RSPCA - long rant....

Meandtheboys

Meandtheboys

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..........and they wonder why some people think they are a joke!!

I will make this as short as possible, but I am so furious..........already on my 2nd botle of wine
1. 16:3hh horse 7 yrs, unlevel so we decided despite his potential that he would be better off going out on loan to be a happy hacker - intermitent lameness over 2 yrs
2. Found lovely girl looking only to hack, no jumping/ schooling and all off road hacking - perfect, yes not very old and would not normally be my 1st choice but she has more than proved me wrong
3.McTimothy lady did two sessions on him 4 weeks ago as loanee advised he was a bit stiff through his shoulders / neck
4. Then received call from upset loanee advising RSPCA had labeled him as a welfare issue, advising horse was in alot of pain and unable to stand - loanee advised she was not aware of this problem apart for his intermitent lameness
5. Next I received a call from this welfare officer stating she was 'worried' about the horse - very ill and in pain and needed vetinary attention. I asked the following qs:
Do you think he has laminitis?
What are his feet like?
Overweight?
Underweight?
She seemed to feel that loanee could not afford him, when I checked she has paid his livery every week so where has this come from especially as I pay vets, chiro etc
It did not matter what I asked she advised she was 'not qualified to comment' WHAT!!!
6. Advised loanee to bring in on box rest before vet arrived in case laminitis
7. Loanee yet again advised she had no idea what the issue was......he seemed ok
8. I decided that I would rather my vets see him so arranged to collect him instead and bring him home - loanee heartbroken as still confused to what she had done wrong

Anyway collected horse early today, also coordinated my farrier to arrive at the same time.
I was very nervous to see my boy after 2hrs travelling and was in shock to see him 'fit and well' - where was my 3 legged 'sick' horse - probably better than when I dropped him off!!
I had even spoken to my vets on the best way to travel him because he was so ill...

So arrived home safely, vet and farrier have just left - he was that crippled that NO medication was prescribed and they commented how well he was looking.
Now TBH he was not 100% sound but bearly 2/10ths lame, but once the farrier corrected his foot balance he was vertually sound.

So RSPCA...........I have my medical report for you and if you feel he is still a welfare case then the vetenary practice say 50% of horses should be reported!!

I have lost a days holiday, cost me over £150.00 and have an upset loanee all because someone reported the horse to the RSPCA. Obviously someone at the yard does not like my loanee or is jealous, anyway does not matter what they think - but surely the RSPCA are trained to identify a cruelty case or just time wasters!!

Anyway off my chest now......thanks for reading and sympathy to all others that mis-reported.
 
are you sure they are talking about your horse ??? Was someone actually there in uniform, in person, talking to your loanee ?? It sounds totally wrong to me, and the RSPCA would not comment on the financial side anyways in this situation, i'm sure.

Honestly, i would look into this carefully - it just does not sound like the way they go about dealing with complaints. I would ask to speak to the Chief Inspector for your area if it deffo was them..sm x

ps, not surprised you're furious, i would be going loopy. I reckon they've got the wrong damn horse *sigh*
 
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They have not called me back but they indicated that no medical tratment had been given as loanee could not afford it as struggled to pay her livery - but I said I pay!!
Also I though they had the wrong owner / wrong horse.................so did the vet / farrier and my other livery colleagues.
 
I've had a few dealings with the RSPCA (not myself!! I hasten to add!) but at the vets I worked at, also the dog kennels.
IMO or to my experiences with them they have never investigated an animal which does not need investigating...
As SM says are you sure everything was communicated correctly?
If this is the case, then yes, I think it's a bit ridiculous of them to come and investigate your horse who's well looked after by your loanee! Whichever situation it was, I feel that they were wrong in commenting on your financial situation. Could you not submit a formal complaint?
K x
 
I really would insist on speaking to the Chief inspector and getting an explanation. If you are £150 out of pocket for their mistake, they owe you an explanation, and pretty damned quick. But there are people out there who dress up as officers........and policemen......in which case the RSPCA nee to know about it.

So sorry this has happened to you (((((hugs))))))) sm x
 
Your spelling and grammar seem OK to me after more than a bottle of wine! ;)

I don't know what to say apart from I'm sorry to hear your day has gone so wrong. I can never believe the attitude of some people and the number of stories that come up about the RSPCA is shocking :mad:
 
All sounds a right mess, are you sending the horse back to the loanee ,as it seems that they have been put through it as well from no fault of their own.
 
Pedantic said:
All sounds a right mess, are you sending the horse back to the loanee ,as it seems that they have been put through it as well from no fault of their own.
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Yes, I have spoken to the loanee tonite advising that she has done nothing wrong and advised that happy for him to go back but to a different livery yard. I have also told her to make sure she moves her stuff asap before it 'walks'. I also advised that I would speak to the new YO to make them aware that he has good and bad days, also the financial arrangement.
 
RSPCA strikes again, yet again interfering when they dont no what they are on about. they are just bullied school children trying to get there own back. glad your horse is ok and sounds lke your loanee is doing a fab job.

she probably didnt know what the terms you asked for meant so "wasnt qualified to comment was easiest way out.
 
Must admit I wouldn't touch the RSPCA with a bargepole, a lot of them have now idea about horses. They lost a lot of friends and money when they backed the hunting ban. I had 2 run ins with them several years ago. 1) over my old gelding who had lost weight in the autumn, so had started to rug him up against chilly nights, he was 36 at the time, the male officer? was rather nasty, but had come about my young mare that had had colic in field, He turned up 21/2 hours later from call, wasn't interested in her or the fact vet had been. 2) someone had called them saying my cows had been abandond again male officer in field checking cows when my OH turned up with short feed,hay and water, had the courtesy to say they looked in very good condintion, but would be keeping eye on them.OH said he wouldn't listen to him saying cows checked twice a day and fed. So I can understand your rant.
 
Eriskayowner said:
That does seem very odd. Agree that RSPCE owe you and the loanee an apology, especially as you are now a considerable amount of money out of pocket because of their error!

Is the horse going back to the loanee?
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Yes horsie is going back but to a different yard............in about 3 weeks when she is all sorted.

The bit that really bugs me is that they were so concerned but have not called since and can't imagine what they will say now that I have moved him!!
 
Here we go again, they are hopeless. There is a link somewhere, last year they put down thousands of healthy dogs, there was a programme on Radio 4 not long ago about how they took someone's dog and put it down without permission, it was on a restricted diet but they 'thought' it was being starved, they took it and fed it rubbish then put it down without telling the owner...just one of many cases. Several years ago I was a 'witness' in a case, they accused a local woman of neglect, wasn't true at all, I had been with her when she took hay to them, I don't think they know anything about looking after animals, some of them are just out of college, some retired police officers or whatever, they're all a load of p***ts.
 
anya01,

it's all very well everybody, understandably, being wise after the event.

At the end of the fifth point which you made you said that the response to your questions was, "Im not qualified to comment"...... so if they are unqualified to discuss equine welfare, just what were they doing 'phoning you? It all sounds rather strange.

I suppose that we need the RSPCA, but they are generally, staffed, run and managed by a collection of very well meaning idiots. I am also of the opinion that the charity under discussion, are directed by accountants and fund raisers, and not by those with a genuine concern for animal welfare.

It's also entirely understandable that you reacted by bringing the horse home. If the horse in question, has received veterinary care, which it has, and it's been decided to put it out on loan, which it has, then a simple check, to ensure that the animal was being cared for, would have led me to tell the RSPCA to sod off.

Were I in your shoes, then I'd 'phone the loanee, ask her if she wants the horse back, and have a general heart to heart with her. Make your apologies (the poor girl must be feeling dreadful, and so guilty), ask your vet and farrier for a report, and then present your evidence to the local senior inspector.

If you're certain of your facts, then DON'T be bullied.

Alec.

ETS, I've just read your further responses. Good for you. a.
 
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TBH I find it all quite hurtful especially as my dad was an welfare officer for 30yrs (not RSPCA), I would never keep a horse that was in pain and would make that decision on their behalf and certainly arrange vet care if required. I thought I was being an unselfish person by letting him have an easier life, many others would have stuffed bute into him and continued to compete.
All it did was make me doubt my loanee...............
 
Is that actual procedure though that they would just speak to you on the phone? as others have said it could have been anyone that you were talking to. I would want to see the actual inspector in person, a sheet given to the loanee with ticks and crosses on could have come from anyone (if i was looking at it from a cynics point of view)

I would definately persue this,it just smells very fishy! did you get the name of the person you spoke to on the phone?

Im no fan of the RSPCA. In the winter i rang the helpline as i was concerned about my next door neighbours spaniel. She was locked out in sub zero temparatures 24/7. The helpline woman asked me if she had shelter? I said yes but she wouldnt let me get across my point that the shed door was nearly always shut. They basically told me that they couldnt do anything due to the huge volume of calls they were getting during bad weather. The woman then finished the call by asking if i would like to donate to help animals in distress. I pointed out that i had rang about an animal in distress and they were doing diddly squat about it so why should i give them money?
Their helpline is just a way of generating donations dressesd up under another name. I would love to see the percentage of calls they actually act on compared to the calls they receive.
 
Sounds awful and i feel for you. It's a real shame that the RSPCA have such a bad reputation when they are supposed to be doing good for the animals etc etc. I have never had any positive dealinsg with them sadly and i will not go to them for assistance ever.

It made my blood boil when recently they had their ads on TV asking people to donate and all i thought was how many healthy animals they put down ever day. I will not dante to them i will donate to the likes of the dogs trust who actually care for the dogs they have! as for horses, well i think they are useless. I am sure there are a few officers who do know about horses - i looked at working for the RSPCA at one stage so i'd like to have thought I'd have had common sense with horse welfare.
 
I had a problem with the RSPCA. Basically (long story) we had a disagreement with a local farmer; he used to cut out hedges for us but because he'd messed us around we had to get someone else to do it.

The next thing we had happen was (1) a planning officer turned up as he'd said that someone had complained about the loose roof tiles on the barn (we've got a listed building) and that it was "unsightly"; the second thing, almost immediately, was that we had an RSPCA van parked outside.

Just to explain: I'd taken in two old horses as a favour to a friend as she'd got nowehere to put them. There was absolutely NOTHING wrong with them, other than they were old, certainly past their mid-20's. One couldn't eat very fast as he was quidding, the other was an ex-showjumper who'd never, ever, not even as a fit horse, been a good doer, he'd always struggled to keep weight on.

Anyway, this jumped up little official whipped out his camera and notebook and swaggered into the yard, saying he'd had a complaint about two horses who were starving.

He didn't take a blind bit of notice of anything I said; I even invited him to come into the house and ring the attending vet who was coming to them twice a week (yes, honestly!) at that time as one of them needed monitoring & medication.

Anyway, he eventually left, after I'd given him the vet's contact details, but this whole thing left a very nasty taste in the mouth. These two old horses were fine, they'd been regularly vaccinated, wormed, and were incredibly well cared for, but this interfering jumped up little bantie-cock was just spoiling for trouble.

After that incident I vowed never again to give them a penny.
 
ladyt25 said:
Sounds awful and i feel for you. It's a real shame that the RSPCA have such a bad reputation when they are supposed to be doing good for the animals etc etc. I have never had any positive dealinsg with them sadly and i will not go to them for assistance ever.

It made my blood boil when recently they had their ads on TV asking people to donate and all i thought was how many healthy animals they put down ever day. I will not dante to them i will donate to the likes of the dogs trust who actually care for the dogs they have! as for horses, well i think they are useless. I am sure there are a few officers who do know about horses - i looked at working for the RSPCA at one stage so i'd like to have thought I'd have had common sense with horse welfare.
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You are definitly over qualified!!!
 
I would find out WHO it was that had given your loanee the paper with the ticks etc on it and make a complaint about them.

I am all for the RSPCA... they do do a lot of good work, however, I think that they should go about things in a different way. They should phone the vets/farriers treating the animal and find out the background of the animal before jumping in with both feet.....Personally, I would welcome a visit from the RSPCA (should anyone report me!), but I would want them to know my horses history before telling me I am doing the right/wrong thing.....
 
That's the weirdest thing I've heard yet about a mis-reporting. Surely if it is someone up to no good via the RSPCA now they've wasted their time (and I'd ensure RSPCA see/hear your vet's and farrier's report/opinion) the RSPCA should challenge the person who made the call as that's such a bizarre situation. As like you can say you can prove you've been put to cost and upset for no need. What a palaver.
 
Maisy said:
I would find out WHO it was that had given your loanee the paper with the ticks etc on it and make a complaint about them.

I am all for the RSPCA... they do do a lot of good work, however, I think that they should go about things in a different way. They should phone the vets/farriers treating the animal and find out the background of the animal before jumping in with both feet.....Personally, I would welcome a visit from the RSPCA (should anyone report me!), but I would want them to know my horses history before telling me I am doing the right/wrong thing.....
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It was dropped off at the livery yard...........and agree case history before jumping to conclusions would be a better approach and surely a more cost effective way of investigating a case.
 
onto my 3rd bottle of wine now............. but its not just my cost and inconvienience but the poor horse has had a 21/2hr travel down the M6 after days on box rest and leaving his friends. Yes and I know it was my decision to move him but I was cornered, advised that he was so bad that I had even discuissed the PTS option and obviously I would want him at home, thats why I asked the vet how best to travel him!!

Anyway all over now and he is tucked up in his bed!!
 
I've also had bad experiances with a certain charity.

1. Friend's laminitic pony needed to be kepy on restricted grazing. He was a good weight and not thin (you know how sec A's live on fresh air). Charity accused friend of starving the pony, she had to get her vet to explain that the pony was fine and the small paddock with hardly any grass was for his own good

2. Neighbour had a breakdown and stopped caring for her animals. Charity had lots of calls re her animals and did nothing, never even went through her front door! Eventually they came and collected the corpses and did a huge article in the local paper about how dreadful it was. If the Charity had acted sooner the animals would still have been alive.
 
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Oops just noticed a spelling mistake in my post - I meant I do not donate to them (not dante - bloody laptop!!). f

I sometimes wish i did work for them so I felt like I could do something on the horse front but I feel i would disagree with so many of their procedures I'd eitherbe fired or would end up with a house full of waifs and strays!!!

3 bottles of wine? I am impressed! i amon my 2nd!! lol
 
fallingstar said:
Their helpline is just a way of generating donations dressesd up under another name. I would love to see the percentage of calls they actually act on compared to the calls they receive.
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These stats are from:

http://www.rspca.org.uk/media/news/story/-/article/EM_Unsolved_cases_Aug10

"Every 25 seconds someone in England and Wales dials our 24-hour cruelty line - 0300 1234 999 - for help, and last year we received more than 1.3 million phone calls.

We investigated 141,280 cruelty complaints, and helped thousands of other people by offering help and advice."

Note that there is also an advice line so the total number of calls will be very much greater, but presumably we can assume that most of the calls to the cruelty line were about animals that were believed to be suffering.

My arithmetic makes that about 9% of phone calls actually investigated. Out of those only about 1500 will end up in prosecutions (varies each year).

The SHG has been trying to obtain the number of complaints each year which turn out to be malicious in origin. The RSPCA has never released those figures.
 
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