to think the RSPCA are losing it?

[SundaeGirl]

They've prosecuted a woman for feeding paracetamol to her cat after it broke its leg www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/9974603.I_can_t_believe_RSPCA_prosecuted_me_for_killing_my_cat/?ref=rl Poor woman, her and her sister rang them for advice and now she has a criminal record.

Misguidedly trying to help your pets surely, surely can't count as cruelty?

Yes, that is absolutely ridiculous.

I should imagine the ex-cat owner feels guilty enough about losing her moggy without a criminal conviction.

Really?

But when you report a animal who is in obvious suffering with owners that don't give a rats arse they do nothing?

RSPCA are a complete waste of time imo!

The woman now has a criminal record. Insane and a total waste of court time.

Paracetamol is toxic to cats and is totally unsuitable as pain relief.

She was clearly behaving irresponsibly. Ignorance is no more an excuse for harming a pet than it is for harming a child. A responsible thing to do would have been to seek veterinary advice.

There's no doubt in my mind that there's more to this story. I have my reservations about the RSPCA but it's not OK to poison your pet!

Yeah, but she didn't feed the cat weed killer.

People are leaving the RSPCA money in their wills to help deal with cruelty to animals. this really doesn't coun t and smack of the RSPCA not prioritising at all.

I think there's more to it too. Why did she phone the RSPCA rather than a vet? I'm guessing the cat was uninsured and she didn't want to pay vet's fees, which is why she gave the paracetemol in the first place.

Given her attitude that she still thinks she knows how to look after cats , I hope she's banned from keeping them in future.

yeh I kind of agree - why not take the cat to a vet - that is what most people would do - it is cruel to deny an animal the CORRECT attention and treatment

more to this I think and she shouldn't be allowed to have cats

The RSPCA are utterly crap.

Yes, she shouldn't have fed the cat human painkillers but she was trying.

Whenever I've reported animal abuse they sound completely uninterested.

And don't get me started on their ridiculous criteria for rehoming pets and then moaning that they're over-run. The couple who adopted two kittens from me were turned down because they smoked. Outside, because they have children but the RSPCA still turned them down.

They were a lovely couple too.

By giving the cat paracetamol she might as well have given it weed killer. Failure to seek treatment for an injured or sick animal is an offence.

Sounds odd to me. Why would she ring the RSPCA? Why not a vet?

But, presumably, we are able to distinguish between cruel intentions?

What on earth was actually achieved by this prosecution - except a waste of money?

I just googles "can I give my cat paracetamol?" and the answer is a resounding "no"

She could have easily googled and then decided treatment.

The woman was a moron, I think that's clear.

What I think is more of a concern is not the woman, or her ill-judged remedy, but that this used time, cash, resources of a charity set up to deal with cruelty. And public funds and court time.

I don't like the RSPCA, but this woman didnt seek veterinary care for her cat when it needed it and that alone is an offence, let alone giving it unsuitable and dangerous human medication.

It's right that she was prosecuted and now has a criminal record (which a court decided, not the RSPCA). She neglected her cat and caused it suffering. Ignorance is no excuse and no doubt saving money played a part.

Far too many pet owners don't seek veterinary advice when they need to.

My dog is looking a bit peaky - I thought I'd see how he is in the morning. Is that really an actual offense?

Not impressed with RSPCA. About 10 years ago, I was sitting inside the house when I heard yelping from house opposite. Anyway I looked and was shocked to see the german shepard that lived there hanging over the wall by a rope. It was kept in the back yard tied up, and it must have tried to jump the wall, not realising the rope was short. So the dog was hanging by a rope about a foot off the ground, choking to death, so I panicked and rang the RSPCA. Apparently they could not make it until the following day but needed all my details. I said that the dog was choking and that I at least needed advice on what to do. The operator said that I had two choices. I could either push it back over the six foot wall or cut it down. Bearing in mind I am not superhuman and was six months pregnant at time, pushing it back over was not a option. I was not willing to cut it down as it was obviously distressed and snarling. Anyway it was a thick rope so it would have taken ages to cut it. I am still waiting for a solution off them. I hung up and raced around to knock on the door but as usual no one was in during the day. Luckily for the dog, by the time I got back, it must have wriggled free as I saw it running away up the road.

Well it depends how 'peaky' he's looking. Being lame is very obviously something that requires looking at, in fact, this woman knew it needed treatment as she'd tried self medicating the cat.

OP, do you disagree that this woman a) did not seek veterinary treatment when it was obviously needed and b) cause suffering to her cat?

It doesn't matter why she did these things, she did them.

She should have sought the correct advice obviously, but she shouldn't be prosecuted for making a stupid mistake. If everyone got into bother with the police every time they fucked up, nobody would have a clean record.

I phoned the RSPCA once when there was a stray dog walking around our street. They told me to phone the police or take it to the police station because they dont come out for stray dogs. Wtf

So they think that its ok for the general public to approach stray dogs not knowing whether the dog is aggressive or has fleas.

Earlier I trod on my dog's foot. I cause suffering to my dog. I hope society can get that in proportion.

Do I deny that she didn't seek veterinary treatment? Hmmm, it sounds as though she thought she didn't need it and could manage on her own. A bit like me with my dog. Again, I sincerely hope no one is going to prosecute me but I'll make sure I don't ask for advice just in case.

The RSPCA have a cheek prosecuting anyone for animal cruelty imo. Recently I found a young cat and 4 tiny kittens in my shed. My shed was cold and wet so I took the cats in overnight, none of the shelters had spaces for them, i couldn't put the cats back in the shed because it was so cold so I called them.

Their advice? Put the cat and kittens back in the shed until they get ill and then they can deal with them, they can't deal with healthy strays. When I asked what I could flea treat a nursing mother and tiny kittens with they said it would be better if I didn't if I wanted them picked up faster.

I used to donate to the RSPCA I won't anymore thats for sure.