. i appreciate that it is more difficult outside...

I used to work as an entomologist in a zoo. On more than one occasion the RSPCA had conviscated large spiders and scorpions from people that they thought were not keeping them properly because the animals were in dark, damp conditions. Thing is, this is how they were suppose to be kept!!! So, they took animals away from people who were looking after them properly and the madness was that they would place these animals back in a shop environment for some idiot to pick up. Quite simply they are not 'animal' people - The society should take on inspectors with a bit of animal knowledge rather than experience in the forces!!!
Sarah

I've no chance.Its going into the trees and along the fencing and on to the bird table.
Its not going on the floor at all.
The last two days it has been chirping and it's been nattering a lot taday.
I bet it is really enjoying it self all the food it wants and not locked in a cage anymore.
Ill keep trying.
Chow

A twelve-year-old Japanese girl told me that she had seen a programme on the telly in which they reported on UK dog rescue. She said, 'It's wonderful they're trying to find good homes for dogs so hard.'
'Quite,' I said. 'We must learn from them.'

It seems, as I read these postings on this page, that I have to admit the RSPCA nowadays is not so kind as I expected. However, I have to say these comments on the Society are showing how animal friendly the UK is. On Japanese webpages, as far as I know, it seems very rare to discuss serious topics about animals so actively, at least from an animal welfare standpoint. I still think that these people are from nowhere but UK whose history has the birth of the Society 180 years back. I imagine the original policy of the RSPCA has brought those other charities to Britain. Or am I only dreaming?

I would like to know what the Society would say about these animal lovers' comments. They have already read, haven't they? These comments have reached even this Far Eastern island beyond the dog-eating countries on the continent.

tobysdad_jp

i have a criminal record for punching a member of the rspca.....Enough said really.