RSPCA hit with bill for cruelty prosecution

[TSKA Rory Matier]

Press Release
For Immediate Release
18th August 2008



RSPCA hit with bill for cruelty prosecution
- in the “heartland of animal cruelty”


The Prosecutions Department of the RSPCA, led by barrister Sally Case,
has been handed another large bill for the charity’s donors to pay. This
time by Gateshead Magistrates in Tyne and Wear, for prosecuting Michael
and Sharon Finnie who mistakenly treated their pet dog Pebbles for fleas
when he had a skin condition.

The RSPCA recently sought to characterise Tyne and Wear as the cruellest
locality in the UK.

Anne Kasica of the SHG said:

“The Magistrates have sent another clear message to the RSPCA.”

“The message, in my view reads:

‘Stop wasting our valuable court time and resources by prosecuting
decent, hard working people who are trying their best and living on a
shoestring budget just to get free publicity from a cheap headline’”

Ernest Vine, also of the SHG said:

“The way that the RSPCA have chosen to present their statistics this
year is misleading. The SHG don’t believe for a minute that Gateshead,
Tyne & Wear, or anywhere in the UK is the ‘heartland of animal cruelty’.”

“In Tyne and Wear, far too many cases are being taken to court by
McKeags and the RSPCA. It is this disproportionate prosecution rate that
is distorting the statistics.”

“In the past, magistrates gave far too much taxpayers’ money to the
RSPCA and their independent expert vets and lawyers. Even failed
prosecutions are frequently rewarded, making welfare cases very cheap
advertising for the RSPCA.”

“RSPCA lawyers and vets can earn more for an hour than some people earn
in a week.”

“The Finnies had clearly tried their best. Why didn’t the RSPCA help
them? If the RSPCA had simply provided free veterinary treatment for
Pebbles they would not have run up the costs of prosecuting the case and
boarding fees for Pebbles.”

“They would also have avoided the heartache that both the Finnies and
Pebbles have gone through by being separated.”

“The RSPCA should remember that one of their charitable objects is ‘to
promote kindness’”

Anne Kasica concluded:

“The SHG believes that the CPS should actively quality control all RSPCA
prosecutions by taking over and dropping those which are clearly not in
the public interest and which no responsible prosecutor would bring.

“The SHG calls for a full public inquiry into the RSPCA and its activities.”

Notes:

1. The cruelty allegations against Mr and Mrs Finnie were that they
failed to seek the advice of a vet. It was common ground that Michael
and Sharon Finnie were treating Pebbles for fleas, but she turned out to
have a different skin condition.

2. The case was handled by Clive McKeag, a partner in the Newcastle law
firm McKeags. Mr. McKeag is the RSPCA’s lawyer in the North East.

3. Gateshead Magistrates said they would not be making any award for the
RSPCA's legal and veterinary costs to be paid from central funds.

4. The bill which the charity has to pay runs to over £2,600.

5. The Magistrates also turned down a request from Mr McKeag for the
RSPCA to keep Pebbles – they ordered that Pebbles must be returned to Mr
and Mrs Finnie immediately.

6. The Finnies were on low incomes.

7. Please note that the petition to the Prime Minister for a public
Inquiry into the policies and running of the RSPCA received 2,029
signatures. http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/rspcainquiry/

Rory Matier
PKA on Behalf of :

'The Self Help Group for Farmers, Pet Owners and Others experiencing difficulties with the RSPCA (The SHG)'

[brittone05]

About time the RSPCA was made accountable for their actions Well done SGH

[Sweetywrapper]

Hi there,

I'm sorry to reply to this thread late, however I only discovered it this morning when I was performing a search on Google. I'm the daughter of Michael and Sharon Finnie, and I really do want to say thank you so much for posting this thread. I thought all hope was lost, until I read this and realised other people were going through the same situation as my family.

Pebbles seems to be suffering from a condition which causes his skin to become allergic to changes in temperature/seasons, which is apparently extremely rare. I used to place a jacket on him to keep him warm during winter, and during this time he had fleas, and therefore my dad treated him with flea sprays and treatments. We simply thought he was biting himself, and the jacket was a protection from the damage he could deal to himself.

If the RSPCA has been doing this for a long time, I'm afraid I would sue them, however my family is at a complete loss for money. We've been badly treated throughout this entire experience, and it's disgusting, to be honest. I'm only 17, so I'm unsure as to whether or not I could enact on this myself.

We still can't get Pebbles back, they're enforcing an appeal, and my family is on the brink of giving up. I read this article and I felt hope, as the court has clearly seen many other cases from the RSPCA. They're threatening to keep Pebbles in QUARENTINE for 6 months until we appear in court again.

Once again, Thankyou so much. I'm very sorry for rambling. =]

[Fenris]

Originally Posted by Sweetywrapper

.

We still can't get Pebbles back, they're enforcing an appeal, and my family is on the brink of giving up. I read this article and I felt hope, as the court has clearly seen many other cases from the RSPCA. They're threatening to keep Pebbles in QUARENTINE for 6 months until we appear in court again.

Please phone The SHG on 0844 700 66 90 and take a look at their website The Shg for Farmers, Pet Owners and Others Experiencing Difficulties with the RSPCA Whatever you do don't give up!

[TSKA Rory Matier]

Hi Sweetywrapper,

Trust me as many have said before in threads similiar to this, the RSPCA need to be held responsible and accountable for their actions.

No, you are not rambling by any means, and its good to hear that your family are not going to just give up. This is what the RSPCA account for - either that or a full on prosecution.

You will have full support hear from the likes of RFUK, they are only too full well aware of the problems that the RSPCA political agenda aims at keepers from all fields.

Wishing you luck and goodwill with Pebbles, and as said best wishes to you and your family.

Rory Matier
PKA

[fantapants]

what a terrible story. Until i joined rfuk and started keeping reptiles i had no idea just how underhand and manipulative the rspca could be. its disgusting that they can use such bullying tactics in this day and age. And the fact that this takes place in a public court simply beggars belief. I for one find them a disgrace.

please dont give up hope, its important that this is seen through to the end. not just for your family, so they get there dog back, but so other people can be encouraged to stand up to them too.

[C_Strike]

Such a harsh story, hope to god you get Pebbles back, They should accept they lost in court, and they shouldnt dick about with your dog. Best of Luck, i really hope you see him again

[xXFooFooLaFluffXx]

dont give up on pebbles! im sure you will get him back just keep fighting them, dont let the b@stards grind you down. After recent events with the RSPCA i will certainly be lookin into becomin more active in tryna get this organisation wiped off the face of the planet!!!!!!

i hope Pebbles makes it home to your family, please dont give up hope, you have come so far im sure you can go the whole way in gettin him back where he belongs

[Sweetywrapper]

To everyone who just posted, thankyou VERY much. I am going to desperately try and get my parents to continue in the campaign, and I am so very grateful for your support.

I also didn't understand how the RSPCA deal with cases such as this, however I feel as though what they are currently doing is taking advantage of their idea of cruelty, and manipulating it to their will.

We've been able to see him several times, and as he kept getting better, you could see how happy he was to be better. I'm so happy they treated him, but I'm appalled at how they're now saying it was an ordeal treating him. If it was such a problem, I'm sure my family can afford to foot the £800 bill rather than go back to court.

It's a terrible ordeal, however I do intend on getting my dog back. He was my nanas before she died, and I took full responsibility, however being 16 at the time, they let me off and made my parents go through court.

We won court once, I hope to win again.

I'll continue to check this thread, however I'm afraid I don't know much about reptilian animals, so I won't be on the rest of the forum much.

Thankyou very much. ^_^

[brittone05]

Echoing the other replies Sweety - you have our full support in this matter We are all animal lovers and all understand fully how the RSPCA uses underhand methods to gain themselves press coverage and donations etc.

The way your family have dealt with this so far is wonderful and it is great that you will continue to fight for Pebbles You shall do so with the full support of this forum and the animal lovers among us