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AIBU?

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Original poster

Was I being unreasonable to not let him in?

81 replies

Blackout234 · 26/12/2014 23:27

Hi everyone, I've not had a chance to post this yet so here we are!
4 months ago me and dp adopted a cat called riley from the rspca. After we adopted him (About a week after) a lady from the rspca called to ask how riley was settling in, I said everything was cushy and he was fine and i never heard another word from the rspca... Until last week. It was the 20th of Dec (6 days ago) and I was literally heading out of the door. There was a knock on the door and it was someone from the RSPCA centre riley had come from. I asked what was going on (thinking they were going to ask for a donation of some kind due to the high level of animals who come in to the rspca as unwanted pets just after xmas) and the man said to me "Im John smith from the RSPCA centre in x city, You're miss blackout, arent you? You adopted riley in september? i'd like to come in and see him" (John smith=fake name) I apologised and said i Had to go out there and then.He attempted to stop me (Stood in my way) and kept insisting he wanted to see riley. I told him to f--K off eventually and slammed the door on him(then left via the back door) I Got home to a note posted through the door saying "Miss blackout, it is customary that we see all pets adopted out to make sure they aren't being harmed i will be back at x time on the 5th of January".... wibu to not let him in and would i be unreasonable if I refused the visit?
bit more background
I've never heard of this and was told at the time of adoption that after the initial home visit to check out the house there'd be no more visits. we had the home visit (BEFORE Adopting riley) and all was fine, I know this would have been confirmed and put on the system as youre not allowed to adopt without the home visit.
I called my sister, fil and mum (theyve all adopted pets from the same centre) and they said they never had any visits from the rspca.
also in case youre wondering there are no concerns over the welfare of riley, The guy just said it was customary and I HAD to let him in.

OP posts:
Original poster
Blackout234 · 27/12/2014 01:23

If its routine why was i told three times by the rspca there'd be no more visits?
is it routine to try and catch people on the off?
Doesnt seem very professional

OP posts:
Original poster
Blackout234 · 27/12/2014 01:26

I doubt they'd take my cat off me, He's settled in so well(Sat with his head on my shoulder as I type this!). They have no legal grounds to and it'd be VERY cruel to take him from a loving home. He is older (about 6/7) so he was difficult to rehome for them in the first place.

OP posts:
Backtobedlam · 27/12/2014 01:28

They should have called and agreed this before turning up, do RSPCA have ID badges or anything? Could be anyone turning up...although obv.knew you'd a adopted the animal and when etc so probably is legitimate.

GatoradeMeBitch · 27/12/2014 01:49

I don't have much respect for the RSPCA I'm afraid (even though my Dad works for them!) Sorry, but I do think they might be capable of acting spitefully, all it takes is a bit of spin, 'Adoptive owner behaved aggressively and wouldn't allow the cat to be seen by officer, we are concerned about the welfare of the animal in this volatile environment, blah blah.' If I were you, I would just arrange to get the visit done and move on, don't complain, But if you do I wish you luck!

Bogeyface · 27/12/2014 02:51

I would get the visit done, ask for an update (in writing) afterwards and THEN make a complaint. They then wouldnt have a leg to stand on if they tried to take him back if you have it in writing that they have no concerns.

KatieKaye · 27/12/2014 07:40

Sounds strange. Why do an unplanned visit for a cat, who is likely to be outside so not able to be seen? Ours disappear for several hours at a time.

HellKitty · 27/12/2014 07:48

Call them to confirm this guy is who he says he is. Then do everything Bogey suggests.

WowWowSauce · 27/12/2014 07:50

I'd phone, tell them what happened and tell them that someone else can come round with ID at an arranged time. I wouldn't be letting that guy in. He completely overstepped the mark.

Altinkum1 · 27/12/2014 07:58

Purple, I wouldn't have kept my cool either tbh, a man with no ID claiming to be from the RSPCA, demanding to be allowed in her house to see the cat, not a hope in helps chance, he wild have been told to fuck off from me also.

pullthecracker · 27/12/2014 08:02

Why would anyone come to do a check on Boxing Day? Very strange.

livsmommy · 27/12/2014 08:20

Does sound odd. Definitely not BU to not let him in, these kind of visits should absolutely be pre arranged. And as another poster suggested on Boxing Day?! Makes no sense. We adopted a puppy from the RSPCA almost 3 years ago, we had the initial home check, picked him up a week later and haven't heard a peep since, no phone calls to check on him no visits nothing, so it's certainly not routine in every shelter. Definitely call to check if this was legit and if so arrange a mutually agreed time and also let them know how unhappy you are that somebody just turned up on your doorstep, especially at 9am on a bank holiday!

diddl · 27/12/2014 08:29

It wasn't Boxing Day!

If nothing else OP, you were on your way out so of course didn't have to let him in.

He sounds rude.

Perhaps for some reason he thought that there was an appointment?

Def check!

FishWithABicycle · 27/12/2014 08:36

Entirely possible that he was a fraudster. Phone the RSPCA and in the unlikely event that he was genuinely there at their behest he still should have shown official ID so it wasn't unreasonable to refuse him access but you should allow a (different, less rude) representative to visit if showing appropriate ID in future.

bearwithspecs · 27/12/2014 08:40

Sounds like he was just doing his job to me. They are unlikely to make an apt as they work unpredictable days and get constant call outs to emergency situations. They probably squeeze in the home visits when they can. They don't give advance notice otherwise people who are up to no good / neglecting animals will be out or make it look like the animal is well cared for etc when they are due. They call in unannounced to check what if it's like on a normal day. The visit would probably only take minutes. They will be back. He should however have been in uniform with ID?

MassaAttack · 27/12/2014 10:44

We had a visit a few months after bringing our cat home. It was prearranged to be at a mutually convenient time.

wewishyou · 27/12/2014 13:06

He could be a creepy guy working there and having access to your file, you were right to not let him in (I am a bit surprised you didn't think about calling the RSPCA and complain, then tell them that you want another person to come).

I don't think you have to explain why you told him to F* off. He was a stranger demanding to enter your home when you said no. I think he earned his Chrismassy F bomb ;)

Original poster
Blackout234 · 27/12/2014 13:49

Bearwithspecs it is extremely unprofessional IMO to just call in randomly on peoples homes to check that there cat isn't dead under the patio. not to mention a waste of resources.

OP posts:
MyCarHasBrokenDownAgain · 27/12/2014 13:57

I had the same many years ago with some rats - no pre-arraged visit, the RSPCA bloke was just there on the doorstep one morning. I did let him in, but the house was a shit tip (though in all fairness even a month's notice wouldn't have changed that Grin) and I was totally unprepared (hair a mess, slobby clothes etc) as no one had warned me - tbh I didn't even know there would be a follow up - I was never told. I was less than impressed!

IsabeauMichelle · 27/12/2014 16:27

Have you phoned the RSPCA then OP?

bearwithspecs · 27/12/2014 22:02

They have a very tough job as they are also an enforcer, same as the police and get a lot of abuse day in day out. They won't thank you for it. It was not ideal that they turned up with no warning but their job is generally thankless and they are very over stretched. Was he in uniform with ID?

GatoradeMeBitch · 27/12/2014 22:15

bearwithspecs I volunteer for Cats Protection, and granted it's just cats, not all issues with domestic pets and wildlife within a certain area, but we manage to rescue all cats, foster them and rehome successfully without harassing anyone. A phonecall is perfectly adequate for a follow-up. Calling on someone unannounced is rude. Adopting one of their animals shouldn't mean you sign away rights to your privacy.

Leela5 · 27/12/2014 22:23

I do home visiting for RSPCA and would never ever turn up unannounced. This sounds bit dodgy. Let the centre know and they can look into it.

Standard is that you have pre home visit then (if there are enough staff or volunteers in area) a post home visit to check all is well and that you're happy to keep the animal. All visits are phoned ahead to arrange, never just turning up. I'm always courteous and arrange for when convenient to adopter.

This sounds not right at all :(

Leela5 · 27/12/2014 22:27

And the RSPCA are not 'mardy bastards' jeez!

They do a really tough job cleaning up the mess created by society with their tendency to buy pets on a whim who are then abandoned, neglected or cruelly treated - plus the amount if wildlife they pick up.

It really annoys me when people bash them - go volunteer in a centre for a day, it's bloody hard work dealing with the thousands of unwanted animals and everyone just assumes the RSPCA will deal with it and gets annoyed when their resources don't allow. They only have 450 officers for the whole of England and Wales, it's a massive strain.

IDontDoIroning · 27/12/2014 22:38

This doesn't sound right.
On boxing day any staff or volunteers would be a minimum skeleton staff and I for one would hope they would be prioritising emergencies like abandoned distressed or badly treated animals not calling unannounced to someone who had adopted one their animals particularly after being told they would not be needing to visit again.
It could possibly be genuine but it might not be.
If by any stretch of the imagination it was a genuine member of their staff he should at least be reminded he shouldn't be calling unannounced at people's houses, unless it's an emergency or they have concerns about an animals welfare as it might not be convenient it might be intrusive or rude.
More sinisterly it could be nothing to do with them.
I would contact the centre to check if it was an authorised visit and if so why after telling you they weren't going to visit. Check there are no concerns or welfare issues that have been reported.

Original poster
Blackout234 · 27/12/2014 22:43

PLEASE read the OP. this did not happen on boxing day!! it happened on the 20th, I only got round to posting on boxing day. Anyhow, I did call the RSPCA centre today and they said they had nothing on the system about a home visit and would get back to me in the morning O.O will update again then

OP posts: