I've called the RSPCA - have I done the right thing?

[Collaborate]

Just posted this in Chat on a thread there about the RSPCA being generally shit:

Yesterday I had to look after a dog whose owner was taken to hospital. I tried to get either the dog warden or the RSPCA to take the dog in, but no one was interested.

The impression I got was that if I'd have left the dog in the street someone will have done something about it.

Anyway, I noticed that the poor dog's claws were shockingly long. They were around an inch long. When clipping them (you do it in stages - 3-3 mm at a time, over the course of a few days) I noticed she had sore pads on all of her paws. She also stank to high heaven (has known skin conditions that the owner says she has shampoo for, but obviously doesn't get bathed anywhere near enough as she still stinks).

I managed to return the dog to her last night, but have reported to the RSPCA this morning and they say they will send an inspector round to try and help her (she genuinely loves her dog, but needs help with these aspects of care). Will report back in the next few days when I see if they've been as shit as they were yesterday, or whether there's a different side to them.

Anyway - has anyone here had any similar experiences, and if so, how helpful were the RSPCA?

To be honest, as long as the dog's basic needs are met (food, water, shelter) I doubt they will do much... but you never know. You did right to report it. Remember, you did it for the dog and to help the owner to get advice and help so that can never be a bad thing, hey.

You haven't done the wrong thing at all, but the RSPCA won't do anything. Put a TV camera in front of them and its inspectors I'm uniform and sad music but without, nada.

*in

is the owner elderly? If so the Cinnamon Trust might help?

Thanks for the heads up. Will ring them on Monday. The owner is around 60.