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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:
IDontDoIroning · 27/12/2014 23:06

Sorry

GatoradeMeBitch · 27/12/2014 23:10

Well, I'm sorry Leela, my opinion is based on my personal experiences with them, community experiences (a neighbour being hung up on when she called to report that a cat had been stuck in a tree for 24 hours) and things I have heard from both professionals and prospective adopters during my time volunteering with a cat charity. Plus news stories like when they dragged a bereaved family through court over a disputed will. And their high kill rate... I'm sure there are plenty of wonderful people working for the RSPCA (like I said my dad is one of them!) but I think the organization is power hungry and corrupt.

hoobypickypicky · 27/12/2014 23:20

"they are also an enforcer, same as the police"

No they are not the same as the police at all.

They can be mardy bastards and some of them would like you to think they have powers akin to the police but they have no more than you or I.

I'm a cat rescuer. Your visit was quite probably genuine, Blackout although I urge you to ring and check.

If it is, then there's nothing wrong with seeing an RSPCA agent to reassure them that Riley's doing fine but you have every reason to refuse to see that one. You're not under any obligation to see or talk to any of them but it would be good if you could.

ohdearitshappeningtome · 27/12/2014 23:21

Well if the rspca tell u it was an imposter please call 101 and let them know so they can be prepared so to speak!

And if he turns up again kick him in the balls then drop the new year f word!

ohdearitshappeningtome · 27/12/2014 23:23

People really need to read the ops updates!

Happened before Xmas!
They did ring rspca !

And no she shouldn't let a random stranger turning up at her door intimidating her into her house !

Topseyt · 28/12/2014 02:21

Worrying that the RSPCA have no record of any visit being planned, yet this person appeared to know so much detail about you and the cat.

I would contact the police. It sounds like a scam.

Theselittlelightsofmine · 28/12/2014 02:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TheCunnyFunt · 28/12/2014 03:16

That sounds very odd. I wonder what they say when they get back to you!

Leela5 · 28/12/2014 07:18

It does sound like this person was acting on their own if the centre have no record. That's really worrying - and irritating for those of us who volunteer as home visitors and carry out the role properly.

As for news stories - if your dad works for RSPCA he'll say the same thing as me. Don't believe everything you read in the daily fail. They publish an awful lot of untrue stories because it's a pro hunt paper. It's very frustrating and unfair.

Bearleigh · 28/12/2014 07:34

Gatorade charities or rather their trustees, have to 'drag' people through the courts over wills. They have an oblopigation to maximise assets and if there is an ambiguous will, they have a duty to try and sort it out, and get funds for the charity. It's unfirtipunate but they would not be doing their 'job' if they didn't.

JamNan · 28/12/2014 07:37

We had a home visit before adopting a cat (not RSPCA). We got turned down because we are near a busy road.

BathshebaDarkstone · 28/12/2014 07:38

He didn't have ID and he stopped you from leaving your home. I'd have told him to fuck off too. Also I'd have been shitting myself. You sound very brave. Xmas Smile

Leela5 · 28/12/2014 07:40

And 'high kill rate' was incorrectly (and deliberately) reported - it included wildlife, animals that have to be euthanised as result of injury and would not ever be for for release back to wild. It was deliberately misreported to make people like you think it was talking about rehomeable animals. There are an awful lot of fine dedicated staff and volunteers at the RSPCA who will have worked right through Christmas with no complaint to care for animals. It's so wrong to generalise them all as 'mardy bastards' based on one phone call and some inaccurate news articles.

Hatespiders · 28/12/2014 09:25

I'm afraid I've had two disappointing experiences with the RSPCA.
The first concerned an abandoned baby squirrel on our lawn. I rang them to ask what kind of milk it would take and if kitten milk would do. They were really horrible and said they didn't deal with squirrels as they're classed as vermin and the baby should be left out there as 'a cat will probably dispose of it for you!"
The second was even worse. In the field at the bottom of our garden were several ewes with their lambs. My neighbour and I grew worried because many of the ewes were lying on their sides panting and some seemed to be inert, maybe dead. The RSPCA were totally unconcerned and said to just leave them, they'd be fine. My neighbour was a feisty lady and she rang the Police, to ask them if they knew who the farmer was. They didn't, but got in touch with an emergency vet who came out. We were in tears because many of the ewes were in fact dead and their little lambs trying to suckle them. It was an illness due to malnourishment as the pasture wasn't sufficient. A tractor and truck came to remove them, the dead and the still-alive. My neighbour then rang the bloody RSPCA and gave them absolute laldy. She was a fearsome gal so I bet they were trembling!
After this, I changed my Will and removed them from it.

DancingDinosaur · 28/12/2014 09:32

Sounds worrying op.

TheCunnyFunt · 28/12/2014 14:46

Any news yet OP?

Original poster
Blackout234 · 28/12/2014 14:55

I didnt get a phone call so rung them at around 1 to be told theres nothing on the system but they refused to confirm or deny if someone had been sent out and if someone would be coming on the 5th.Until i get official confirmation no strangers coming over my door.

OP posts:
JenniferGovernment · 28/12/2014 14:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Galvanized · 28/12/2014 15:01

No harm in logging with the police then OP, call 101.

Original poster
Blackout234 · 28/12/2014 15:05

I don't like the rspca by me much anymore
when I adopted riley I was told there'd be an adoption fee of x amount (£45 i believe) plus a £20 admin fee.
Which I thought was a bit pricey for an older cat, but fair enough.
Then i was charged another £40 for something else(Not even sure what as I was told 4 different things) then another £17 for another admin fee and then when we (DP and I) went to collect him with a cat carrier they said our carrier was too small for riley then charged another £50 for a cat carrier. so all in all £172 (if my maths doesnt fail me!) for a 6-7yr old cat, that really is extortionate imo and i can see why no one in my area adopts from there, I dont want to bitch out the whole RSPCA (As I'm sure some are lovely!) but the local centre is awful as it is:/

OP posts:
Original poster
Blackout234 · 28/12/2014 15:06

I'll be logging it with the police when dp gets home (about half an hour) I don't want to do anything like that without him around and im sure no axe murderer will come for me within half hour!

OP posts:
ohdearitshappeningtome · 28/12/2014 16:43

I don't think you should accept that from the rspca. I would ring them back and tell them because they aren't being cooperative unless you get formal notification you won't let them in if they turn up again. And inform them there is an imposter and your notifying the police

Namechangeyetagaintohide · 28/12/2014 16:50

Yes I think log with police and make it very clear to the centre no one will be entering your home unless pre arranged and accepted by you and any harassing it shitty behaviour police will be called - and let them know the first "visit" has been reported to the police as well since they "couldn't confirm" it was them.

Namechangeyetagaintohide · 28/12/2014 16:50

X post there !

TheCunnyFunt · 28/12/2014 18:01

£50 for a cat box!?! That's extortionate Shock