RSPCA not worth the paper theyre written on

rubytuesday

Fenris wrote:

The RSPB is also a good option; I'm a member and it's great value for money. You can visit any RSPB site for free, which is definatly a bonus!

Yes just about to sign up with them looking forward to the free book.

chaliepud

If that was my neighbour, Ginger would go "missing", he obviously couldn't give a monkeys and Ginger would be far better off elsewhere! Not particularly legal, but the cat is worth much more than that (and this comes from a dog person!)

H

gibby

I feel sorry for the RSPCA

they are totally under funded, not listened to by the Gov when they tried to stop hunting long before the Gov did nothing about it

but the truth of the matter is there is nothing really they can do
as the gov rejected the laws they wanted to pass about animal suffering

the best way to handle the situation - it to over exagerate the problem - calling on a phone that cant be traced and dont give your name at any cost - as last time we did our windows were put through.

sorry I cant help further


G

lister

Definitely try your local CP branch. Technically there is nothing we can do, because the cat has an owner. By law we would have to speak to the owner before we can take the cat for rehoming. On the other hand, I am always quite willing to be 'flexible' when I go out to this sort of situation - it is possible to 'forget' that you know about an owner when the situation warrants it.

As it sounds like ginger may be an unneutered male (if he is spraying everywhere, this is very likely), we are doubly keen to act. He will be responsible for many unwanted kittens over his lifetime, and is far more likely to carry and spread serious diseases such as FIV and FeLV.

As for the RSPCA, well there are two sides to the argument. Most people know of the national RSPCA. Inspectors are directly responsible to the national RSPCA for example. The national RSPCA have a dreadful reputation in animal welfare circles. It is nothing to do with underfunding (they are sat on huge cash reserves which grow bigger by the year), and everything to do with mismanagement, incompetence and even alleged corruption (but this is another thread or two in its own right). Sure, some inspectors are fantastic, but most of those I have had dealings with were hopeless. Poor animal skills, inflexible attitudes and a general can't be bothered attitude has summed most of them up.

On the other hand there are also local branches (CP is set up the same way - and I wouldn't rate the national CP organisation particularly highly either, although it is much better that the RSPCA). These are normally entirely self-funded and staffed by volunteers. They are far more likely to be able to respond to difficult, non-standard situations, just as CP branches can (but there are good and bad branches, inevitably). Indeed in our area, we work very closely with the local branch, so sometimes people can ring the RSPCA and find they get a CP person coming out and vice versa.

I should also mention that from my experience, local RSPCA branch volunteers also curse the name of the national RSPCA. Even they cannot get anything useful out of them most of the time, be it resources, money, advice or an inspector.

I would encourage anyone who wants to donate to an animal charity to check out local branches of big charities. None of your donation will be used in 'administration' as they are entirely volunteer run (the only thing CP volunteers can be paid is mileage expenses, although I don't even claim that - it is part of what I give to the charity as I see it). Just make sure that they are reasonably competent before you do so, as branches can vary widely in their effectiveness.

rubytuesday

Well I ended up taking one of my cats to the Harmsworth RSPCA Hospital yesterday as she had an abcess. Last time it happened I took her to the vet to avoid all the waiting around but it cost me @ £110 rather than the £30 yesterday. So I will make a donation direct to the Harmsworth when I am feeling richer. Rolf wasn't there!

madfrenchgirl

Fenris,

Would not your name happen to be Amber, by any chance? your argument towards babies and children seems very familiar...

To Anthillmob,

I would have nicked the cat ages ago and got him into a different home. This guy is worse than an irresponsible kid, he does not deserve to have a pet.