RSPCA - hidden agenda?

Surely it's time for steps to be taken against the whole organisation - on every level they seem to be failing.

There's recently been an undercover investigation into their 'farm assured scheme' or whatever it's called, and I've literally just read an email advising of another expose about to be released over their assured slaughterhouses which leaves me cold.

With high-profile people not only resigning but also speaking out against them, surely they can't stick their head in the sand much longer?
 
PurpleSpots said:
Surely it's time for steps to be taken against the whole organisation - on every level they seem to be failing.

There's recently been an undercover investigation into their 'farm assured scheme' or whatever it's called, and I've literally just read an email advising of another expose about to be released over their assured slaughterhouses which leaves me cold.

With high-profile people not only resigning but also speaking out against them, surely they can't stick their head in the sand much longer?
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The problem with that is who's going to do the job if not them? The government, councils and police don't want them to be held accountable, because then they'd have to train staff and uphold the law and they simply don't have a budget for that. All the time the RSPCA are doing their jobs for them, even badly, it saves them the time and expense.
 
meleeka said:
The problem with that is who's going to do the job if not them? The government, councils and police don't want them to be held accountable, because then they'd have to train staff and uphold the law and they simply don't have a budget for that. All the time the RSPCA are doing their jobs for them, even badly, it saves them the time and expense.
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There are other welfare agencies though? Or do you mean the aspect of their prosecutions?

With regard equines, as we know there's WHW and the BHS for starters.
 
PurpleSpots said:
There are other welfare agencies though? Or do you mean the aspect of their prosecutions?

With regard equines, as we know there's WHW and the BHS for starters.
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Yes I meant prosecutions. WHW also get RSPCA involved for this too as far as I know. I'm not sure about BHS, but of course these only apply to equines. There's nobody else fighting the corner for other animals.
 
meleeka said:
Yes I meant prosecutions. WHW also get RSPCA involved for this too as far as I know. I'm not sure about BHS, but of course these only apply to equines. There's nobody else fighting the corner for other animals.
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The BHS advise field officer volunteers to call the RSPCA once they have reported in after a visit where deep concerns are raised.
I stopped being a welfare adviser when I realised this just tied my hands further. Ever since the BHS closed down their rescue section, it's only ever been 'advice on welfare and to call RSPCA'. Which can work (giving advice) on a number of occasions, but dealing with worst cases of neglect, does not.

Having banged heads to RSPCA inspectors who clearly didnt want to be involved as 'not that bad', it was easier to remove myself from post in the end. The last 'not that bad yet' was in response to Joe public calling about 8 equines in a field, drinking from puddles, no grass, trees chewed and hedging eaten hard back, all with body score at around 2., in early September.

This meant I could act further as a member of the public (like you all can), Ive sent photos to my dear vet for opinion that I wasnt nuts. Then getting local council animal welfare officer involved, or police if necessary as they can instruct a vet.
RSPCA then get called by council officer/police/vet to arrange removal.
 
The Xmas Furry said:
This meant I could act further as a member of the public (like you all can), Ive sent photos to my dear vet for opinion that I wasnt nuts. Then getting local council animal welfare officer involved, or police if necessary as they can instruct a vet.
RSPCA then get called by council officer/police/vet to arrange removal.
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So it's almost using the RSPCA for the logistics of the removal (and the rehab/rehome afterwards) rather than the decision making and investigating part?
 
The Animal Welfare Act 2006 empowers the police and "inspectors" appointed by either the local authority or Secretary of State. The "inspectors" are NOT RSPCA inspectors.

The RSPCA brings prosecutions as a private prosecutor, as an anyone. The difference is that the police are only too happy to let the RPCA use their facilities and personnel and to obtain warrants and seize animals on behalf of the RSPCA.

The way to deal with animal welfare concerns is to ring the police. They will try to tell you it is nothing to do with them and you should report to the RSPCA. This is duff advice and you should always report it. If the price refuse to act also report it.

Find out now if your local authority as appointed an inspector under the AWA. If they have then find out their name and how to contact them if needed.

If they have not then why not encourage them to do so?

for those concerned about RSPCA visits. Never willingly let them into your premises , although they are quite likely to just walk in if doors are not locked or if animals are in a field.

Always get your own vet out and get a written report and action anything your vet deems necessary.

Never sign anything without legal advice. Never allow the RPCA to take an animal to the et to put their mind at rest. They are going to ask the vet if it has anything wrong, if it is suffering and if the vet cane persuaded to say "yes" they will get the police straight out to seize it and hand it to them. They you are looking at a prosecution.

Take weekly photos of your animals with that day's newspaper headlines in the photo. Don't rely on the date on your phone or camera.

This means that you can show the condition of your animals and their environment at most 7 days ago. It also crates a photographic diary of the way your animals' condition is changing over time.

Never give an interview or answer RSPCA questions without a solicitor present. If they turn up tell them you will seek legal advice and ask them to leave.

The RSPCA have no actual powers although they have created de facto powers with police assistance.

Now please contact your MP and ask them to create a realistic and properly regulated animal welfare system instead of trying to get it policed by an out of control charity "on the cheap".
 
FenrisW said:
The Animal Welfare Act 2006 empowers the police and "inspectors" appointed by either the local authority or Secretary of State. The "inspectors" are NOT RSPCA inspectors.

The RSPCA brings prosecutions as a private prosecutor, as an anyone. The difference is that the police are only too happy to let the RPCA use their facilities and personnel and to obtain warrants and seize animals on behalf of the RSPCA.

The way to deal with animal welfare concerns is to ring the police. They will try to tell you it is nothing to do with them and you should report to the RSPCA. This is duff advice and you should always report it. If the price refuse to act also report it.

Find out now if your local authority as appointed an inspector under the AWA. If they have then find out their name and how to contact them if needed.

If they have not then why not encourage them to do so?

for those concerned about RSPCA visits. Never willingly let them into your premises , although they are quite likely to just walk in if doors are not locked or if animals are in a field.

Always get your own vet out and get a written report and action anything your vet deems necessary.

Never sign anything without legal advice. Never allow the RPCA to take an animal to the et to put their mind at rest. They are going to ask the vet if it has anything wrong, if it is suffering and if the vet cane persuaded to say "yes" they will get the police straight out to seize it and hand it to them. They you are looking at a prosecution.

Take weekly photos of your animals with that day's newspaper headlines in the photo. Don't rely on the date on your phone or camera.

This means that you can show the condition of your animals and their environment at most 7 days ago. It also crates a photographic diary of the way your animals' condition is changing over time.

Never give an interview or answer RSPCA questions without a solicitor present. If they turn up tell them you will seek legal advice and ask them to leave.

The RSPCA have no actual powers although they have created de facto powers with police assistance.

Now please contact your MP and ask them to create a realistic and properly regulated animal welfare system instead of trying to get it policed by an out of control charity "on the cheap".
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đź‘Ź đź‘Ź đź‘Ź Well said.
 
For non-equines there are organisations like the Blue Cross (whom I support) and the Cat's Protection League to step into the vacuum left if/when the RSPCA were disbanded.

There are sufficient good quality and less political organisations that could step into asking the Police to prosecute abuse that they found. There is no need (or should not be a need) for the RSPCA to bring prosecutions and behave like they are the 'police'.

Also, the amount that the RSPCA snaffles up in donations in the public's mistaken belief that they use it all for 'animal welfare' would be very welcome to a number of good and national welfare organisations. (Nothing against the smaller, local, rescues but they generally don't have national reach.)
 
reynold said:
For non-equines there are organisations like the Blue Cross (whom I support) and the Cat's Protection League to step into the vacuum left if/when the RSPCA were disbanded.

There are sufficient good quality and less political organisations that could step into asking the Police to prosecute abuse that they found. There is no need (or should not be a need) for the RSPCA to bring prosecutions and behave like they are the 'police'.

Also, the amount that the RSPCA snaffles up in donations in the public's mistaken belief that they use it all for 'animal welfare' would be very welcome to a number of good and national welfare organisations. (Nothing against the smaller, local, rescues but they generally don't have national reach.)
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Blue cross also have their equine section.
 
Obviously what has occurred is NOT OK in any way and the RSPCA inspectors involved should be facing disciplinary action (& the charity as a whole should be doing a massive review as they should not be wasting time & money & putting people through stress for things like this). This will not be the case sadly but I do wonder if there’s local variance.

IME dealing with multiple different organisations professionally the Police (in my area) are far more likely to seize animals without following proper procedure and then aren’t always great at knowing how to proceed (/ tend to give up & return said animals at the first minor inconvenience like having to find kennel space). I think if the RSPCA were to cease to be then I find it extremely doubtful that the Police would be in a position to pick up the slack without a lot of extra training and the funding to go with it. (& most other rescues are already at breaking point so I don’t imagine them being able to step in either)

Locally to where I’m based the RSPCA seem more cautious / more likely to issue an improvement order as a first step / have quite a high threshold for actually seizing. I’m guessing that’s perhaps due to how the people in charge of things locally interpret their guidance and is not the case nationally.

The do some good work as well (& honestly it is incomprehensible some of the things people are capable of / some of the things people will lie about) but they really do shoot themselves in the foot with some of the truly idiotic stuff that they also do and they really do need to get a grip on that and re- focus on actual abuse rather than whatever stupid agenda they were pursuing here and they absolutely should not be rehoming animals involved in a court case until that case has concluded (although there may be exceptions where ownership has been voluntarily signed over & prosecution is not in public interest)
 
Heard an advert from the RSPCA on the radio on saturday. I found it somewhat distasteful as the gist of it was 'give us money in memory of your dead pet' and there is apparently a link to this on their website. (I dislike them so refuse to look).

I found it distasteful in the same way I found all the TV and Radio adverts from various charities during covid offering free will writing in return for donations unacceptable. The adverts basically had the opposite effect on me as I made a list of the charities, including the RSPCA, that did this and that I will now never donate to.

Maybe I'm a bit sensitive on this and others would find it acceptable but I feel both are cases of playing on peoples grief when they may be at their most vulnerable.
 
The Xmas Furry said:
The BHS advise field officer volunteers to call the RSPCA once they have reported in after a visit where deep concerns are raised.
I stopped being a welfare adviser when I realised this just tied my hands further. Ever since the BHS closed down their rescue section, it's only ever been 'advice on welfare and to call RSPCA'. Which can work (giving advice) on a number of occasions, but dealing with worst cases of neglect, does not.

Having banged heads to RSPCA inspectors who clearly didnt want to be involved as 'not that bad', it was easier to remove myself from post in the end. The last 'not that bad yet' was in response to Joe public calling about 8 equines in a field, drinking from puddles, no grass, trees chewed and hedging eaten hard back, all with body score at around 2., in early September.

This meant I could act further as a member of the public (like you all can), Ive sent photos to my dear vet for opinion that I wasnt nuts. Then getting local council animal welfare officer involved, or police if necessary as they can instruct a vet.A then get called by council officer/police/vet to arrange removal.
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I to resigned from being a BHS Welfare Officer for very similar reasons. I attended a case where a number of horses were locked in their stables with all doors and windows boarded up, no daylight what so ever. They only occasionally went out in a field for barely an hour. The dung was piled up at the back of the stables to about 3ft high. RSPCA had visited several times but did nothing. The Chairman at the time of the bHS closed the case as she maintained the horses were fine! I would never support the RSPCA or give money to them.
 
This whole ugly episode should never have happened, the RSPCA personnel involved should be named and shamed IMHO, it might mean they listen and accept evidence before they start seizing animals.
I hope she sues the RSPCA regardless of it being a charity as there needs to be something happening to RSPCA to make it stop being political and go back to proper welfare work. That also means not picking and choosing what cases they will deal with.

I once had a RSPCA Inspector arrive accusing me of leaving a sheep's carcase in one of my fields, we did have some Soay sheep at the time but they are brown, the Inspector swore blind it was a white sheep's carcase that had been seen from the main road. I was delighted to take him into the field to show him the inside out turnout rug one of the horses had pulled off the gate onto the ground. He beat a hasty retreat.......
 
onemoretime said:
I to resigned from being a BHS Welfare Officer for very similar reasons. I attended a case where a number of horses were locked in their stables with all doors and windows boarded up, no daylight what so ever. They only occasionally went out in a field for barely an hour. The dung was piled up at the back of the stables to about 3ft high. RSPCA had visited several times but did nothing. The Chairman at the time of the bHS closed the case as she maintained the horses were fine! I would never support the RSPCA or give money to them.
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I wouldn’t be feeling too positive about the BHS, either! That’s disgraceful.
 
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