RSPCA investigation!

Fireflyaway

Today I received a text out of the blue from someone saying they are an RSPCA officer investigating illegal puppy farming. They said they seized mobile phones as part of an investigation and my number was one of many on the phone. They want me to provide any info about my dealings with the seller and asked if my puppy had been unwell etc and would I be prepared to make a statement. I feel terrible that I might have unwittingly bought my dog from a puppy farm. Fortunately he is happy and healthy and will be loved and cared for by us forever but the whole thing is really upsetting. I might telephone the inspector tomorrow and see if I can find out more info. 

sheramber

 https://www.pdsa.org.uk/taking-care-of-your-pet/looking-after-your-pet/puppies-dogs/could-you-spot-a-puppy-farm

Pollycat

Make sure you really are dealing with the RSPCA.

CJDogsbody

Don't respond unless you are absolutely certain it is from the RSPCA as there are scams going round that get you to answer and then ask you for money.

If your dog is fine then you can't help them anyway.  Remember that sometimes they call anyone unregistered who has bred a litter a puppy farmer.  Doesn't mean that they have done anything wrong in terms of animal welfare, just that they haven't paid the bureaucratic licence fees.

Undervalued

Fireflyaway said:

Today I received a text out of the blue from someone saying they are an RSPCA officer investigating illegal puppy farming. They said they seized mobile phones as part of an investigation and my number was one of many on the phone. They want me to provide any info about my dealings with the seller and asked if my puppy had been unwell etc and would I be prepared to make a statement. I feel terrible that I might have unwittingly bought my dog from a puppy farm. Fortunately he is happy and healthy and will be loved and cared for by us forever but the whole thing is really upsetting. I might telephone the inspector tomorrow and see if I can find out more info. 

The RSPCA do not have the power to "seize mobile phones"! In fact, despite dressing up in police style uniforms and calling themselves "officers" or "inspectors" they have no more powers than you or me.

Just like you or me, they can "investigate" what they like, providing they stay within the law. Whether you choose to help them or not is entirely up to you.

As others have said I would take great care to ensure that this is not some scam. If you are minded to help the RSPCA then contact them directly, using a number or email address that you have sourced independently and see if they know anything about this.

elsien

CJDogsbody said:

Don't respond unless you are absolutely certain it is from the RSPCA as there are scams going round that get you to answer and then ask you for money.

If your dog is fine then you can't help them anyway.  Remember that sometimes they call anyone unregistered who has bred a litter a puppy farmer.  Doesn't mean that they have done anything wrong in terms of animal welfare, just that they haven't paid the bureaucratic licence fees.

I disagree. Anything thing that sends the puppy farms that are an ongoing business out of business has to be a good thing. Even if the information the OP can give them is limited it can still help to build up a picture. My  foster girl was a dumped ex-breeding !!!!!! and she was in a bad way, physically and behaviourally. 

Martin_the_Unjust

CJDogsbody said:

Don't respond unless you are absolutely certain it is from the RSPCA as there are scams going round that get you to answer and then ask you for money.

If your dog is fine then you can't help them anyway.  Remember that sometimes they call anyone unregistered who has bred a litter a puppy farmer.  Doesn't mean that they have done anything wrong in terms of animal welfare, just that they haven't paid the bureaucratic licence fees.

This is the right answer. OP just ignore it.

kazwookie

RSPCA bring private law cases against people, they have no power as such.

If you wan to contact them, go to their main web page and find a contact email or phone number there, DO NOT use one in your text or the text number.

Undervalued

elsien said:

CJDogsbody said:

Don't respond unless you are absolutely certain it is from the RSPCA as there are scams going round that get you to answer and then ask you for money.

If your dog is fine then you can't help them anyway.  Remember that sometimes they call anyone unregistered who has bred a litter a puppy farmer.  Doesn't mean that they have done anything wrong in terms of animal welfare, just that they haven't paid the bureaucratic licence fees.

I disagree. Anything thing that sends the puppy farms that are an ongoing business out of business has to be a good thing. Even if the information the OP can give them is limited it can still help to build up a picture. My  foster girl was a dumped ex-breeding !!!!!! and she was in a bad way, physically and behaviourally. 

Maybe, but that assumes this contact is genuinely from the RSPCA - which is far from certain.

Even if it is, the RSPCA needs to go about its business lawfully and not pretend to have powers where it does not. 

IF this contact is from the RSPCA then it is quite wrong of them to claim, obviously falsely, that they have "seized mobile phones" when they have no such power.

The ends do not justify the means.

CJDogsbody

kazwookie said:

RSPCA bring private law cases against people, they have no power as such.

If you wan to contact them, go to their main web page and find a contact email or phone number there, DO NOT use one in your text or the text number.

No, the RSPCA bring criminal prosecutions acting as a private prosecutor.  It is right to say that they have no powers, but they tap into the police powers if they want to seize an animal or get a warrant.  It will be the police who apply for the warrant or who sign the seizure order but then they will hand the animals to the RSPCA and the RSPCA will prosecute.  

Note that the police remain ultimately responsible for the animals they have seized and that the RSPCA are really acting as gratuitous bailees.  In practice this has little meaning as the prosecution process drags itself out.

CJDogsbody

Undervalued said:

Maybe, but that assumes this contact is genuinely from the RSPCA - which is far from certain.

Even if it is, the RSPCA needs to go about its business lawfully and not pretend to have powers where it does not. 

IF this contact is from the RSPCA then it is quite wrong of them to claim, obviously falsely, that they have "seized mobile phones" when they have no such power.

The ends do not justify the means.

No they don't, but the RSPCA uses the police to seize phones and computers and other records.  Outrageous, but it happens.  They always imply that they have powers because it means that people do what they order them to.