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Is it a social workers business to report to the RSPCA that someone owns an animal despite being given a disqualification?

28 replies

Jadely98 · 02/08/2018 11:54

Opinions on question asked below welcome, assumptions on why i'm asking, assumptions on me, not wanted nor necessary - Thank you.

  • Opinions from social workers especially invited. -

This is a real situation but is not about me.

Hear me out. Someone I know has been to court and gotten a disqualification ban from the RSPCA/Court. The circumstances were unfortunate and resorted in an animal being cared for improperly, however this is the persons' first conviction EVER and person in question had severe depression due to a divorce and ex partner verbally abusing at work and leaving them in money troubles (e.g putting bills in their name.) Partner was also a violent alcoholic. He is now gone thankfully and they are happy.

Anyway back to the main story, the animal involved in the case has now been rehomed and person in question has another pet and still hasn't told anyone.
Pet involved in the case was a big dog, ex partners dog and although it still got fed, the other pet who is a cat would dissapear for days and does belong to the person in question and is very loved and looked after. The dog was basically dumped on said person and was not wanted, cat is very much wanted and now the person in relation to this is very anxious that the social worker who is around to deal with her sons custody drama will report to the RSPCA or the court if they find out they all have bans. As of course the social workers have the right to obtain this information. I am making this post to hopefully get some kind, yet honest help.

So, the social workers came round yesterday and spoke to my friend and social worker already knew about the court case despite the son nor my friend saying anything. I assume this was the probation officer who told her everything because she said she would have to contact social services. That's fair enough, there's no need to hide anything. When my friend was asked about it she was honest and said 'Look, i've had a fine and community service, it was a mistake etc...' However didn't mention the ban as she was obviously scared. Social worker wrote it all down for record and left.

I'm just wondering if the probation officer already explained everything and the social worker won't need to see the sentences given as everyone in the house has spoken to the social worker. Or if perhaps the social services will look further however stay out of it as it's not their business.

The way I see it is, the social workers are there to protect the children and would only act if they saw a threat. E.G if they saw my friend hurt the cat (obvious things that show a red light.) The social workers showed up after the dog was already gone, they have seen the cat and the positive way that the cat and baby in the house respond.
I would like to think that the social worker has a duty to protect but not to get involved with the sentences given. For example if someone in the home doesn't turn up to community service, that's their issue. If someone doesn't pay a fine, if someone owns an animal when they got a ban. I just see it as if it were me, those things aren't my business as long as people were honest and the child in question wasn't in danger. But then again i'm not a social worker nor do I know the 'rules' that's why i'm asking.

That's the jist of the story, I can elaborate if there are any questions posted. Please be rude and sarcastic etc... had it all before. Just give your honest opinions in a kind way please.

Thank you for those taking the time to read.

OP posts:
SomeKnobend · 02/08/2018 11:58

I think it's anyone's business to report if they think an animal is at risk. Nothing to do with if you're a social worker or whatever else you do, just if you are concerned something isn't right you report it to the appropriate people to investigate.

TaighNamGastaOrt · 02/08/2018 12:06

YABU. Despite the circumstance, she allowed an animal to suffer and was subject to the law as she should be.
The social worker should report this breach of her ban, but I guess its up to their discretion if they report this or not.

Dottierichardson · 02/08/2018 12:11

agree with posters above YABVVVU bans are given for a reason, animals deserve protection too.

Jadely98 · 02/08/2018 12:19

But it was a one time, unfortunate circumstance due to money issues, depression etc... The cat is very independent and very healthy. My friend feels extremely terrible that it has happened.

Not sure if I mentioned above but the dog was taken by rspca before social got involved and social have met the cat. My friends son's ex GF tried saying they were dirty etc and social actually looked and said they were really well looked after. My friends not planning on having any more pets after this anyway but this is a cat that is 13+ years old not a kitten she hasn't bonded with yet.

I can totally understand a social worker telling authorities if they had reason to believe the animal was in danger.

And I see now that it would be up to the individual worker to decide. But isn't a social worker there to help my friends son? Why would she want to purposely get him in trouble?

Especially considering the baby's mum is a druggie etc... living with someone abusive. The social worker we have right now gets along with our family quite well.

I just don't know what advice to offer my friend she's having anxiety attacks and paranoia constantly.

She's sorted her £ issues now and since she's moved away from her ex it's all been good so far.

OP posts:
Wolfray · 02/08/2018 12:22

Yabu.

<a class="break-all" href="https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=www.nspcc.org.uk/globalassets/documents/research-reports/understanding-links-child-abuse-animal-abuse-domestic-violence.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwiH17iloM7cAhWDJ8AKHV0cB9AQFjAAegQIAhAB&usg=AOvVaw1pUOLvhGc-3o7m0rt3FOta" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=www.nspcc.org.uk/globalassets/documents/research-reports/understanding-links-child-abuse-animal-abuse-domestic-violence.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwiH17iloM7cAhWDJ8AKHV0cB9AQFjAAegQIAhAB&usg=AOvVaw1pUOLvhGc-3o7m0rt3FOta

YeTalkShiteHen · 02/08/2018 12:25

As PP have said, the circumstances are irrelevant and it’s up to anyone to report someone banned from keeping animals, who has decided the law doesn’t apply to them and is keeping a pet.

The back story, how it came about, all of it is irrelevant, they are banned from keeping animals and have got a pet. That’s the only part which is important.

chemenger · 02/08/2018 12:26

Anyone who is aware of this should report it. Animal neglect and cruelty is unacceptable, there is no excuse. A ban is just that, a ban.

SpottingTheZebras · 02/08/2018 12:31

Yes, to answer your question, it is a social worker’s business to report. Whether they do or not, is another question.

beeefcake · 02/08/2018 12:31

YABU, it's not the dogs fault that she had depression and they don't deserve to suffer.

She is fine now but has proven when she is of ill mental health she cannot look after her animals, which is understandable, but it's selfish to not acknowledge this and get another pet.

bandito · 02/08/2018 12:32

I'm sorry, but the social worker will have a professional duty to report illegal activity of any kind that they come across in the course of their work. What would happen to the social worker if someone else reported the cat and the owner said "well the social worker didn't say anything, so I thought it would be OK"? It wouldn't be anything personal against their client, but necessary in order to protect their own professional integrity.

Bluelonerose · 02/08/2018 12:35

The ban might be over by now or might of only applied to him.
Anyone who thinks any animal is suffering or thinks someone has pets when shouldn't should contact rspca. They will know the score from the start and can liase with sw/police etc.

PurpleDaisies · 02/08/2018 12:35

I agree with everyone else. Circumstances are irrelevant and a ban is a ban.

thinkingaboutfostering · 02/08/2018 18:22

I going to go against the grain here and say actually circumstances are important. I do not trust the RSPCA at all. I have first hand experience of them trying to get my friend a ban on keeping animals despite the vets and police all unanimously concluding that my friend was at no fault and was terrible bad luck. The RSPCA however pressed on and on for months and were covertly checking on her for months without consent or a warrant (contrary to common perception the RSPCA are not allowed to access property without the consent of the owners - if they want to go in the police have to gain entry on their behalf and get the appropriate warrants to do so)! eventually they were told by a judge to stop harassing my friend!

Op without knowing your friend or her circumstances it is impossible to say whether or not she is ok to look after an animal or not - if it was neglect rather than cruelty then on the face of it maybe I'd give her another chance especially if she was in an abusive relationship.

chemenger · 03/08/2018 10:09

In this case the RSPCA’s opinion is backed by a conviction in a court of law, so I think there is good reason to assume there was serious cruelty or neglect (which are just two sides of the same coin). They said she was not fit to care for animals, not just the RSPCA.

Alienspaceship · 03/08/2018 10:12

YABVVVVU for a the reasons others have said

Butterflykick · 03/08/2018 10:14

Your friend couldn’t cope with the animal. They have now disregarded a judges ruling.
If they are unable to cope with an animal again, this will also impact on the child who will witness the suffering of the animal.
So I’m short yes it is (or it should be) a social workers business to report if they feel necessary.

Speakeasy · 03/08/2018 13:44

LINKS theory is just so much rubbish.

www.spiked-online.com/newsite/article/3894#.W2ROIy2ZNuU

BrokenWing · 03/08/2018 14:30

I don't know if its a social workers business to report, but it is a human beings business to report and I hope someone does as soon as possible.

She is breaking the law by having a pet after being banned for severe (they don't ban lightly) neglect and/or abuse of a living creature and you are minimising, and positively condoning it. Keeping a pet after you have been banned also shows no understanding or remorse for what she did.

The advice you offer you friend is to stop breaking the law and if she doesn't respond report her yourself.

chemenger · 03/08/2018 16:29

Surely she runs the risk that if she is reported, and as the responses here show there are plenty of people who would report her, that defying a court ban will get her in more trouble? You are not really being a good friend by encouraging her, however much you believe the cat is not in danger.

WellThisIsShit · 04/08/2018 00:19

Interesting link Speakeasy.

I wonder why institutions are so quick to want to find links between some quite distant types of violence and abuse, and yet the link between abuse of women and abuse of their children is routinely ignored and artificially kept delineated when there is much more reason for one to lead to the other (in fact often in the same incident)
Hummmm.

Duck90 · 04/08/2018 00:28

Taking these things to court is not an easy process in my understanding, so the animal involved must have been terribly treated/neglected.

saywhatnnow · 04/08/2018 00:34

The dog should have been taken to a rescue if it was not wanted, they would have taken it no questions asked. There is no excuse for causing harm to an animal, it was severe enough to warrant a prosecution and ban!

If they are capable of neglecting the dog they are capable of neglecting the cat however 'wanted' it is.

I can't actually believe anyone would try and justify neglecting a defenceless animal !

Fuckit2017 · 04/08/2018 00:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

rosylea · 04/08/2018 01:20

The dog was basically dumped on said person and was not wanted Why didn't said person have the poor dog rehomed immediately then instead of neglecting it? Why didn't you or someone else help to have it rehomed?

howardmoonseyebrow · 04/09/2018 21:53

I used to work as a Crisis Team nurse. I have no problem with reporting animal neglect/cruelty to the RSPCA. Poor mental health is not a get out clause for anything and everything.