Sad news as RSPCA redundancies announced and rescue centres close

[sport horse]

If they stuck to their welfare work and kept out of politics maybe it would not have come to this. Not one penny from me to RSPCA in the last three decades. I do support other animal charities (and human!)

 

[Kaylum]

Many people are now supporting and seeing the value of smaller independent charities. They realise their money makes a real difference and their accounts are a lot more transparent. Also every pound matters and luxuries are very rare.

 

[{97702}]

As my sister has been a CEO of a smaller charity and is now director of income generation for a major national charity (not an animal one at the moment!) I can say that there are an awful lot of myths around about “big wigs on inflated fat cat salaries” in charities nowadays.

Like it all or not, charities have to operate as businesses now and they need people who can do the jobs properly at the top. The charitable sector will never (obviously) pay as much as the private sector, nor should it, but they will still pay a decent salary to get good professionals who can do the job well.

this news has nothing to do with financial mismanagement or their large HQ - it has everything to do with the huge loss of revenue that every charity has suffered this year as they haven’t been able to fund raise and generate income in the ways they usually would do because of Covid 19.

I don’t rate the RSPCA in any way and I would never donate to them because I don’t approve of their political agenda, but I’d much rather that a charity had professionals in the key roles at the top than had well-meaning amateurs like the ones in a large greyhound rescue charity I know. These particular amateurs have blown all of the charities reserves and made appalling business decisions pursuing a vanity project which shouldn’t have been allowed - doubtless I will now get told that this happened at RSPCA as well, but at least they have properly qualified people they can hold to account.

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

Lockwood needs closing. Most of the buildings could be sold off too, plenty of portable shelters and stables that can be taken to the likes of Millbrook, which has better space and facility's for equines.
It has a diabolical entry road, only suitable for trailer or small box, the ground there is mostly clay. They were left it in a bequest along with about 30 ponies and donkeys for their lifetime, all now gone many years later. It's been a millstone, they struggle to get staff as its stuck out on a limb (for Surrey) and very limited public transport.
Far better to flog it off for building etc and put the money into other centres.

 

[Penny Less]

The increase in the charity appeals human and animal on the telly says it all really, they have all lost millions and with so many people not working its not going to get any better

 

[mle22]

Surely stopping fox hunting is an animal welfare issue, not a political one?

 

[AmyMay]

Surely stopping fox hunting is an animal welfare issue, not a political one?

It was, without doubt, a political one.

 

[meleeka]

I have this vague hope that If the rspca weren’t so prominent, local councils and police would have to step up and do something. Our local council is quite productive, but the police just bat everything over to the rspca. It’s very wrong that they expect a charity to uphold the laws of the county, but of course the rspca are happy to do it because it makes them prominent and brings in donations. I just wish they’d be honest about what they are capable of doing, rather than making the public believe they are the police force for animals.

 

[Tiddlypom]

It was, without doubt, a political one.

In part.

Fox hunting is anachronistic and had to go.

 

[ycbm]

Surely stopping fox hunting is an animal welfare issue, not a political one?

At the time, the ban was put in by the Labour Party to get votes, and even though I wholly supported the ban I've no doubt of that. Many people who didn't vote Labour were happy that they did it. On strict animal welfare grounds, only shooting as a method on control was found to be of equal welfare by the Burns report, so there was no huge welfare case for properly controlled fox hunting. But it wasn't always"properly controlled". And as TP says, it is completely out of kilter with modern values to have a bunch of riders galloping around the countryside following a pack of dogs chasing a fox, so its time really was up.
.

 

[mle22]

My remark was slightly tongue in cheek! It does strike me that hatred of the RSPCA is at least in part because they opposed hunting - surely a legitimate stance for an organisation that is concerned with animal welfare.

 

[The Bouncing Bog Trotter]

My remark was slightly tongue in cheek! It does strike me that hatred of the RSPCA is at least in part because they opposed hunting - surely a legitimate stance for an organisation that is concerned with animal welfare.

Nope, my dissatisfaction with the RSPCA stems from direct contact with them and their handling of animal welfare issues. And the fact that they have adopted this pseudo 'police' role with Inspectors and uniforms etc. My specific incident involved a malicious report of an animal welfare issue and their "guilty until I could prove my innocence" attitude....even though it was obvious.

 

[Fred66]

My remark was slightly tongue in cheek! It does strike me that hatred of the RSPCA is at least in part because they opposed hunting - surely a legitimate stance for an organisation that is concerned with animal welfare.

No actually. Animal welfare and animal rights are two different things altogether.
The RSPCA at the time of contributing to the Burns report was for the middle ground ie licensing of hunts to enable hunting with hounds under a set of rules. This was in their opinion the best method for animal welfare.
Banning of hunting with hounds was about animal rights and the personification of animals and had absolutely nothing to do with welfare.
The RSPCA has changed direction and its political direction is now in the hands of animal rights activists. You only have to look at the response to the badger cull to evidence this.

 

[mle22]

I don’t think they are two different things altogether! There is at least some linkage between the two surely.

 

[mle22]

The ‘personification’ of animals?

 

[Fred66]

I don’t think they are two different things altogether! There is at least some linkage between the two surely.

There are areas of overlap but also areas where they come into conflict. The RSPCA always used to be about welfare and they have moved into having an animal rights agenda not always to the benefit of their welfare.

The ‘personification’ of animals?

The attribution of human emotions onto animals. This is is one of the main differences between people concerned with an animals welfare or it’s rights

 

[mle22]

I don’t think animal rights is to do with the ‘personification’ of animals - it is rather a recognition that they are sentient beings in their own right.

 

[Gingerwitch]

When the RSPCA signed odd a riding school where the horses were eating eggs and pebbles I was pretty annoyed, I then called them.to a fox whom.had been hit on traffic lights and her two cubs were trying to nurse off her, they told me they.dis not.deal with wild animals. They then started to PTS healthy animals and I stopped donating.

My money go to a local dogs charity, the blue cross and the donkey sanctuary, I am not a great fan of cats but have paid for farm cats to be neutered. I am trying to find a reptile charity that is trustworthy at the moment but I would not give the RSPCA a penny if I had a billion in the bank and a billionaire for a husband.

 

[mle22]

I’m in NI, so maybe different here, but I think our equivalent, the USPCA does a fantastic job.

 

[Fred66]

I’m in NI, so maybe different here, but I think our equivalent, the USPCA does a fantastic job.

The thing is I would say that the majority of the foot soldiers within the RSPCA also do a good job, as far as their rules allow. However there are instances where money is spent on political campaigning for areas that are not to do with animal welfare, there are also instances where they threaten vulnerable people who have compromised welfare through ignorance rather than wilful intent which has resulted in them handing over animals rather than educating and helping them to meet the animals needs.

 

[meleeka]

Nope, my dissatisfaction with the RSPCA stems from direct contact with them and their handling of animal welfare issues. And the fact that they have adopted this pseudo 'police' role with Inspectors and uniforms etc. My specific incident involved a malicious report of an animal welfare issue and their "guilty until I could prove my innocence" attitude....even though it was obvious.

My experience is direct too, although as a witness rather than them coming after me. The arrogance was astounding. They we asked to help by tbe local Animal Welfare Officer and then didn’t even get a statement from them and refused to update them. The first they (and I) knew was when the prosecution was in the paper and it wasn’t even the person responsible but her mother! The story goes on a lot longer than that too.

 

[Kaylum]

Its interesting as our local RSPCA shelter is a bit like a franchise. It looks after it's own budget. Our charity does work with the RSPCA when it's a multi agency rescue but there are hardly any actual RSPCA equine inspectors in our areas. Having small charities to help the big charities do rescues is what often happens.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

SAW THIS ON F.B THIS MORNING:

We’re heartbroken to announce that, following a consultation period, we are having to make redundancies across our services, including the closure of Lockwood Equine Centre, Putney Animal Hospital, South Godstone Animal Centre, Southall Cattery, and Southall Clinic. Southall Clinic has now closed, Putney Animal Hospital will close to the public on 28/08/2020, and Lockwood, South Godstone and Southall Cattery will close on 30/09/2020.

Unfortunately, we have had to make extremely difficult decisions due to our financial situation as our overall deficit is forecasted to be £20-25m this year. Without significant changes such as these, the deficit is anticipated to rise to £47m over the next three years. This obviously isn’t sustainable and if closures and redundancies aren’t made, we could cease to exist in the future.

We’re disappointed to have had to make these decisions and to lose talented and dedicated members of staff and establishments.

We are contacting anyone likely to be affected by the closures, including fosterers and clients. Any animals in these centres will be relocated to other premises, and anyone currently in the process of rehoming a specific animal from one of these sites should still be able to do so.

RSPCA inspectors will continue to help animals in greatest need in these areas, utilising vets, other RSPCA establishments, and local wildlife rehabilitators when animals need veterinary treatment.

You can find out more about the other changes we're having to make here: https://bit.ly/3isjpWW

Maybe if the public had not lost faith in them they would have more public spending

 

[P3LH]

No time for them. Lots of reasons but the worst for me in a personal basis was about 11 years ago. Purchased a two Pomeranian pups, both oversized so more like Klein spitz, 7 months apart (the first was already 7/8 months when we got him) from a very ‘reputable’ kc breeder and judge.

First was always wary and timid, breeder said it was due to other dog bullying. Second pup came and was completely under socialised. When I picked second pup up I got to see ‘the dog room’ whereas with the first he had been playing in a pen in the living room with two others. Was wall to wall row after row of crate after crate and Poms and Klein spitz locked away in dirty conditions. ‘They get their exercise at shows’ I was told. Should have ran a mile, didnt as couldn’t leave second pup there.

Reported to the RSPCA, nothing. Reported again, was told there was nothing in my complaint they felt needed investigating.

The second pup was put to sleep on vet advice at around 4months due to neurological issues (swelling/pressure on the brain and the skull not being fully formed) she had began to exhibit aggressive and terrifying behaviour as well as circle walking. Called rspca several times. Nothing.

A few months later the first pup who was now an adult dog still very wary of everything started being more timid, and circle walking. He tried to savage a small child, and had he been a bigger dog would have done more damage. Serious damage. Put to sleep on vet advice. Several more calls to the RSPCA, nothing.

Breeder wouldn’t take my calls in the end.

Fast forward to a few months ago, over a decade later. Social media is full of shares of a post from an independent rescue who had taken over forty Poms and spitz grim said breeder and the same dire conditions. Dogs that had never been out of cages so had limb and skeletal issues, dog with severe skin issues from years of the conditions, blind dogs, terrified dogs, a huge number that will remain in long term foster rather than rehome due to all the health issues.

Over a decade since I was harassing the RSPCA, and it made my stomach churn to thijk it continued.

Yet when a former neighbour who was in dispute with us over one of our cats (who she had asked to keep because he kept going and sitting on her patio—go figure?) who had a dietary issue and couldn’t stomach wet food, which the insisted on feeding him thus making him constantly be sick and lose condition—called the RSPCA, they came and visited?! With the closing comment of ‘well you wouldn’t want him any thinner’ to which I pointed out, ‘I don’t want him thin at all! The person who has called you is making him sick as he has very specific dietary issues!’

They’ll never have a penny from me.

 

[conniegirl]

I've no time for them either, Called them about a couple of ponies who were starved, They decided that there was no signs of neglect
This is one of the ponies!


Given that there was also a horse dead on the drive of the place where these ponies were being kept I can't see any way that this was anything other than neglect!

ETA the pictures were taken in our hard standing area as the ponies had got out and were wandering the roads. we moved them into the hard standing and then called RSPCA.

 

[dorsetladette]

Nope, my dissatisfaction with the RSPCA stems from direct contact with them and their handling of animal welfare issues. And the fact that they have adopted this pseudo 'police' role with Inspectors and uniforms etc. My specific incident involved a malicious report of an animal welfare issue and their "guilty until I could prove my innocence" attitude....even though it was obvious.

Yep had the same issue - the reporter was a trouble maker and trouble she did cause! She loved every minute of it! Was like a spectator sport - all over an abscess in a laminitic ponies foot.

 

[DiNozzo]

Who was involved in the handling of all those Arab horses who were 'rescued'...? Possibly in N Ireland or Scotland?

There was a huge thread on here about it.

ETA: Here is the link to the thread: https://forums.horseandhound.co.uk/...rses-but-claimed-keep-fees-for-months.708789/

The RSPCA seem to be the villain in as many stories as they're the hero and its not good enough from a nationally recognised charity.

 

[Rowreach]

I’m in NI, so maybe different here, but I think our equivalent, the USPCA does a fantastic job.

Neither they, nor BHS Ireland, were any use whatsoever in a big horse welfare issue I was involved with a few years ago. I got more help from the UFU and local farmers (who aren't known for their love of horses).

I agree that large charities need to be run like businesses and need competent people at the top, who need to be paid, but I don't see many of them actually making a great fist of it, resulting in the majority of them now struggling to survive.

Hopefully the right decisions will be made and the thinning out done in the right places, but seeing what is happening with the NT, for example, I have my doubts.

 

[Gingerwitch]

I've no time for them either, Called them about a couple of ponies who were starved, They decided that there was no signs of neglect
This is one of the ponies!

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v442/kanuma/others/abuse3.j
Given that there was also a horse dead on the drive of the place where these ponies were being kept I can't see any way that this was anything other than neglect!

ETA the pictures were taken in our hard standing area as the ponies had got out and were wandering the roads. we moved them into the hard standing and then called RSPCA.[/QUOTE]

Do you know what happened to these poor mites ?

 

[Wishfilly]

I do agree that the real issue is not their political activities as such, but the fact that they generally seem unwilling to help animals in distress, and in my opinion it has been this way for a long time. I do also agree that the blurring of lines between police and RSPCA inspectors is a problem, as it means the police often aren't willing to get involved in welfare situations at all.

And when people hear about these sorts of situations it makes them reluctant to donate. Covid-19 has obviously compounded the situation, but they were probably going to face problems at some point anyway. I do think CEOs of large charities need to be paid a decent wage, you need to attract people with the right skills and experience. But there is no need for a purpose build headquarters in an expensive part of the country.

I do think if the RSPCA goes under, a lot of animals will suffer though (and in the long term too), so even despite their problems, it's not something I wish for. Local charities can be good, but provision can be patchy, and I sort of doubt the police will suddenly start attending welfare cases.

I also think the RSPCA are willing/able to do a lot more for exotic animals than many small local charities, but I may be wrong.