rspca

[a.m.phibian]

Originally Posted by Chris Newman

There are many good people within the RSPCA that is beyond doubt, people who are there for the right reasons, to care for animals. Unfortunately they are declining and being replaced by a younger more militant inspectorate that see there role as ‘law enforcement’ not animal welfare. In fact the RSPCA is quite happy to state there primary role is law enforcement, in Court one RSPCA inspector, she will remain nameless said “our role use to be animal welfare, today its law enforcement”!!!

Now I have no issue with law enforcement concerning animal welfare, but and it’s a big but, the body enforcing the law must be impartial, accountable and above all knowledgeable – unfortunately the RSPCA do not for fill any of this criteria.

People have said they would be happy to invite the RSPCA in to inspect there animals, this is a very ill-advised action. The inspector may well be more then happy with the way you are keeping your animals. However, they will file a report on the visit and that will be on held on file. You may not hear from them for months, years but there is every chance one day you will get a knock on the door and there will be your friendly inspector with another than you have not seen before – that is when the when the trouble starts. Your animals are seized, often illegally, you are prosecuted by the RSPCA (you don’t need to have committed any offence to be prosecuted) and you end up being heavily fined and banned from keeping animals.

This may sound far fetched, its not it happens regularly. One of the cases I reviewed concerned a young lady who had always wanted a Royal python, she had done masses of research before buying her pet. She had had the animal for a few months and it had problems shedding its skin, so she took it to the vets, and RSPCA vet. Anyway she ended being prosecuted by them for causing the animal unnecessary suffering. She was heavily fined and banned from keeping animals for five years.

Of the 50 or so RSPCA cases I have been involved with in only 2 have I seen significant problems, in both of these cases the people concerned had mental health problems. In perhaps another 10 or so there were minor issues, and all that was needed was some advise. In over half I could see no issues at all, other than the people had animals. However, all of these cases were prosecuted by the RSPCA. The statement from the RSPCA that they only prosecute as a last resort is in my experience entirely untrue - RSPCA prosecute for political objectives.

I am in full agreement that we need the RSPCA, but we need a RSPCA that is there for the right reasons. It is very clear they have lost direction and today have an Animal Rights agenda veiled behind that of animal welfare. We need an RSPCA that is transparent and accountable, currently they are neither. Most important of all is that the RSPCA are forced to work through an independent prosecuting authority, be this CPS or other body.

Thankyou Chris, that cleared a few things up for me.

[Chris Newman]

Originally Posted by a.m.phibian

Thankyou Chris, that cleared a few things up for me.

I started another thread RSPCA – Memorandum of Understanding which some might find interesting.