To think that the RSPCA is useless ?

[albertcamus]

Their immediate response to my sister's online report of a 5-month old puppy left out from 8am to 6pm next door to her (as owners cba to make her comfortable indoors as they don't like her 'chewing & making a mess' in their words) was: 'We don't consider that the animal is in distress and will not be responding.' So are they employing psychics now ? What does it take for them to pay a visit to check on a frightened & distressed animal left out for long hours ?

[OrangeJulius]

Well I don't know the ins and outs of your conversation with them, but on the face of it, if the owner isn't doing anything illegal what do you expect the RSPCA should do?

[ProfessorCat]

YANBU

[Wolfiefan]

It's cruel to shut a dog out like this.
The RSPCA won't care unless it's being beaten or starved. I honestly don't think they have the resources to tackle every issue they should.
Poor pup. It's never going to grow up to be a happy well adjusted pet is it?
And WTF do those idiots think puppies DO! They chew. Lots!

[MaisyPops]

My guess would be that as a charity they have limited resources and a dog beinv outside for a workibv day probably doesn't come up high on their list if the dog is otherwise fed and looked after.

It may be someone not doing what I would do, but that doesn't mean I would expect a charity with limited resources to direct thwir resources to it in the first instance

[ineedamoreadultieradult]

Unfortunately if an animal is fed and has shelter (can sit somewhere out of the rain) then they don't really have the resources to deal with it. If it's a noise nuisance call the council, other than that there is not a lot you can do unfortunately.

[albertcamus]

Thanks for answers, will look into the Council's response

[Wolfiefan]

It'll be on gumtree soon enough when they can't cope with it.

[thenightsky]

I lost faith in them 25 years ago when I called them about my neighbour who kept a Jersey cow and calf in tiny field with more weed than grass and no water at all. They didn't give half a shit.

Disclaimer. I was breastfeeding at the time and felt sympathy with the poor Jersey mum. I used to crave water when feeding.

[albertcamus]

Apparently that's where they got it from, poor pup

[Wolfiefan]

Oh FFS. Poor baby puppy.

[moutonfou]

Hmm I called them once about a lamb we found dying and even though TBH we could see there was no chance of saving it, they still came out and trekked halfway across a moor with us to find it and presumably it give it a dignified ending. So I've always thought quite well of them. But I would have thought they'd want to at least check on the puppy? It will get much colder soon?

[Rugratwrangler]

Poor pup, people shouldn't have pets when they don't want to deal with what it comes with.

Anyway, as people have said, they probably don't have the funding to deal with it, they probably have strict criteria. Also, they may already be aware of the issue. I also think it depends on the area, when I was a teenager my dog was getting rather old and ill. My neighbour called the RSPCA out about 4 times a week about it, who responded every time, despite numerous vet appointments and a letter from the vet to my neighbour and the RSPCA. In that area I'd see their vans daily and they had a few centres. WhereI am now however, I've never seen a van about or even know where the nearest centre is, and it's a city

[Carouselfish]

Yes, they are shit. A skinny great dane was left outside in a concrete yard two metres square, with a small wooden shed to sleep in, in the depths of winter with snow around 16 years back. Couldn't do anything for the same reasons as you OP.
They also take bribes from abbatoirs and farms to pass their welfare standards check which said farms and abbatoirs are notified of well in advance. They've got nowhere near enough legal clout to do anything.

[dangermouseisace]

I've just adopted some animals from the RSPCA. Having been to the foster person's house I'd argue they are not useless. Their house was absolutely teeming with animals.

Most animals were doing well, but there were a couple that had just been brought in and I have never seen anything in my life like it. One animal I don't know how it was even alive, but apparently, it was a whole lot better than when it was brought in!

If the puppy is being fed and sheltered (the basics) then I can see how they don't have the resources to step in.

Is the dog upset whilst it is outside? If so, I'd go and have a word with the owners. They might just be a bit daft/clueless rather than intentionally cruel IYSWIM.

[Carouselfish]

Sorry, sorry, 'allegedly' take bribes!

[shadowfax07]

YANBU. I won't expand on that, because this will turn into a major rant, but take a look at the board's pay and their funding structure as a starting point.

[shouldknowbynow]

Yes they are useless. I made a similar complaint about a poor dog kept outside in the depths of winter clearly heard crying in distress every night and kept awake by a flashing light attached to it's collar. RSPCA asked if it had shelter. I said I couldn't see if it did as it was behind a fence. Their reply was that as I couldn't categorically state that it didn't have shelter they couldn't say any laws were being broken. I ended up writing the owner a letter and putting it through the door instead. I would suggest you do the same. Makes my blood boil when people get puppies and are somehow surprised when they chew or are destructive. Puppies are hard work and if they won't invest the time they don't deserve it. To be kept outside in isolation is pure punishment for a sociable animal like a dog. Please do speak to the owner or write an anonymous letter and ask them to keep the dog indoors.

[albertcamus]

Thanks to all, some really awful shit seems to be classed as OK if all your anecdotes are typical. That is in sharp contrast with their website blurb.

thenightsky thank goodness you could give the cow some water 🙁

This poor pup is cold, scared, wet, dirty & terrified of strong winds, and hates her long lonely days. So cruel, but apparently not enough to merit a look by them.

[Needadvicetoleave]

My friend worked for the RSPCA as a vet. When we lived together she used to come home and tell me how many animals she'd PTS that day simply because they had no room. The highest was 40cats in one day.

[Misspollyhadadollie]

Well maybe they should stop being so strict on who they rehome cats to then! My sister was refused as she lived in a flat.

[TheLastPeg]

Jesus need that must be depressing work.

[Pivoine]

I can barely read about things when it’s to do with cruelty to animals as it upsets me so much, but I think it’s worth remembering the absolute horrors the RSPCA must deal with daily.

I’ve reported things myself and felt let down by them because I’ve felt they haven’t recognised the horror or awfulness, but Jesus, some animals have been so badly treated and they see this ALL the time.

Seriously. Do not stop supporting them just because your particular complaint hasn’t been dealt with as you might wish.

They see HORRORS.

[Pivoine]

And hat would you prefer? No society to help at all? Please stop denigrating them. They TRY to help.

It’s fucking human cruelty that’s the problem. NOT the RSPCA

[ShowOfHands]

I lived next door but 2 to a puppy farm (terraced house, could see directly into his yard from our 2nd bedroom window). That man left his dogs outside all day, never walked them, hit them with sticks, screamed at them, threw a dead puppy in a wheelie bin ffs, taunted them with food and left them in filth. We reported him. Other neighbours reported him. We even filmed him. He cleaned up when buyers came round, simpered, smiled, talked about family pets and being an animal lover. Then took his cash and reverted to type. RSPCA did nothing. We tried for years.

[CornflakeHomunculus]

It's worth noting that the RSPCA is not the single entity that it's often assumed to be.

There's the main charity which funds the inspectors and control centre which takes calls, runs four RSPCA hospitals plus several clinics (which provide medical care for pets of people who can't afford vet fees) and does all the political lobbying and bringing private prosecutions.

Then there are the local branches (over one hundred and fifty of them) which, despite carrying the RSPCA name and taking in/caring for/rehoming the majority of the animals picked up by the inspectors, are run almost entirely by volunteers and get minimal funding from the main charity.

Much of the real grunt work is actually done by those involved with the local branches and their clinics with little help from the main body of the charity who happily proclaim they rehome however many animals a year when most of those are actually being found new homes through the efforts of the self funding branches.

Sadly many people presume that if they donate to the RSPCA then as well as funding the inspectors/legal stuff it'll be helping the local centres (a view encouraged by many of the main charities TV adverts in my opinion) but, for the most part, it's not. A number of branches have had to close in recent years to due to lack of funding and many others are struggling.