RSPCA

elijahasgal

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I post this not knowing what others think of this society.
I really really dont like them
Especially where horses are concerned.
I got harassed once by them years ago, and when I say harassed......
Because I had sprained my back, and was not for a few days able to clear poo from around the ad lib haylage bale in a ring feeder, so their back feer were in muck. not one other thing could they find fault with, for this I was visited and harassed repeatedly for about 2 months.

That said, the fact that they are more political than useful now, especially where our equines are concerned (cause they cost a lot of money to keep)
I dont like them. I know too many inside stories now. But I put my case down to youth, and naievity in dealing with them

But today a friend of mine told me of harassment that she is receiving from them. She is suing a buisness because of trouble that they caused her. She believes that they have put in a complaint, to start this.
I have known this lady 25 years. She works in racing, deals mainly in mares, youngstock, but regually takes in rescues, and rehomes them, saving them from being put down. All her horses (minus rescues just in) are in fantastic condition.
RSPCA inspector comes not happy that the horses are turned out as the fields wet, and there is mud.(we are up north here where its rained all year) Not happy that out of 58horses 2 need trims. So my friend plays along with her, gets her to put in writing all the complaints, and acts on it.
Her demands were that the field was topped, she get rid of 10 horses, get the two trimmed. With the threat that if they took them they would put them down.
Following week inspector is back.....this is the point that she realises that she picking on the wrong person.....
10 horses rehomed...given away, with independent valuation and vets reports on each one. £20,000 value to horses.
fields topped, with before and after pictures, in this wet, showing done as told, made fields in worse condition.
two were trimmed (needed sedation, the only reason that they had not been done)
All horses fit and healthy, in good condition.
She had a copy of the animal welfare act, and then turned tables on inspector, firing questions at her, exposing her lack of knowledge, feed ratios, etc
The inspector comes back again, makes a comment that the number of horses have changed, before she comes down the drive that my friend was "conning" her
So that then becomes a challenge of you cannot count numbers from outside, and as we have had rugs and equipment stolen, please would you like to tell the police how you got the information, and if you came onto my property without permission or escort.
proof the horses been fed, all the invoices for haylage, and there are the wrappers that have not yet been collected. feed bills, proof what they are being fed, etc etc
then it became what do you advise, they cannot "advise", even though they are there to "prevent" the horses becoming welfare cases
Especially when she pointed out that several horses she knows that are in RSPCA care that are in hock deep mud in the area, being fed mouldy haylage, and more.

So why do I so dislike them, knowing what I do about them?

youngsters put down, just because they retain a testicle
the trouble in this corner that people have getting the money to care for them off the area co-ordinator
taken because they are on a shorter tether, as they are close to a road, even though they are in fantastic condition, and put down
a yard I knew that took them in, dark stables nothing to see, no turnout, 2ft high bedding, and they kept sending them there, even after receiving complaints
The blind eye that they turn to persistant offenders.
The fact that they are political, not really after the welfare of the horses. So they pressure with popular opinion, not what really matters, so that their coffers get filled.
Is it just me?
 
Don't know anyone who really likes the RSPCA - including me. But, to be fair, they have to follow up on any complaints. That's not to say they do anything useful about such complaints of course.....
 
@ mollysmum, horse tethered in snow with no access to food and water, took about 2 weeks of constant complaints from train passengers before they would look.
I loaned a horse, and she was in bad condition, asked advice, as she had had a foal, they were as useful as a chocolate teapot. The mare had to be put down a year later because of an injury she sustained while she was so weak, and started degenerating on it.
The person was well known to them......if I had known that before I loaned they would never have had my beautiful girl. but she jumps the gun on them by renting many patches of land, and moving the horses between them, so they dont know where they are.
they dont follow up on everything, but they pick on weak targets....or perceived weak targets
 
Like any big organisation, they are not perfect. Neither is the NHS, but I'm sure everyone agrees we need help for those who are vulnerable.
Just as there are stories of incompetence and failure on the part of the RSPCA, so there are success stories too.
I am indebited to the RSPCA officers who rescued a horse and his companions from imminent death and sent his owner to prison. A magnificent horse who has been much loved ever since.

So complain all you like, but what would you replace it with ? Constructive input is usually more valuable than harping on.
Would you get rid of it or restructure and how ?
Should those who inflict suffering on animals never be prosecuted, fined or sent to prison ? Who else would have the expertise and will to make a case for abusers like Jamie Grey of Spindles Farm ?

Or do we not have an animal protection society like many countries where equines live miserable, unjust and pain racked lives ?
 
Psedo Political Organisation whose Royal Patronage should be withdrawn more interested in headlines and political agendas than Animal Welfare.

This, exactly. Regarding the individual inspectors, the first mistake is putting them in a uniform, it gives them a sense of importance, and one to which they're not entitled.

Alec.
 
Like any big organization made up of individuals some good, some bad. Their political policies, are a bit sus.

As far as individual inspectors go, there are some excellent, dedicated knowlegable people, some of whom I know have followed cases at a lot of personal risk.

Not everyone involved with keeping animals has their best interest at heart, some far from it. RSPCA people who infiltrate, expose and prosecute people involved in cock fighting, dog fighting, badger baiting and the like have nothing but respect from me.

The Police don't get too involved, someone needs to do it, so I support them.
 
OP, whilst I'm not the biggest fan of the RSPCA - I find your post interesting, and don't believe a word of it I'm afraid.
 
You need to google the SHG of soliciters,they love taking on stuff for lesser man against the RSPCA,or any other big brother bullies too.I expect you will find many examples of them winning.
 
This is an example of the RSPCA. I saw an advert on Gumtree selling a 3-4 week Staffy pup, I reported it to Gumtree and sent an email to the nearest RSPCA centre with the link. I had an email back from them asking me to ring the cruelty helpline, now why didnt they do that themselves considering it the same orginisation?
 
Amymay, I hope that you never end up on the receiving end of their harassment. And yes, I everything I have written is as true to the facts as I remember being told, and having years ago been on the receiving end, for pooh around a ring feeder, when the horses were fit and well with ad lib haylage, resulting in about 8 visits, and harassment, yes, I fully believe my friend, who I have known for nearly 30 years, and know to be genuine, honest, and generous to the fore.
 
What i think of them cant be printed!!

We reported an appy mare with a coloured foal that was about a month old, after we caught the mare loose on the road, at night in blizzard. Both of them were shivering. They said they would go that night, but didnt. The foal died, i saw the owners loading it on to a 4x4 when i went past the field next day. I go past twice a day to work. The owner showed them an older appy foal at a different place. So these experienced, trained people not only cant tell the age of a foal, they dont know spots from patches either!
 
And yet your friend simply gives away 10 horses.....

Quite Amymay!!

And I also like the fact OP fails to realise the fact that her 'friend' omitted to get the two horses' feet trimmed, just because they needed sedating! Err?!! Well why did it take an RSPCA inspector to make her get it sedated and done?!! It's not hard to get a vet out to sedate a horse for a hoof trim! :rolleyes:

Sounds like a scorned person who is red faced to me!
 
Good and hopeless and other qualities in between, as in all large institutions. My experience of reporting to RSPCA cases of neglect and cruelty to dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, cage birds, chickens, rats, mice and chinchillas , in households I visit in a professional capacity, on an outer London massive slum estate, have been promptly and appropriately responde and a great number removed from their keepers. So, for once, an OK for them. Not for the incident last year when they shot a number of GSDs because without a great deal of involvement with them, and despite lobbying from GSD Rescue, who had foster homes and specialist assessors, and immediate transport arranged, they killed them with bolt guns because they said they were 'too dangerous'. I guess most animals would if their owner was dead, they were in the garden, starving, and a bunch of strangers turned up and stared at them.
 
Good and hopeless and other qualities in between, as in all large institutions. My experience of reporting to RSPCA cases of neglect and cruelty to dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, cage birds, chickens, rats, mice and chinchillas , in households I visit in a professional capacity, on an outer London massive slum estate, have been promptly and appropriately responde and a great number removed from their keepers. So, for once, an OK for them. Not for the incident last year when they shot a number of GSDs because without a great deal of involvement with them, and despite lobbying from GSD Rescue, who had foster homes and specialist assessors, and immediate transport arranged, they killed them with bolt guns because they said they were 'too dangerous'. I guess most animals would if their owner was dead, they were in the garden, starving, and a bunch of strangers turned up and stared at them.

Why didn't GSD rescue remove them and rehome them then?!! :confused:
 
I understand that the RSPCA would not allow them to do so, as they assessed the dogs to be dangerous and the remaining family had signed the dogs into RSPCA's"care". If you look on GSD rescue website there was a large amount of information about this. Havent been on it for ages as have decided after 30+ years of having GSDs, and my last beloved one being quietly pts age 13 in March this year, not to have another one. My time at home and my strength has lessened now. GSD had her devoted "staff" who came in every day at lunchtime and took her for long outings, as well as the walks and social events I took her to, morning and night. I know exactly how much time, determination and physical fitness is involved and I'd be 80+ when the next one went to her just reward!
 
Like any big organization made up of individuals some good, some bad. Their political policies, are a bit sus.

As far as individual inspectors go, there are some excellent, dedicated knowlegable people, some of whom I know have followed cases at a lot of personal risk.

Not everyone involved with keeping animals has their best interest at heart, some far from it. RSPCA people who infiltrate, expose and prosecute people involved in cock fighting, dog fighting, badger baiting and the like have nothing but respect from me.

The Police don't get too involved, someone needs to do it, so I support them.

Same, I'm another supporter. Been on here with pro/con debates before. At the end of the day it is my belief that they operate in very difficult circumstances sometimes and some people will never want them to win, so they won't.
 
A friend of mine used to get reported a lot about their young horses in field near road. Horses always fine.but it got muddy around feeders & the field shelter was deep littered. Always reported to rspca by the same looney anti. Rspca officer always used to apologise & said they had to answer to all reports of neglect.
Think they are as stretched & have money wasting tasks as all large organisations.
They could always save money by not funding anti hunt activities.

Yes I know I sit on the fence. Some good work some not do good.
 
I do think the inspectors out in the vans are keen and want to do their best for the animals but I also think the society in general is rubbish. They seem to graduate to big stories, I wouldnt be surprised if the OP story is true as I can see the headlines now 'Amateur rescue neglect horror' its the sort of 'big' story they would go after if it proved to be true

I have had run in's with them before when I had a horse with sarcoids and a growth on his sheath, They came round relentlessly to speak to me and I was only a teen at the time. I resorted to signs on gates explaining the horses condition and giving the telephone numbers of the two vets practices involved in his treatment

I've also phoned to report something only to be met with a long automated message giving a list of things they dont want to know about

I think what finished my respect for them in the end was the money they spent on a new headquarters
 
I see RSPCA and think ........??????? .....And what? the !? are they really going to do ...... other than make sure there will be a donatin from someone/where...... well are they?

Synic that I am.
 
I see RSPCA and think ........??????? .....And what? the !? are they really going to do ...... other than make sure there will be a donatin from someone/where...... well are they?

Synic that I am.

I wonder if those who have been prosecuted by the RSPCA would say the same...
 
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