RSPCA Q's

[HermanniYards]

Ok, lately theres been a big debate on bedding, and enclosure types for tortoises on this board.

i was just browsing the RSPCA website, and they have a care sheet for African Spur Thighed tortoises, also known as Sulcata.

Well, on this sheet they say the following:

The enclosure floor should be covered with newspaper, paper towels, alfalfa pellets, artificial turf and it must be spot cleaned daily.

Hmmm, now many people on here say that Newspaper, paper towels and alfalfa pellets are bad for tortoises yet the RSPCA who are qualified and know probably alot more on animal care including the exotics say its fine.

Another one is:

Vegetables like cucumber, parsley, green beans, peas, with small amounts of cabbage, broccoli and spinach are also appropiate. Fruit like figs, apples, pears, bananas, grapes, peaches, kiwis, papaya, squash, raspberries, strawberries and melons are also appropiate foods.

A tortoises diet should be made of 90 percent flowers, plants and vegetables.

Now, i know alot of these are not the best of foods...however, a few are fine to feed regular...specially in winters when not hibernating. This quote was for hermanns, greeks and horsefields.

I am just confused, professionals such as RSPCA workers, and teams say this. Yet breeders and keepers say the total opposite. Vets say similar to the RSPCA care sheets, yet breeders and keepers say the opposite.

SO no wonder there is big debates and arguments over diets, substrates and housing for tortoises.

Can someone put me right here about the RSPCA?

[Tina]

Do a search on RSPCA on here... you'll find some very interesting reading about how much knowledge and training the majority of their staff have on reptiles.

[incrisis]

Unfortunately the majority of RSPCA staff know very little about reptiles, and the RSPCA as a body believes that no one should keep reptiles as a pet.

[HermanniYards]

I see, thanks for the response.

[wohic]

THE RSPCA have to be a jack of all trades (and master of none ) as they have to deal with hundreds of different species of animals, a breeder specializes so in general the breeder will know whats best for the animals they breed their advice with few exceptions, would be the advice to trust.

[cooljules]

(remember i dont keep torts, or ever have)

Now if its bad, cruel to keep on newspaper etc (from the experts etc), and say the RPSPC come around, see the newspaper you keep it one....and the RSPCA want to report you..........do you qoute the stuf off there website?

If they prosicute people in court, and you proved on there websitt etc, how the state to keep stuff, and you had written reports from say tort breeders or respected herpers....surley they would be laughed out of court?

Just like te guy who had a visit yesterday, they said there animals were kept at the correct temps (just looked, didnt even know what specie, so not knowing the correct temps) and that as his animal was 'tame' meant it was fine??

now i know they cant know about everything..fair enough, i dont, say for a hog island boa, or say a treepython, but unless they can make a quick fone all to a 'expert on the fone' to tell them what the correct temps/humididty is....the cant say much.

Surlet torts the come accross often.....

[HermanniYards]

I get your drift.

Surely if they were to report me...i quoted their website...then they couldn't get any further.

[wizzasmum]

[quote=

Can someone put me right here about the RSPCA?[/quote]


Yes, the RSPCA in general are not actually 'qualified' as you put it to give any advice re tortoises. The RSPCA drowned a tortoise thinking it was a turtle despite the distraught owner being on the other end of the phone saying she thought they had her tortoise!!!!!!!!!!!! They obviously knew little about tortoise and enough about turtles to 'know' is needed to be put in a bucket - not!
Also, how many RSPCA officers and vets are there that breed tortoises? Yes there will be some, but there are always the expections to the rule.
Hope that answer your question

[Reptilerescueden]

The RSPCA are qualified about sh!t!!!

This is why they use people like myself to take in reptiles etc. hell i am currently being involved ina legal case of theirs FFS and for what? to make them look good. Ok the owners are guilty of neglect and should be prosecuted, but if the RSPCA knew their stuff then they wouldn't need people like me!

They get lost of donations from many people but what do they offer rescues for taking in their exotics??? well feck all basicall. If it's alarge rep then it's £3.00 per day for 2 weeks if its small then £2.00 per day for 2 weeks. After that nothing. Wouldn't even cover the elec bill! I pay all my own bills for the rescue unless a rehoming fee comes in which doesn't cover much. Why do i do it? Because I love my job!!!

Do I sound bitter? Yes because I feel what actually gets donated they could do more. thankfully not all inspectors are anti reptile! Few but thankfully they are there in the job that helps. But least they use reputable rescues like myself.

I personally feel with all the funds that go into the RSPCA then it should reflect more on their statistics or saving animals instead of euthanising them. Hell small rescues have better stats and have little or no public funding!!!

[Tortoise Trust]

I am afraid if you believe the RSPCA have any real expertise in exotic animal care, you would would believe anything. Unfortunately much of their advice is archaic, confused, contradictory and just plain wrong. The story about tortoise that was drowned when they insisted it was a terrapin is entirely true. I was involved in that incident. Never have I encountered such arrogance from an organisation. They did everything possible to avoid admitting they were mistaken (!) and further traumatised the distraght owner as they tried to evade liability. The apology, when it came, was half-hearted and grudging. Absolutely disgraceful. While there are some good individual officers and staff, on the whole, these are the last people to rely on if you are looking for a source of accurate husbandry advice.

The diet you cite that includes peas, beans and fruit is not merely bad, it is positively lethal.

Andy Highfield
www.tortoisetrust.org