To give to PDSA instead of RSPCA

[Meadowland]

With the austerity measures likely to now continue, many more people may be unable to afford vet's bills. The PDSA who do a fabulous job, will probably be stretched to cope.
Meanwhile, the RSPCA, have been utterly dismal in responding to any requests to help animals in need, both from myself and from others I know. They also, as far as I am aware, have a lot of legacies left to them, but have consistently refused to help struggling smaller animal charities.
If you are thinking of making a donation, the PDSA is definitely my choice.

@Wolfiefan

“Told by a few people” KatherineJaneway based on what knowledge or experience.

Two Veterinary nurses, a Vet and a few other acquaintances told me that.

RSPCA came round within the hour when DH had hit an owl.

I fell out with PDSA when they refused to help my DGM with a cat she had taken in. They said that they would only help those on benefits.

YANBU. I've reported cases to the RSPCA a number of times (including an incident where a tenant had abandoned a property leaving 2 dogs and cats inside the house for 3 days) and the RSPCA were useless.

So no one directly involved with the charity?
The issue is that people treat it like another emergency service but it’s a charity.
Too many people taking on pets without thinking it through, not neutering or meeting their needs.

The issue is that people treat it like another emergency service but it’s a charity. This

And the RSPCA cannot break into peoples houses, they cannot trespass and they cannot seize dogs.
They need to go to court, convince a judge, get a warrant, and get the police to do all those things.

And without strong evidence, the judge is most likely going to refuse a warrant and tell them they need to give the owner a warning and a chance to rectify the situation.
Then the RSPCA have to give the owner time to do that, gather proof that the situation has not been improved, go back to court, get the warrant, get the police, enter the property etc etc.

That takes time! And due to GDPR/confidentiality, they cannot tell you what they are doing in the mean time. So whilst it looks like they aren't doing anything, behind the scenes, lots is happening.

And whilst I'm on the subject, Muntjac are an invasive species, if they get called to an injured one, by law they have to shoot it. They cannot treat it.

I donate to local animal shelters from time to time . I don’t support any of them with a monthly dd . I don’t ever donate to the large charities with huge salaried staff.
I’m not use I agree with encouraging people to keep animals they cannot to afford to look after .

Sure not use

I called the RSPCA so many times about the traveller camps, for the horses and the dogs. Many, many people called and they refused to help. The police refused to help. Instead the local horse sanctuary took the horses because for the most part, they were tethered alongside main roads on council grounds so no trespassing or legal hoops to jump through. For the dogs, a local rescue went and rescued the dogs and had shot guns pointed at them for their efforts. Still zero assistance from the police either even when they had firearms.

The RSPCA would have cases against the camps if they bothered to investigate. They could try to prevent more animals suffering the same but alas they just don't bother - not here anyway.

I stand by my comments and my decision to stop supporting them based on my experience. We have a wildlife charity who do respond to emergencies and they also get my money.

Also Stacey Hayward, a known and prolific puppy farmer - also have done zero in stopping her so she moves house and carries on

Neron I'll say it again, the RSPCA cannot take dogs. They need the police to do that. If the police refused to come, and the courts refused the warrants, the RSPCA inspectors could not safely enter and remove the dogs. You say they had shotguns, so of course the RSPCA are not just going to walk in, that's extremely dangerous.

As for the horses, fly grazing is not an RSPCA responsibility. Nor are stray dogs. Hence why they don't help in either of those situations.

FYI, I know many times the RSPCA have applied for warrants against travellers camps and been refused as the police think its too much trouble/don't want to start anything with the travellers.

And I will say it again @LochJessMonster they refused to help. They didn't want to know, they didn't want to investigate AT ALL. Instead of leaving the animals a local charity went out to investigate. They deemed the situation so horrific the animals had to be removed. There was no known threat until they were there. They were not strays, many are stolen dogs uses for dog fighting.

For the horses, what do you expect joe public to do when they come across emaciated horses? Horses with chains so tight around their neck they are embedded? Dumped deal foals and even a pregnant mare? They call the RSPCA who do nothing. This is what people see and instead they go to people who will help.

It's time people stopped calling the RSPCA a charity, it's a business, a hugely profitable one.

My friend rescued a cat a few years ago and the RSPCA treated him but later found he had a heart murmur. They said because of this he would be put to sleep despite my friend saying she would adopt him. In the end they allowed her to but she had to fight to do so.

When the cat was examined by her own vet it turned out he didn't have a heart murmur...

I do sometimes donate directly to the local RSCPA centre (not the one my friend's cat was taken to) but I prefer to donate to smaller charities.

When it comes to the RSPCA it’s worth noting that although the local branches carry the name they are effectively independent rescues as they generally receive little funding from the main charity with most (if not all) of the money they spend being raised locally themselves.

As with all rescues the branches will vary in how good they are (my local one was a complete hellhole which has thankfully now shut down) but if you’re wanting to donate to a local charity don’t write them off just because they bear the RSPCA name.

They have different emphases.

I know someone where they were detained and their pet rabbit was left locked in the house. Without the involvement of the RSPCA that rabbit would have starved to death in its cage.

They took them... they ignored everyone wanting to help by rehoming... they killed them. www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/peel-arab-horses-rescued-rspca-put-down-511288

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3232322/RSPCA-shoots-11-HEALTHY-horses-Charity-culled-bright-alert-responsible-animals-continued-claim-vet-stable-fees-months-deaths.html

They deemed the situation so horrific the animals had to be removed. On who's authority? Either the travellers signed them over, or the rescue stole them. Only the RSPCA (via the courts with vet agreement) can legally seize an animal.

I think you have made a good point op. A very small animal centre near me with about 10 animals up for rehoming have over 13 m in reserves. The cats protection league have very plush headquarters and over 40m in reserves. My local rspca have a pitiful amount of animals in the shelter. A lot of uk animal charities are minted and hoard money over and above what they really need instead of spending it on actually helping animals. They also won’t take in animals without a fee so people end up dumping them. Do some research and find a good one that is genuine and will go out and help like Celia Hammond in London I donate to now as I have seen what they do and they are at the cutting edge and don’t hoard it all or spend it on art work for head office.

I will say that the RSPCA rescued my (now) dog when he was close to death - he had been used for badger-baiting, received some pretty nasty injuries, then escaped and was found wandering in someone's front garden.

They believe my dog belonged to a family who had previously been imprisoned for this sort of thing, and they're in the middle of a year-long surveillance/evidence-gathering op to try and get them prosecuted again.

They're not perfect, but they still do great work where they can.

I think it's immoral to give to pet animal charities when there are so many humans suffering.

The lies came out in court eventually, where it transpired that the RSPCA were claiming livery costs for horses long dead. These weren't little feral ponies, they were well bred horses known to the Arab community. One mare - Taragun - broke a leg while the RSPCA were dealing with her and they travelled her in that state

That’s absolutely appalling. Really upsetting. There are so many negative stories about them, they seem to have completely lost their way

YANBU. From past and bitter experience of the RSPCA and their failings, I wouldn’t give them a bean.

@LochJessMonster the community signed them over in the end

The charity contacted the RSPCA also, they weren't interested as I said, so they went back. Those dogs were signed over but they have move now.

I understand your pov Ihatebluelights but some people prefer animals to people and animals can’t help themselves .