I have been in 2 minds about phoning the RSPCA for a while about a bloke up the road.He basically neglects his dogs(told me you don't have to worm mongrels..only pedigrees!!!!) but have had not enough info to give exact details.
However ,today his neighbour told me that his son holds the male up by the collar and kics it to get rid of his frustrations!! The dogs are terrified of him and if they escape have to be tempted back with a trail of food and then ambushed!! They are kept in a small 'utility' room behind the kitchen and not allowed out.The bitch is coming up 4/5 months and I know that they will let her get pregnant on her first season...1/for money 2/cos the kids will get a kick out of it.
I phoned the RSPCA and quess what..not interested cos I haven't seen the violence myself!!!
Archer 

RSPCA have no care bout animals unless theres money in it for themselves!

sorry just my opinion!

Rox

Nikki can you get the person who did see it to report them? Difficult I know because they don't want a kicking themselves, you would think they would call and take a look wouldn't you, quick enough to stick there noses in if they think they will get high profile reports about it.

I'm sorry to have to say they just are NOT interested in any way. Yet put Rolf Harris there and a TV camera and they are out to rescue a cat up a tree.

But when we rang them at work about four pidgeons in the store they said and I quote "They will die if they can't get access to water. Or fly into something and break their necks!!!!"

Karen

you are all being so unfair to RSPCA - I have been a copper for 10 years, and worked alot with them, they are SERIOUSLY underfunded and understaffed - I know some RSPCA Officers are a waste of space, trust me I have felt close to doing some of them serious harm!! - but most of them work very long and hard shifts, with no powers to deal with anything, which is where Police come in, but again it depends on which Officer gets the call, as a Copper it is hard to prioritise between an RTA, public order, death, animal cruelty, drunks, child abuse etc etc - manpower is and will always be the issue. If anyone knows of any cases of animal cruelty, it should first and foremost be reported to the Police, as there is always an answer, not the case with RSPCA. I know you will all have had bad experiences of both Police AND RSPCA, but trust me, there are alot of us out there who really do care, it is always worth persevering - I am sure I have opened big bag of worms here, but please dont shoot the messenger - I for one have always done my best

If it's in our area WE usually get the phone calls from the police asking for help to get dogs out of bad homes instead of the RSPCA ever since I got a bitch away from her owners in the early 90's

Sorry but the RSPCA are usually useless, there are one or two food ines but most are more interested in stopping responsible breeders getting on with their hobbies-one example Boxer breeder has litter of puppies docked by a non local vet 5 minutes after the vet left in pile the RSPCA demanding to see the puppies THE BREEDER has just  had docked by "lay person"breeder asks to see search warrant "AH says the RSPCA inspector I have a RIGHT to enter" "no you don't says the breeder" " Yes I do says RSPCA inspector" Breeder laughs & says"Well I'm a serving police officer & I know you don' t & now remove your self from my premises before I call the police & have you charged"Exit senior RSPCA inspector V embarassed. Obviously they had been Illegally watching the kennels, but did not know this"new"breeder was actually from another area & actually an in law of the kennel owner who had been called away. They are a senior police officer in another force, who was visiting & puppy sitting. I just wish I had been there

Hi Debs, can't believe you say that the RSPCA is UNDERFUNDED of all things. Local offices and shelters may be underfunded BY the very rich RSPCA but the RSPCA as an organsatation surely isn't short of funds! That is one of the things we gripe about.

Another is the militaristic approach. Why do RSPCA officers wear a uniform that is not unlike a police uniform? It isn't even practical for people working with animals. Why do they have police like ranks? Could it to be to give the puplic the impression that they have the same rights than police officers? Moonmaiden's story suggests that they want the pubic to think they have MORE rights than a police officer. I've never had an RSPCA inspector come calling, but I've heard enough similar stories to know what I'd do if one did call. I'd tell him that he had no rights whatsoever and ask him to get off my property stat. That is not the attitude I'd take to a police officer.

Then there is the politicisation of the RSPCA, its political campaigns, the vast amount it spends on advertising, and the shock-horror advertising it goes in for. Remember the dead dogs poster at Crufts? many of us don't much like their high publicity prosecutions either - certainly not after the way RSPCA behaved in early DDA cases.

I've not had a bad experience myself, but when the subject comes up people always queue up to tell their story of how they tried - and failed - to get help from the RSPCA. They can't all be fantasists or fibbers.

All of that is why the cutsey, cuddly Rolf Harris programme makes many of us cringe or swear.

I'm sure no one would deny that there are many good and caring RSPCA Inspectors, but the organisation itself badly needs to sort out its priorities.

Poor old RSPCA, if they dress and act like police officers they are wrong, and if they do not act when it is outwith their powers as non police officers they are wrong.

Meanwhile their bosses have lovely offices & big salaries paid for by donations for animal welfare

I was just wandering how to say the exact same!

:)

My daughter got a springer it was so starved you could see it's ribs and vertebrae. It was sick and had a lump on it's side from being kicked. She had to buy it to "rescue" it, there were two other pups in the same condition and the puppies mother. We took the pup to my son-in-law who is a vet, he took one look and said this person should be locked up!

We then went straight to the RSPCA and they wouldn't even walk the few yards from the door of their office to my car where the pup was, to look. They said, "You should have left it there then we could have done something. So what do you want to do with it? Do you want to leave it with us?" We had told them there were more there, but they weren't interested! Why? Probably because this so called "breeder" was a really rough character and it was known to the local RSPCA, this guy and his son were quite capable of being nasty.

So we rang the Kennel Club who advised us to ring the police as they would investigate. So we did and guess what the police went straight there! Luckily I know some of the local police officers, so when a week later somebody had reported my daughter to the police for having a starving sick spaniel, they were there when the RSPCA came to her house, mob handed! As soon as they saw it was Hannah, they told the RSPCA to leave her alone. The RSPCA were quite happy to take on my 23 year old daughter, but not interested when she took the dog with me and sat outside their offices in the vague hope they might be interested!

Full marks to the police though who do investigate when cruelty is reported to them, they are not frightened to tackle these men. I know the RSPCA staff do not need to put themselves into danger and would not advise anyone to do so, but they could have shown some interest in the puppy, since it was only four yards from their office doors in their carpark!!!! I know the RSPCA does require some back up from either the enviromental health staff or the police before going into anywhere officially, so they never go in alone.

Debs,

As an ex police (yes, I know ex police are the worst) I sympathise with your views.  I know where you're coming from as the police are the bad buys whatever we do.

That said, I've got to agree with the negative comments about the RSPCA.  I had numerous dealings with them both professionally and personally and the front they promote with the help of Mr Harris is not the reality.  They are well funded as far as I can tell but not good at budget management and prioritising jobs.  They have under-trained operators who are most people's first point of call that sometimes wouldn't know the front end of a cow from the back.  Not their fault - they've been put in that position but it's still wrong. 

The work they do on the TV was certainly not my experience of them in my area but maybe your area is different.

Joe :)

Thanks for your message Joe - nice to have a little sympathy!! I have to say though, I never expected such a backlash from what is merely my experience! Dont get me wrong, I am not a huge fan of alot of RSPCA personnel, its just that I too have had alot of dealings with them, and have found some to be very caring and professional people, and also a few that are uniformed egotistical morons, who get a power trip from trying to throw their next to non-existant power around. Yes, I have been more than frustrated on many occasions, at the lack of knowledge etc - but as you say that is down to poor training alot of the time, I must have been lucky where I live in that most of them were nice people, but nowhere near enough of them to be effective. I think the whole organisation needs a radical overhaul, with better training, more people, more powers to deal with things ( releasing understaffed Police Forces to deal with other things) and have the RSPCA deal with what they are supposed to properly.

The town near my "patch" has a marina in it, with alot of swans who used to like wandering down a busy main road occasionally, and it was always Police people called ( I know, I know, cos RSPCA told them to!! ) - so I will always be eternally greatful to the RSPCA guy who showed me how to pick them up without losing a finger or eye!!!!

Debs

You came on Champdogs and didn't expect backlash??? :D :D  You're safer with the swans! 

Joe ;)

have sussed that one the hard way!!! will be careful in future!!! where are you, and what dog(s) do you have?

In the historic Cathedral City of sunny Durham.  Only got the one fur face now.  Norman, a standard wire dachshund.  Not the dog you'd expect?!?!?  Never have been one for the 'expected'.  Wouldn't swap him for the world.  What about you?

In the historic Cathedral city of Lincoln!!!!! You are quite right, wouldnt have said a dachshund!! I too go for the more unusual, I have a Gordon Setter called Murphy - a total nut, but also an absoute sweetheart!! he is nearly 5 months old, and you wouldnt believe the amount of people who ask me what breed he is, and likewise - wouldnt swap him for the world!!

Everyone thinks Norman is a crossbreed.  He gets most upset!  There's only two standard wires that I know of round here so I suppose he is a bit unusual. Norm's an old man now - going on for ten - and looking very grey.  Still thinks he's two though.

I lost a filling in Lincoln.  Let me know if you find it :D

I keep getting asked if Murphy is crossed with either a Doberman or a Rottie!! he has big floppy Setter ears - a long waggy tail, I know its down to his colouring, but really!! One bloke in the vets actually asked if was a Rottie - offered to buy him glasses and a dog book!! I know alot of people wont know what he is, but some really make me laugh!!

The area of Lincoln I worked, if anything fell on the floor either it would be nicked in a second, or if not, you certainly wouldnt want to pick it up!!

:D @ Debs.  Never mind - thought it was worth a try!  Someone asked if Norman was a Corgi this afternoon!!  He's brindle with long floppy ears and a wire coat.  What do they think a corgi looks like?  God help us all! 

Debs, did you work up at the St Giles Area by any chance :D
Lea :)

Part of the time, but it wasnt the area I was referring to!! It would be unfair of me to mention where, because as is the case everywhere, there are always alot of good, nice people living in areas they would rather not - and I wont tar everyone with same brush!!! I had a very good working relationship with alot of my "parishoners", and not so good with others lol

Thats very true Debs. I used to live in a council estate in Sleaford. I hated it, and there were some very rough people down there. But there are also some really nice people that I still talk to and see!!!!!!!!!  Takes every type to make a community doesnt it!!!!!
Lea :D

Joe

Lucky you living in the beautiful town of Durham.  Spent one or two 'summer schools' there while studying with the Open University.  Absolutely loved the place.  Is the wonderful 'Apostles Table' carving still standing?  Oh, and the cathedral bells.  B****y things kept me awake everynight the first time I stayed but got acclimatised by the second time.  Didn't get used to the sway on top of the tower though!

Love to Durham.

You won't believe this but they destroyed the apostles table and kitchen last year.  Went down with Norman and it was lying in bits on the ground.  They said it was rotten :(  I remember sitting on that tree 'chair' as a kid and seeing the kitchen appear so it was a very very sad sight.

We still have the Cathedral - apparently that's not rotten (although it's covered in scaffolding most of the time!).  The Bells still ring but that's really to keep all the students in the University awake - not for any religious purpose. 

I bet you were one of the students I used to have to Q behind at the cashpoint - they went every day for £5.  I could never understand why they didn't get £25 on a Monday.  Durham students all talk in really loud voices saying mummy and daddy a lot and talking about yachts and skiing.  I hope you're not like that!  :D :D

How tragic that the tableau has gone - it was a 'must see' I never tired of looking at it and yes, I did sit in the 'chair'.

Can't remember you in the cash point queue though! and wasn't a mummy & daddy person.  I only stayed at the uni for my summer school stint - travelled up from Cheshire.  Did 2 at Durham, 2 at York and one at Bath.  Good memories of all but particularly loved Durham.  I was in the old part of the college network, it was straight out of Mr Chips!

Jackie
she won't get involved...complicated reasons but valid.
Nikki.

Hi Archer,

I know the feeling!  We reported our neighbours for neglecting a Westie,  it sat at our door emaciated.  We fed him and nursed him, reported our neighbours to RSPCA.  Who frankly did not care.  We offered to buy the dog off them and the Inspector said if they did not want to relinquish the dog there was nothing we could do.  He actually said, "Can't you feed him and take him to the vets without your neighbours knowing" we were disgusted.  3 weeks later the same dog was knocked down outside our house,  emaciated again and sporting an abcess the size of a golf ball on his muzzle.  I habe lost faith in the RSPCA.

Jasper

Second thoughts Archer,

Give me his address and I'll go round their and hold him by jis scruff and kick him.  That would be much better.  I HATE people who are cruel to ANY animals.  The punishments are just to light and there is not deterrents.

Frustrated!!!!

Jasper

Ok, now going to get told off.
Ever heard of the dog napping fairy?????????????????
I am sure there are good rescue centres.
Lea :)

Lea
if the oppotunity arises I'm sure the dog will mysteriously disappear..if you know what I mean!!
Archer

Archer, I have no idea !!!!!!!
(I know of some good rescue centers around here!!!!!!!!!!(NOT RSPCA)
Lea :)

This is probably a stupid idea but why don't you get a sort of protest going? Or a petition with loads of people?? If the people around you are aware of this abuse to a poor helpless dog they might want to help...

Only problem with that SaraN, is if you approach the worng person and they are freinds with the A*** ***e that is doing it, you could get into severe trouble with them :( I wouldnt like to try it :(
Lea :)

Archer,
Cant you say you heard the dog yelping as if being beat/kicked?
PM me the info and i'll phone the rspca and happily lie for the poor dogs :(

Donna and charliex

Have phoned again..they said they will call round to his house so am waiting for them to phone me and tell me what has happened...nothing I suspect but will wait and see.If no action is taken I will not give up..don't worry.Will keep you all posted
Archer

Lets hope that phone call comes soon

Donna and charliex

Keeping fingers crossed.

Lindsay

I found out the same about RSPCA, they make so much money and spend it on publicity to get more, beyond that forget it.

I thought very little of the RSPCA until i went to visit my local rescue, it was terrible to see all them poor animals and reading their profiles as to why they were in the rescue. But they were so happy to see visitors, the kennel block was full and every single dog came up for a stroke and cuddle. I cried all the way round (silly i know) but what didn't help, their was a siberian Husky in the rescue who wasn't up for adoption as he was involved in a cruelty case, poor boy. I will be visiting more often now just to see their happy faces and wagging tails when they are visited. I just wish i had more space to rescue one of them. Sorry to go on about. I have been told by an inspector that alot of the funding that they recieve goes on solicitors and court fee's for cruelty cases. If people are donating money, it is better that they say where they want the money to go such as their local rescue if not the money goes to the main organisation in London and the other branches do not recieve any of this funding, which i do not agree with. Although it would be nice to know where the rest of the money goes. I still have mixed veiws about them, but i'am going to regular see the animals in the rescues, i know it'll be hard but at least they get some attention.

Jenna

Didn't you know that all monies go to the head office of the RSPCA ?

If you want to donate give them items for the dogs or to sell locally that way the branch & not the headquarters will benefit

An old lady left a million + to the local RSPCA branch very definite in the will the LOCAL branch was named, where did the money go YEP all of it to thhe headquarters meanwhile the local branch is appealing for more stuff for the dogs etc

We have a local solicitor who has charge of a trust fund left by one of his relatives to be used locally, the whole lot used to go to the local RSPCA until he found out that they were not able to keep the money(money was to be used for LOCALLY rescued dogs. So the money now goes to local dog rescues, we do know one of these is a rip off but the rest are genuine & £500 that we get goes a long way when we rescue over 400 dogs a year through the kennels alone & many of them need lots of veterinary attention that we have to pay for at full rate(not that vets like to make money but £40 for booster jabs ???????)as there are no local vets that will ask for reduced fees for rescue(including a TV vet who is mega expensive)

What could we have done with a fraction of the old ladies money ??????? certainly not funding a pro registration scheme for dogs

No i didn't know that the money went to head office until i spoke to an RSPCA inspector, who told me his views of it all, he said he doe's the job for the animals. Before i thought all the money was shared between the branches i was gob smacked when i found out. I have signed up for the home checking course, so hopefully i can help in that way. I will be taking something such as food etc... to my local rescue every so often. To help out with the funding.

Jenna

The rspca is suposed to deal will all the animals in the uk its quite possible that they cant help everyone at the drop of the hat , so theres bound to be quite a few compaints as there are millions of animals . they have uniforms as quite often they have to deal with people who are not treating there animals right so they need to look like they have authority , otherwise these people would look at them and have a laff . plus i think they look smart , they have to act within the law , they cant just go to anyone just because some other lady who knows someone else who knows this or that . it needs to be delt with direct , yes you saw it or you saw this , they would be knocking on everyones doors if they dont draw a line . so next time you see somthing ring them up and say you saw this and will give a statement. everyone needs to take into consideration exactly how many animals they deal with then you might start to slightly understand.

I had a visit from 2 RSPCA inspectors, which lasted approx three and a half hours, followed by a further 2 hours long interview - the reason - they wanted me to tell them which Vet had docked my litter!  They shouted, bullied, removed my pups to Vets surgery for  an hour(10 days old pups) to inspect if the tails were indeed professionally done, lied about a tail being infected.  My solicitor said he sat in on interviews between hardened criminal and police every week, but had never witnessed such agressive interviewing techniques as those used on me!  CDB say this is not unusual - RSPCA have a habit of staking out women alone on the docking thing - they are easier to intimidate and browbeat than men!  My pups were legally docked, perfectly healthy.  As the vet who docked was also acting perfectly legally how could this possibly be a justified use of RSPCA time or money?  How many animals who were ill treated or in need were refused attention becasue these Inspectors were harrassing me?   No wonder they can never be available to attended when a dog is stuck etc. 

Elderley friends of mine discovered an even older couple (well into their late 70s)  terribly distressed - Yorkie pup had fallen down hole on walk and was screaming, terrified and stuck.  George called RSPCA on mobile, and was told they could not help, it was up to the owner ?  Yet this is just the sort of thing they show on the TV as being their forte!  Probably only when the cameras are rolling.   They said call police, who in turn said call RSPCA! George, in his 70s and recovering from knee replacement surgery walked half a mile to some stables, borrowed a spade, walked back and dug the pup out.  then had to drive the elderley couple to Hospital as the husband was so short of breath with being upset!

The IDEA of an RSPCA is excellent, but its purpose has become so unclear.  Why is it so anti-pedigree dog?  One of the Inspectors actually said one of their "prime purposes" was to make sure less and less dogs are born each year.  But surely this purpose should be aimed at the street mongrels and puppy farms, where it would be beneficial?
bye
Gwen

Well in this area they are there like lightening if the TV cameras are around & one dog I rescued the inspector told me he had been TOO frightened to approach nearer than the gate as it was obviously too nasty & aggressive. He thought the only place for it was on the end of the chain it was already on & that I would get"savaged & have my arm ripped"if I approached it

When I went had gone the day before I found a very friendly bouncy sable GSD in need of a good meal,shelter from the sun(it was over 75 C & the dog had no shade) & the removal of the chain that was embedded in it neck

I subsequently got the owner to sign over the young bitch to me & took her straight to my vets, instead of weighing 25 kilos she weighed half & was in the first stages of starvation. My vet removed the choker & jabbed her so she could go into our kennels. He mentioned how lovely her temperament was & gave me some special diet to last her for a month to get her weight back.

When I rang the (senior)Inspector back to tell him I had got the bitch he told me I was mad & it would turn like all ALSATIANS do & how could I live with that ! I asked him if he was frightened of GSDs & he told me he was a cat person & didn't like dogs !!!!!!!!!!!!!! I had to put the phone down before I said something I might regret

However when the same Inspector knew the TV would be there he & his two next senior inspectors went to rescue a wild duck & after three hours caught the duck & destroyed it as it as in shock !!!!!!!! & would not recover

Yes I know all about the RSPCA another insopector was found guilty of cruelty to his dogs & banned from keeping them for life, he was demoted to animal care assistant !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! & moved away from the area

I could go on & on but if people still want to give money OK just don't expect it to be used for the animals

One of our ferrets developed a tumour and we took her to the RSPCA vet surgery locally (we were on Income Support at the time, and the PDSA had a policy of not treating ferrets - I believe this has now changed.)

The vet looked her over, told us it was cancer and advised that we have her put down. We agreed, but decided not to do it yet. The lump looked ugly, but she was still eating and playing and enjoying her life. The vet suggested that we not leave it too much longer, and we said we were thinking of a week. This was on a Monday. We decided to bring her back on the following Monday, and told the vet so.

On Thursday, an RSPCA inspector knocked on our door, and said that the vet had told him that we were causing our ferret unnecessary suffering by keeping her alive, that we had REFUSED to have her put down, and that he was authorised to put her down on the spot whether we agreed or not.  After picking our jaws up off the floor, we brought her and another ferret into the room and let them loose. I said to the inspector, 'Without looking at the tail end (where the tumour was), tell me which is the sick one?' - they were both chasing each other round the room, jumping up and down, wrestling.  We were careful to keep calm and not get aggressive. The inspector saw our point and said he was quite happy for us to leave it until Monday.

So Monday arrived, and we went round to the RSPCA surgery.  When we got in to see the vet, she refused to let us hold Jemima while she euthanised her, or even stay in the room. I asked why, and she said 'Small animals are euthanised with an injection in the belly (or kidneys or something, I forget) and it isn't pretty.'

This was when I lost my cool and stopped trying to be civilised. I don't give a flying f*** about pretty! I loved Jemima, and I felt (and still feel) that I owed it to her to be holding her at the last rather than some stranger. I did retain some self control. I didn't smack the vet or call her an evil lying hag, much as I wanted to by this point. I did argue the point. But I was talking to a brick wall. She was doing it without me and that was that. I was given no option.

So we left Jemima with the vet, and a few minutes later the nurse came out and shoved the carrier roughly into my hands. No 'sorry for your loss', no words at all - she didn't even meet my eyes. Jemima was inside, lying on her back with her paws in the air, not covered up or anything, just tossed into the box at random.

I wish Rolf Harris had been around that week. I can live with the way they treated us, but their lack of respect and compassion for Jemima is making me shake with rage as I type this, some seven years later.

And this isn't a rant against 'charity' vets. My PDSA vets have been excellent in every way. They've never treated me like a second class citizen because I was unemployed or kept ferrets; they took excellent care of my old dog (who lived to be seventeen) and they've been fabulous with Spike - one of them lent me her personal copy of Ian Billinghurst's BARF book when I asked for advice on how to keep his teeth clean and healthy, and they've been patient and kind when I've phoned them for advice.

I'd say, if you want to donate money to a worthy cause, pick the PDSA or the Dogs Trust. They're doing the same good work without the political agenda or the bureaucratic baggage.

Liz & Captain Spike xxx

Can someoe give us the head office address of RSPCA,I am going to write and complain, not that it will do any good but it at least will let them know some public disquiet is around, thanks.

RSPCA,
Causeway,
Horsham,
West Sussex
RH12 1HG
That took some finding. They seem very coy about giving out anything but local addresses!

That's not the current address I'm afraid. They've moved from there and that building is now Flats. They have a brand spanking new office building in Southwater ...