To ask about your opinion on the RSPCA after Brian May resignation

[Meadowlands]

He has resigned because the RSPCA's response to poor animal welfare was completely inadequate.
When I reported an animal in distress, they refused to investigate, and it was left to my local animal shelter -which is struggling for money - to come to the rescue.
I find it all extremely concerning. Does anyone else have any experiences?

Yes, they didn't want anything to do with a ferret found by a person when he phoned them. He ended up going to the nearest funding event for ferrets and a lady running a rescue happened to be there and she took it in. I eventually ended up with said ferret!

Same thing happened to me. There were feral kittens born in my elderly neighbours shed. We called RSPCA.

they did nothing.. asked to me call local shelter. It was run by volunteers only.

anyways most kittens when missing, some died and the volunteers caught the feral mother a few weeks later.

RSPCA did not help

Probably thin on the ground

The RSPCA are a shower of shit with overpaid execs. They do nothing unless there's a camera on them. They have more money than ever in their accounts and gullible well meaning people keep adding to it. I loathe them with all my heart.

RSPCA also turned us away when we called about an injured fox that was hanging around in our garden.

We were told to contact a local shelter, who despite being 100% volunteer run and significantly underfunded were very helpful.

I reported a sheep that we found butchered on a hike. They claimed they investigated that it was foxes. Absolutely not possible by the way it was left behind unless foxes carry cleavers and knives and know how to perform clean cuts. They did however use my details without consent to get me to sign up for regular donations, which I declined.

We called them about a horse lying in a frozen field. They said it was probably sleeping and refused to come out. Later that day we found out it had been dead.

They are total shit.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czj9nl88k0mo

I reported a local vet who in lockdown cropped his beautiful dog's ears, then a year later docked her tail. I asked him at the time I saw him walking her with her ears in splints and he told me he did it because of her 'type' (a Dobermann). I reported him and his company when I found out it was illegal to do this, aside from docking tails for working dogs. After a long slog of keeping-on at RSPCA and Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, an RSPCA inspector investigated, but vet said he had rescued dog from abroad with cropped ears and no more was done about it. Why the fuck they didn't ask for the dog's passport, I don't know - this would have shown any anomalies.
This vet is still in business, owns the local Vets for Pets franchise, goodness only knows what else he is doing if he does this to his own pet. Disgusting.

Found an animal that had been run over but was still alive. Spent ages on hold to the rspca. They didn't have anyone to help. Told us basically to just leave the animal there to die. We found a volunteer from a local group who was able to come and collect the animal. Sadly it had to be put to sleep but at least it didn't die slowly and in agony.

The recorded message was annoying. It reminded me of the NHS. Kept saying that all their call handlers were dealing with real emergencies and basically
not to waste their time by calling them. Also if they can't help why don't they have a list of local volunteers you can call?

Just wanted to add that the RSPCA need to be investigated, I remember visiting their shiny new HQ years ago, way too much money spent on an architect's dream of a building!

My friend stopped giving them money years ago when they put a dog to sleep when it was brought in as a stray. Didn't even give it a chance to he claimed. Turned out it was a much loved family pet, but I guess it wasn't microchipped, so they just got rid of it, they're vile, wouldn't give them a penny and good for Brian.

Not a personal story but on our local Facebook page there was someone asking for help locating rescue for an injured swan who was currently on the side of the road (not dead - was injured but ok otherwise). RSPCA has said it didn't meet their threshold for rescue.

Unfortunately I’ve had 2 bad experiences with them

first time they did come out but were so unpleasant and rude to us I wish I had found someone else

the second time (don’t know why I called them after the first time) they wouldn’t come out but they can’t even help with other places to call. If they don’t want to attend or don’t have the staff then creating a database of shelters or other rescues would be helpful

These stories are shocking. What do they actually do then?

They've moved away from actual animal welfare to only going for those where they can secure a prosecution IMO or something that will be media worthy.

The knowledge isn't that good either tbh, I had dealings with them a few years ago over a laminitic pony who wore a muzzle when grazing, was under the vet and this was part of the management. I was reported more than once and I fully complied with them, access to the pony, vet reports etc. One officer didn't know what laminitis is and accused me of making it up when I explained too much sugar can cause a painful foot condition in some, especially native ponies. I mean it's a pretty basic condition that affects many horses and ponies, which if you're inspecting an animal for it's welfare, you should probably know about and understand the basics of the management of that condition. A muzzle being one of the most effective as it restricts intake, promotes trickle feeding and allows them to be in a field with the herd instead of inside all the time. Was advised by a vet with probably 10 years training, plus many years experience to muzzle the pony during the day and bring in at night for a balance between keeping the laminitis at bay and giving as normal life as possible. But apparently that wasn't good enough.

Another said that the pony didn't have access to water because of the muzzle - despite the hole in the bottom designed to allow trickle feeding and drinking being really quite evident.

I felt that they were seeking a removal and prosecution rather than genuinely being interested in the welfare of the pony tbh.

I reported some men hunting badgers with dogs on some land near me. No action taken.

I've never found the RSPCA any use. We are farmers and get a lot of abandoned pets dumped out in the countryside. Experience has taught us never to involve the RSPCA as they will not help. Any local finding waifs and strays brings them to us and we keep them or find them homes or a shelter run by another charity. That is why we found homes for over 30 cats and kittens one particularly bad year,and why we had 13 cats that no one else wanted, on the farm.

I actually had a good experience with the rspca who came and cut a fox loose who’d got caught in next doors netting

having said that I think their strength is in the legal side of animal welfare- the actual prosecuting and convicting humans who cause suffering.

they should ditch the other side as there are plenty of other services that will do that, and from pp it would seem they know that and offload that side anyway.

stick to what they’re good at- lawyers, court and criminal cases involving animals.

Phoned to report a dog being kept in bad conditions, apparently as It had a bowl of water it was fine!😡 Not impressed. I suspect they are like most animal charities, overwhelmed by the sheer scale. However, they do get lots of money.

They need reserves of at least three months running costs, which if they spend £140 million a year is £34 million plus enough for ending various contracts and leases and paying staff redundancy payments.

A Google suggests they had £90 million in 2021 with their target being £75-100 million. Presumably at that level they also get some income from the reserves.

I can't comment on the service they provide really - I called them out once for an injured fox cub and someone did come out and collect the poor thing.

I've reported horses being kept tied up short with no access to food or water for days. They were so sad and really skinny. As soon as the RSPCA found out travellers were involved they refused to do anything.

I also wanted to adopt a cat while I had young children. Went to the RSPCA and they pressured me to take home a cat that was aggressive and scratched my 4yo! Such a different experience at an independent cat rescue up the road. They encouraged us to stay for ages and play with the cats to see which one was just right for us. I'd never go back to the RSPCA.

We called them (and the police) about a pony that was being abused in front of our very eyes! Neither would do anything! Wouldn’t even come to have a look!

I can believe this.A similar thing happened to my old neighbour. She had an elderly pony with Cushing's disease,under treatment from the vet,on medication,and doing very well on it. With Cushings,they are prone to laminitis,so are best kept on the lighter side, and definitely should never be let to get overweight.
The RSPCA tried to accuse her of mistreating her,and when my neighbour showed evidence of vets visits and very expensive medication,tried to say that "they didn't recognise that vets". Yep,only the best known equine vets in the area. They are a shocking organisation and I will never give them a penny.

They may well be underfunded or misappropriating funds, but failing to properly investigate a vet (whose job it is to look after animals) who is still operating beggars belief. I was in touch with a barrister for the RCVS at the time and even he felt that it was awful that this vet was left to continue to practise.

Money is better spent supporting local animal charities rather than RSPCA.

I have called them on three separate occasions for an animal in distress. They have refused to assist every time. They like to give the impression that they help animals in these circumstances but imo, they only respond when there is a tv camera watching them.