Has anyone had any bad experiences with the RSPCA?

[xxKarinaxx]

.......or is it just me?

I've had a nightmare with them over the past few days:evil::evil:

My O/H received a call from a friend over the weekend after the RSPCA messed up again.

Just a quick outline of what had happened...
A chap had come home from work to find a snake in his house, he contacted the RSPCA who then asked him to try and send them a picture of this snake. The gy took a picture on his phone as best as he could and sent it to them. From the picture they came to the conclusion that the snake looked like a cobra:rolleyes: For those that do not know, A Cobra is a venomous snake which are highly intelligent. Just to state how intelligent they are, if they were to be poked with a stick, they could know that it is not the stick which is the predator, it would be the human holding the stick. Knowing this they would strike at the human rather than the stick.

The advice of the RSPCA was "we have nobody in the area at the moment so we suggest you brush the snake out of the house using a broom":rolleyes: yes this was a very clever idea....send out a venomous snake, I like their thinking. Rather than try to contain the snake in one room until an inspector was available, it was best to risk it and brush it outside.
Unfortunately the guy carried out what the RSPCA had told him and brushed the agitated snake outside. After a couple of hours the snake was still outside and not making any attempts to move so instead of phoning the RSPCA he phoned the police. Luckily there was an officer (one of my O/Hs friends) that kept snakes and had a DWA licence who was able to go out and check.
On arrival he discovered that the snake was not a Cobra as the RSPCA had advised, but it was a Brazilian Rainbow Boa. There is a vast difference in the appearance of these snakes:rolleyes:
After the snake being outside for over 6 hours in the cold the snake had dropped boy temperature and was close to dying. Luckily the officer was able to handle and remove the snake because it was cold and subdued. The snake is an escaped pet as it was in otherwise a good and healthy condition and is currently residing with the officer.

I understand that the RSPCA do not have skilled and knowledgeable reptile staff which makes it difficult when it comes to exotic pet incidents which is why things like this happen. Surely it would be worthwhile to employ people with knowledge so things like this do not happen.
The RSPCA are currently trying to ban the keeping of exotic animals and reptiles in the UK due to people now knowing much about them and that they are often kept in the wrong environments and mistreated. As you my know I myself keep reptiles but it is incidents like this that cause so many problems. The owners of the snake should have been more careful and they are also to blame. I am just happy that there are responsible owners and keepers out there that are willing to pass on their knowledge and also help people.

I contacted the RSPCA a week or so ago because we had a pigeon in our chimney. We were not a priority and told to call back a few days later once the pigeon had died so it could safely be removed.:rolleyes:

I'm beginning to lose faith:( Sorry for my rant guys, I do not intend to cause a debate. I know that the RSPCA do so much work for animals and help a great deal, I just want to know if anyone else has had any bad experiences.:)

[Neil-and-Maria]

Karina,

So based on one person not knowing their snakes, the whole of the RSPCA is useless?

Neil

[Mandy]

As i have said time and time again, the RSPCA is a charity, they recieve no funding whatsoever. The governmemt should be doing more. I personally think people expect too much of the RSPCA.

[xxKarinaxx]

Karina,

So based on one person not knowing their snakes, the whole of the RSPCA is useless?

Neil

Neil I have not said that the RSPCA are useless, My question was has anyone else had any bad experiences with the RSPCA.
As I stated in my first post "I know that the RSPCA do so much work for animals and help a great deal, I just want to know if anyone else has had any bad experiences."

[Sooz]

As i have said time and time again, the RSPCA is a charity, they recieve no funding whatsoever. The governmemt should be doing more. I personally think people expect too much of the RSPCA.

I have to agree with this. I have had mixed dealing's with the RSPCA but as with the PDSA I remind myself they are a charity and are under no obligation to do anything at all, so anything they can do is already above and beyond the call of duty as it were.

I hope that makes some kind of sense. :)

[Mandy]

I have to agree with this. I have had mixed dealing's with the RSPCA but as with the PDSA I remind myself they are a charity and are under no obligation to do anything at all so anything they can do is already above and beyond the call of duty as it were.

I hope that makes some kind of sense. :)

Definetly. They help animals because they want to, not because they have to, it's not a public service.

If you want a discussion that's ok, but make it constructive, not ranting please.

[mindymoo]

I personally think that the RSPCA do a job, but I have never been satisfied with them. I have called them plenty of times to be fobbed off, and shown no help whatsoever. So yep I had bad experience with them and wont consult them for help again :oops:

[xxKarinaxx]

I do understand that they are a charity and they are not obligated to help in anyway and I am in no way making an attack at them. I am merely asking a question :?

[elaine]

to be honest if you speak to the inspectors/aco's the main problem is the call centre and they get so frustrated with them as they get the rest of them so much grief, if I was you I would write either a complaint from their web site or direct to the head office as they have to do something and maybe it won't happen again,

Elaine

[Lucy]

The problem is usually the call centre rather than the actual inspectors or animal collection officers. The people that work in the call centre aren't specialists although they are supposed to be well trained. Sometimes you can get a dim operator who tells people the wrong information and makes the rest of us look stupid. I can have the same problems myslef, and I do think it depends who you get on the other end of the line. Sometimes it's worth calling back to get to speak to someone else.

Sometimes though, I do agree, people expect way too much from us. The expect us to be the oracle and fountain of all knowledge to do with every situation. If I don't have room to take in a stray cat for example, I quite frequently get the response 'so, you telling me to leave it to die then?' when I have quite clearly advised them of other options as we can't help.

The general public also often twist what is said so stories become more exagerated and worse than the situation actually was.

[Samantha]

deleted

[xxKarinaxx]

The problem is usually the call centre rather than the actual inspectors or animal collection officers. The people that work in the call centre aren't specialists although they are supposed to be well trained. Sometimes you can get a dim operator who tells people the wrong information and makes the rest of us look stupid. I can have the same problems myslef, and I do think it depends who you get on the other end of the line. Sometimes it's worth calling back to get to speak to someone else.

Sometimes though, I do agree, people expect way too much from us. The expect us to be the oracle and fountain of all knowledge to do with every situation. If I don't have room to take in a stray cat for example, I quite frequently get the response 'so, you telling me to leave it to die then?' when I have quite clearly advised them of other options as we can't help.

The general public also often twist what is said so stories become more exagerated and worse than the situation actually was.

Thats awful, how can they expect you to take in the animals. I don't like it when they guilt you into things.
I never thought that it would just be the call centre problem but I suppose that it makes sense. I would be more than happy if I just received advice. Please for those that work or volunteer for the RSPCA that this is a personal attack at you, it is far from it. I have volunteered for the RSPCA in salford and oldham/bury before so I know the demands and expectations are high.

I took in a pregnant collie last year because the RSPCA couldn't help and the manchester dog wardens would only collect once the dog had been on the streets for 3 days and the police had also been notified. The poor dog was heavily pregnant and was having difficulty walking, we took it in as the children in the area were beginning to notice it and a few of them threw bricks at it:roll::evil::censored:. Finally we managed to contact pet medics who said they could take it in and treat it. We kept in contact with them and once she was healthy enough she was passed onto an animal shelter in Leigh. 4 months later her and her 8 pups were rehomed :D

[honeybunny]

this has been discussed many times before and I think the conclusion was
RSPCA branches vary..some are excellent some are not so good..just like rescues or breeders..
Although they all go under the same umbrella they can be run quite differently..

so some people will have had bad experiences..others very good ones.
I also think people within the branches vary..so again your contact with them will be varied depending on who you speak to.

[Lucy]

Yes, it does vary from branch to branch and on who you get at the call centre. Sadly such is life. If ever something happens that I am unhappy about I will make a complaint as thats the only way to make improvements.

[Jayms_fallen_angel]

I've got one. On the way home from highschool, my sister and I used to go up the hill, via the horses and down through the park. Well one of the horse fields always had too many horses with not enough space, rarely any water and the horses were in really bad condition, and for months we just assumed that we were going past at the wrong time of day, as we always went past at the same time.

Well summer rolled around and we were up by the fields for most of the day, when we got there there was very little water, which ran out well before we left, and so we went to the local pay phone and rang the RSPCA.

Well firstly I have to say that deepcar and stocksbridge blend into each other. there's no line splitting the two up, so thinking the field was in deepcar we rang the RSPCA and reported it. Rather huffily they told us that such a place did not exist so we said that we may be in stocksbridge. More than one road is stocky at one end and deep car at the other or else pokes into deepcar while the entire road is stocksbridge.

Well they clearly thought we were pulling their legs and told us tht they would not even come out to look. Well apparently we weren't the only ones who'd reported this field. Pretty much everyone who lived on that road and the ones off had too. And yet nothing. No one came out ever. Treat all the highschoolers like **** and didn't believe the adults.

Although having said that, same RSPCA is the one that we got our dog from.

[karen1980]

I think the call centre is pretty pants.

I reported pets at home and they said they would givem me feedback on the outcome - im still wiaiting. I chased twice and no-one got back to me :?

[Kay]

I don't bother with them any more. I contact the local council if its about a suffering pet and they deal with it.

The RSPCA let me down a few times over the years with the stray ferret that killed my bunnies and failing to take away the school rabbits that were housed in a stacking system and the three bottom level residents had gone blind from the strong wee running down from the top.

But something I have to remember is that they have their hands tied in the eyes of the law.

It is bad that they advised to sweep the snake outside and face probable death in the sudden temperature drop, but then in our health and Safety mad country I guess if they'd advised the person to house the snake in a room and they got bitten by it then they could get sued.

I see both sides of the argument. I no longer bother the RSPCA I contact the local dog catcher or Blue Cross who whilst on very limited money too seem to really put themselves out the Blue Cross imparticularly

[kayj]

If you had rung up to make a complaint about the advice that you were told as regards to the pigeon incident you had they would have checked the call as they are all recorded. I know this as I had a lady phone me one night and told me that a person at the RSPCA control centre told her to let it loose, so I told the Bolton Branch of the RSPCA about this and they found the recording of the message and the member of staff was seriously repremanded.

[AnnaDelie]

I've had great experiences with the RSPCA. We had a pigeon unable to fly just outside my work window, I called the RSPCA and they came out in under an hour!

The other time I called was to report my missing bunny (which later emerged that she was taken by a fox/cat) the guy was really professional and seemed to say all the right things, he ensured me that he would update all their systems with the dissapearanced and even gave me tips like making flyers and talking to anyone in my area.

Just like people are, you're going to get people who are grumpy and people who love their job, but I still think they're doing a great job for nothing.

[honeybunny]

most people who work for the RSPCA do get paid...

[rspcarabbits]

.......or is it just me?

I've had a nightmare with them over the past few days:evil::evil:

My O/H received a call from a friend over the weekend after the RSPCA messed up again.

Just a quick outline of what had happened...
A chap had come home from work to find a snake in his house, he contacted the RSPCA who then asked him to try and send them a picture of this snake. The gy took a picture on his phone as best as he could and sent it to them. From the picture they came to the conclusion that the snake looked like a cobra:rolleyes: For those that do not know, A Cobra is a venomous snake which are highly intelligent. Just to state how intelligent they are, if they were to be poked with a stick, they could know that it is not the stick which is the predator, it would be the human holding the stick. Knowing this they would strike at the human rather than the stick.

The advice of the RSPCA was "we have nobody in the area at the moment so we suggest you brush the snake out of the house using a broom":rolleyes: yes this was a very clever idea....send out a venomous snake, I like their thinking. Rather than try to contain the snake in one room until an inspector was available, it was best to risk it and brush it outside.
Unfortunately the guy carried out what the RSPCA had told him and brushed the agitated snake outside. After a couple of hours the snake was still outside and not making any attempts to move so instead of phoning the RSPCA he phoned the police. Luckily there was an officer (one of my O/Hs friends) that kept snakes and had a DWA licence who was able to go out and check.
On arrival he discovered that the snake was not a Cobra as the RSPCA had advised, but it was a Brazilian Rainbow Boa. There is a vast difference in the appearance of these snakes:rolleyes:
After the snake being outside for over 6 hours in the cold the snake had dropped boy temperature and was close to dying. Luckily the officer was able to handle and remove the snake because it was cold and subdued. The snake is an escaped pet as it was in otherwise a good and healthy condition and is currently residing with the officer.

I understand that the RSPCA do not have skilled and knowledgeable reptile staff which makes it difficult when it comes to exotic pet incidents which is why things like this happen. Surely it would be worthwhile to employ people with knowledge so things like this do not happen.
The RSPCA are currently trying to ban the keeping of exotic animals and reptiles in the UK due to people now knowing much about them and that they are often kept in the wrong environments and mistreated. As you my know I myself keep reptiles but it is incidents like this that cause so many problems. The owners of the snake should have been more careful and they are also to blame. I am just happy that there are responsible owners and keepers out there that are willing to pass on their knowledge and also help people.

I contacted the RSPCA a week or so ago because we had a pigeon in our chimney. We were not a priority and told to call back a few days later once the pigeon had died so it could safely be removed.:rolleyes:

I'm beginning to lose faith:( Sorry for my rant guys, I do not intend to cause a debate. I know that the RSPCA do so much work for animals and help a great deal, I just want to know if anyone else has had any bad experiences.:)

I get really fed up with these questions that invite a :censored: from anybody with an axe to grind followed by a one liner stating how much the rspca does with animals.We have been through it all before ,why not just look up previous rspca threads?

Why do'nt you ask if anybody has had a bad experiences with the poilce, their doctor, their hospital their bank or whatever and when you sift through the replies remember the rspca is a charity but people expect it to "perform" as if it were some government paid branch. Whats more most people who ask these questions often have little idea of how much damage they can cause to the resolve of 1000's of volunteers out there trying to make a difference... us included.

The main rspca will not defend itself in these pages and it is left frequently to local branch unpaid voluteers to do so often against unsubtantiated inacurate incomplete one sided reports and claims frequently from third parties.

If you have a real complaint , put it in writing and make it to the correct people. The question you have put on here will not help rescue, re-home or save one single animal.Complaining in the correct manner might as will getting involved and offering to help.

If you are a snake expert ....offer your help.

[thegenge]

When we had a rabbit jump into some sump oil we rang the RSPCA to get some advice - but becasue rabbits are a pest (in Australia they are classed as a feral pest) they refused to help. We then rang the National Parks and Wildlife (the government body) and they told us what to do.

But the worse think the RSPCA did is took a bloke to court and got him charged with crualty to anminals after he shot a cat o his farm. He said he thought it was a rabbit in the long grass - but once finding it was a cat he took it home and skinned it anyway.

But becasue it was a cut little cat get goes to court and ends up with a record - if it was a rabbit no one would care. The problem is cats do more damage to the Australian environment than any other animal.

[Lucy]

most people who work for the RSPCA do get paid...

Not here they don't! The only people paid are the Inspectorate! Theres about 30-40 of us that foster, fundraise and run the branch for nothing!!!!

[rspcarabbits]

most people who work for the RSPCA do get paid...

Can we just nail this issue once and for all.

Within the national rspca most people do get paid......this is the inspectorate,aco's headquarters national animal homes ect.

HOWEVER....there are something like 168 local branches, most of which, ours included which are run solely by volunteers from the chairperson downwards who do not get paid . These local branches may well pay for the services of vets,boarding facilites or contribute financially to regional animal centers and they well may employ very small numbers of staff but can I repeat .....these local branches would not exist without volunteer staff and they are in the vast majority.

If the average local branch has between 30 -40 volunteers this means there are something like 5000-7000 unpaid people who "work" or are in assocciation with the rspca albeit at a local branch level. This figure dwarfs that of the paid staff.

I also repeat in the hope that the message somehow gets through that questions asked like this one, inviting negative unsubtantiated , one sided reports will not rescue , re-home or save one extra single animal.

The main rspca will not defend itself on here .To date I have not seen one allegation argued properly from both sides where actual facts were disclosed and circumstances taken into account.It therefore follows that the only possible outcome of such threads will be to the resolve of those persons who do volunteer and try and make a difference.

Do'nt get me wrong... If you really do have a valid complaint then make it properly to the correct people within the national rspca and it may do some good....we do and we make ourselves heard.

However just bleating on here will have no positive effect.

[kayj]

When we had a rabbit jump into some sump oil we rang the RSPCA to get some advice - but becasue rabbits are a pest (in Australia they are classed as a feral pest) they refused to help. We then rang the National Parks and Wildlife (the government body) and they told us what to do.

But the worse think the RSPCA did is took a bloke to court and got him charged with crualty to anminals after he shot a cat o his farm. He said he thought it was a rabbit in the long grass - but once finding it was a cat he took it home and skinned it anyway.

But becasue it was a cut little cat get goes to court and ends up with a record - if it was a rabbit no one would care. The problem is cats do more damage to the Australian environment than any other animal.

Just thought I would give you the link to this thread as a rabbit owner as been prosecuted by the RSPCA.
http://forums.rabbitrehome.org.uk/showthread.php?t=122926

I also have to agree that unless complaints are channeled in the right direction then they will never get sorted out properly.

[xxKarinaxx]

Official complaint has been made and it is being looked into.:)

[Wispa & Zola]

ive never had to use the RSPCA.

but fancy telling someone to sweep a potentially dangerous snake out into the outside world where a child could find it and get attacked and then die!!

[Crunchie]

I'm not a huge fan of the RSPCA at all, they advertise a lot up here but they don't actually do any work in Scotland. Our organisation (the SSPCA) have had to put up posters in vets and pet shops saying "donate to US if you want to help animals here).

I'm also really annoyed with some of the information they give out regarding exotic pets. I'm sure they had a picture on their website not long ago that was labelled as a leopard gecko but was actually a bearded dragon (the two look nothing alike, beardies don't have spots so why they thought it was a "leopard" anything was beyond me).

I hate the way they are trying to get the keeping of exotics banned, if it wasn't for people who keep these animals as a hobby we'd no longer have the Dumeril's boa, the Hog island boa and the crested gecko. I'm glad it's the SSPCA we deal with up here, I've been in touch with them a few times about injured birds and each time they've sent someone out to us even though the birds in question were seagull chicks and a feral pigeon. :D

[Minimallow]

Not experience RSPCA but i have the SSPCA. And im afraid i wasnt happy at all. A bunny was being kept in a 3 foot long hutch that was about a foot wide and a foot high. It was a lop and a fair sized one at that. A lot of time it had no water and was locked up 24 hours a day. I called the SSPCA 3 times about ths bun. The third time i called i was talked down to by the inspector who phoned me and asked what exactly the problem was with the bunny as she found it in great health and considered the 3 foot hutch to be quite large as she said "its bigger than some they sell at pets at home". I was gobsmacked. And when i said look the poor bunny never gets out of the hutch she replied "oh right and do you have CCTV on the house 24 hours a day" I then got a knock on my door about 10 minutes later. The police. They informed me the SSPCA had requested they talk to me and warn me not to phone back or action would be taken as i had made continuous calls (3 calls in 3 months). I made an official complaint and eventually got a letter saying that after an investigation it wasnt the SSPCA inspector who called the police. (the police told me that it was) Now phonecalls are supposed to be confidential and they arent allowed to tell the person reported who called. So it must have been the invisible man who phoned the police.
Incidentally a number of weeks later, the bunny disappeared. Who knows where it ended up.

[daisykinn1]

ive never had to use the RSPCA.

but fancy telling someone to sweep a potentially dangerous snake out into the outside world where a child could find it and get attacked and then die!!

Exactly what I'm thinking!! That's an insane thing to instruct!

[raine]

Ive adjusted my views on commenting on the RSPCA as a whole. I used to be quite vocal about the organization, in a negative way. Now I realize that each branch is self funded and organized and, within any organization, you will find an occasional muppet, alongside some wonderful staff. There is a lot I would change if I was asked, but they do rescue and rehome a lot of animals and some branches are run fantastically.

They were not of use with the 95 Oxford bunnies and it was left to rescues throughout the UK to save, provide extensive medical treatment and rehome these bunnies. In hindsight, I think this was due to the fact that Oxford does not have an animal centre and they are distributed to other branches, which are often full. Also the officers on the ground were not helpful (in Oxford).

In contrast we see the rescue last week of the Blackpool 50 bunnies, who are being helped by RSPCA volunteers and who are being transported to RSPCA centres across the UK.

I have learned that not everything is black and white. That is not to diminish the negative experiences that people have had, and complaints have to be made at branch and head office level so they can be investigated etc.

[Natsanth]

Well i have contacted them twice..once regarding horses - result - i heard nothing, although there conditions did improve...

two - its still on here...the breeder with rabbits, cats, horses etc etc, in poor poor conditions...its been over a month and nothing, we have rung 3times and keep been told we will be contacted......hummm..

xx

[raine]

"two - its still on here...the breeder with rabbits, cats, horses etc etc, in poor poor conditions...its been over a month and nothing, we have rung 3times and keep been told we will be contacted......hummm.."


Could it be that they are investigating and do not want to jeopardize a case? If you feel not and they have told you that they have not visited, perhaps some of our RSPCA members should advise you what to do next.

[honeybunny]

Ive adjusted my views on commenting on the RSPCA as a whole. I used to be quite vocal about the organization, in a negative way. Now I realize that each branch is self funded and organized and, within any organization, you will find an occasional muppet, alongside some wonderful staff. There is a lot I would change if I was asked, but they do rescue and rehome a lot of animals and some branches are run fantastically.

They were not of use with the 95 Oxford bunnies and it was left to rescues throughout the UK to save, provide extensive medical treatment and rehome these bunnies. In hindsight, I think this was due to the fact that Oxford does not have an animal centre and they are distributed to other branches, which are often full. Also the officers on the ground were not helpful (in Oxford).

In contrast we see the rescue last week of the Blackpool 50 bunnies, who are being helped by RSPCA volunteers and who are being transported to RSPCA centres across the UK.

I have learned that not everything is black and white. That is not to diminish the negative experiences that people have had, and complaints have to be made at branch and head office level so they can be investigated etc.

So true Raine and so well put!

[Lucy]

Remember there will be no update from an Inspector till the case is closed. I was also told that the updating on the national system is 20 days behind at the moment!

[lulu33098]

Hi All

It's a bit late for me to come in on this thread now. I thought that I would mention that I am in the South Beds Area and I have dealt with the RSPCA a few times recently, I have found them to be extremly helpful.

I lived in Norfolk previously and dealt with them there also and found them to be just as good!

I can only praise them! They do fantastic work all around the country.

[raine]

Its never too late to post. Pleased you have had good experiences with these branches.

[animal ry]

i had a concern because i went there and they had a lovely enclosure for the kittens centrel heating the lot


but the rabbits and guineas where a small room with cobwebs on the celing and drafty but the cages where very good!! (stink of disinfectent though)

so it was 50/50 for that one

[jane28]

i find the smaller local rescues and vets are always more than willing to help and give you info of any other organisations you can try...

I did do work experience with them so i do know of what the inspectors do but i got disillusioned when we were called out to a family that had foudn a bunny with a neck wound... The bunny was still alive and sitting up etc but the neck wound was bad although clean so it had probably just happened...
The inspector was going to put it down in the van... i said i would take it home and give it a chance... I took it home my mum washed the wound and we made it comfortable...
Unfortunately the bunny died the next day and when i went in and said i buried it in the back garden the inspector laughed at me and said i should have just shoved it in a bin bag and thrown it out...
This was a woman inspector as well... NOt all inspectors are like that of course but after numerous attempts over the years of getting help from the switchboard inspectors etc i just gave up and deal with it myself now...

[winnies angel]

Well I do contribute each month to the RSPCA and I totally agree they need more help etc. However how many people read last week about the RSPCA rescue of £20,000+ for the cow stuck on the cliff. I do believe all animals should be helped if possible I love them all and they all feel pain etc. However would it not have been more sensible to use that money to rescue many animals than 1.
My reason for being so upset at the moment with them to the point that im going to cancel my direct debit to them, is that last night I drove past a rabbit at work sitting hunched up at the side of the road. I thought he must have been hit, I couldn't stop at that place but several mins later I pulled in and rang my partner to go and see if he could hide it in the bushes to recover. I know i'm very sad! My partner did go and the poor thing was dying it had myxmatosis we think:cry:. So he rang the RSPCA who said "as it was now off the road it was safe it is not classed as an emergency, so someone would go at some point." Now I understand there is more urgent cases but this poor bun was in agony the rest prob have the disease its a play area for children people walk there dogs and the buns play in the gardens near by so is this not dangerous what if this is VHD? What did they mean at some point? is that last night, 2 days or a week?
Now im so upset as maybes I should have left it to be killed by a car or put it out of its misery. Im also terrified case this does spread as there are hundreds of buns that way.

[Chipmunk_K]

okay so I get that sometimes the RSPCA fall short to YOUR expectations, but then I look at the family of five beautiful bunnies who got rescued the other month, 2 from a tiny rat cage and 3 from a tiny 4ft hutch with five bunnies in!!! And 3 of them went on to have babies (none of which would have survived in the conditions they were kept in) They were all yellow, and matted with poo and wee, in a disgusting state, never been touched, scared stiff of people, the one little bunny boy will be bow-legged for the rest of his life (though in no pain) because of the cramped conditions!! and now after being in care with myself and another foster they are growing, and happy and healthy with beautiful babies, 3 of the original rescued bunnies are on reserve, they have a second chance in life, because of the RSPCA, because of donations, and because inspectors, and because of people calling in and reporting nasty situations!! I don't know what happens to all the calls, I don't know the people who answer the phones, but I do know that this family of 16 bunnies, all have hope, a second chance and wonderful lives to enjoy, and never have to suffer again... If this charity only manages to rescue this one family for the WHOLE year I'd be so happy i mean 16 bunnies!! 16!!! from just one case! I am sorry for all of you who don't get the response YOU think the animal YOU find should get, but flip me... most of us do our best... it breaks my heart hearing all the animals that desperately need to come into care, when it is physically impossible to house them all... If I could fill my garden with hutches I surely would But I just can't... Yes the RSPCA isn't perfect (i'd be the first to admit that)... but what person is? and that RSPCA is run by people! I am sorry for all those bad experiences, but what would you do if there wasn't an RSPCA at all? Surely we're better off with a charity that tries, and sometimes gets it wrong, then with nothing at all? Just please, all you who have had *bad* experiences, have some grace, for those like Lucy (head of the branch I foster for) who work night and day as a volunteer while keeping her own job, just to try and make a difference to animals... she's always posting on here for help with animals she can't take.. sorry to keep going on, I'd just like to ask those who do meet the bad uneducated people to try and remember those who do their damn best to make the charity a success! No-ones perfect... neither is any organization, but we all try!

[Jack's-Jane]

I have had both good and bad experiences with the RSPCA. Rather like that which is likely to occur in any large organisation.
I still dont really understand how the local Branches remain independent of the National Organisation as far as funding is concerned. Why not just be a completely indepent Rescue/Charity.
The problem for me is that we, the general public, can only judge on how we find. We are more likely to come into contact with the Inspectors as a result of a complaint made by us or made about us. The reasons for having contact with a local Branch are more likely to be with a view to adopt/rehome or help out. A very different scenario than the former. So as I see it the local Branches are taking personally negative comments made about the National Organisation, which the local Branches keep telling us they are independent of.

I am probably not expressing this very well, but all I am trying to say is that if someone makes a negative comment about the RSPCA, a genuine opinion based on their personal experience, then why do so many local Branches take it personally if they are actually independent in all but name ?

Sorry if this is going off at a bit of a tangent but it is a situation that I have tried to understand for a long time.

[lady spudly]

we know that the rspca do good work. i see the problem being more about what there role is. they hold a royal warrent but i dont know what if anything thar means.

i think people tend to take there title seriously

royal society
for the protection from cruelty to animals? is this right?


lets face it folkes this country needs a shake up when it comes to animal welfare in general.

and we definately do need someone who is able to handle problems like the snake ect.

on a lighter note i was one told by an inspector to throw a young seagull off a clif.......:shock: could have been the right advice but instead it lived in my bedroom for 3 weeks till it could fly....(you should have seen my bedroom)

deb

[hardybaby]

i rang the rspca coz i was so worried about my rabbit and didnt trust my vet and the phonecall cost 9.50 for as long as i wanted so i abused this fact lol but the lady knew nothing about the condition but surely she could have found someone who did. i was worried becasue my bunny had a lot of gas

[Mandy]

we know that the rspca do good work. i see the problem being more about what there role is. they hold a royal warrent but i dont know what if anything thar means.

i think people tend to take there title seriously

royal society
for the protection from cruelty to animals? is this right?


lets face it folkes this country needs a shake up when it comes to animal welfare in general.

and we definately do need someone who is able to handle problems like the snake ect.

on a lighter note i was one told by an inspector to throw a young seagull off a clif.......:shock: could have been the right advice but instead it lived in my bedroom for 3 weeks till it could fly....(you should have seen my bedroom)

deb


Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

[clutterydrawer]

I am probably not expressing this very well, but all I am trying to say is that if someone makes a negative comment about the RSPCA, a genuine opinion based on their personal experience, then why do so many local Branches take it personally if they are actually independent in all but name ?




I think it's because often, someone who makes a comment such as you have described phrases it in the way "I have had this bad experience, thus the RSPCA are useless" - whether or not this is technically what they're trying to convey

Thus the local branches feel that everyone who works for the RSPCA is being tared by the same brush - and whichever section of the organisation the comment is aimed at, and whether or not people should be able to rise above such comments, its never nice to feel that you give up your time for a good cause and all that happens is people put you down.

[rspcarabbits]

I have had both good and bad experiences with the RSPCA. Rather like that which is likely to occur in any large organisation.
I still dont really understand how the local Branches remain independent of the National Organisation as far as funding is concerned. Why not just be a completely indepent Rescue/Charity.
The problem for me is that we, the general public, can only judge on how we find. We are more likely to come into contact with the Inspectors as a result of a complaint made by us or made about us. The reasons for having contact with a local Branch are more likely to be with a view to adopt/rehome or help out. A very different scenario than the former. So as I see it the local Branches are taking personally negative comments made about the National Organisation, which the local Branches keep telling us they are independent of.

I am probably not expressing this very well, but all I am trying to say is that if someone makes a negative comment about the RSPCA, a genuine opinion based on their personal experience, then why do so many local Branches take it personally if they are actually independent in all but name ?

Sorry if this is going off at a bit of a tangent but it is a situation that I have tried to understand for a long time.

Hi jane.....are you sitting comfortably?

Its difficult to give a complete reply to this because there are times that I myself is confused by how it all works but here goes.....

The relationship between branches and national is a simbiotic one in which as you rightly say they are independant but at the same time both rely upon each other for survival.

Local branches benefit from the national in the support they offer not just in the use of one of the most prominant and well known brand names there is but also financially and physically. For instance our metal runs and set up were part funded from a grant via the rspca regional board which is good for us and no doubt some of you will have noticed the ad I put in the rabbit care section for fosterers in the norwich area which are in the process of setting up again part funded from the national regional board.Some branches also that fail to be able to support a committee are held "in trust" by the national rspca so to speak whilst new commitees are sought(this can be a lengthy process)and the branch is effectivly kept alive although operating in a much reduced way.

The national rspca obviously benefits from the local branches in all the rehoming it carries out in their name but also it allows far more volunteers to get involved at a grass roots level than would be possible if it were one big unweildy organisation.......and before anybody says it still is... yes I know it still appears so but that would be nothing compared to what it would be like.Think of it like devolved local government with a central overall power, and if you do, you will see the rspca has been doing something really well for decades that our politicians have been telling us they want to see happen in future in politics

The two arms of the rspca assist each other and the examples I have given are just that.....examples. There are many many more ways this goes on seemlessly without fanfare day in day out to the benefit of all animals.

It is a complicated set up and it is easy to find fault as with all big organisations.....but the bottom line is.... without the rspca animal welfare would not be where it is now and like it and acknowledge it or not we all shelter under the umbrella of its achievements.

As for why do we take critisism personally......mmmm

The national rspca will not defend itself on here whether it is right or it has in some way failed. As with most things ..there is always another side to any story and I can tell you some of the complaints on here I have looked into I have found a very different side to it when viewed from the rspca's perspective. Whats more the rspca has to operate within the law which sadly most people on here are not fully aware of and the constraints it imposes on them. To that end it is left to the volunteers like us to try and redress the balance with information and reason and if need be defend it against wild stupid remarks and statements that do nothing to help any animals .

And the final thing I would really like to remind people of is the rspca in all its forms is a charity.I cannot think of any other charity where the expectations of it are so high and people feel so free to critisize if they feel it has not jumped through the hoops they feel it should and at the speed they think it should.Its not a government run and funded organisation its a CHARITY!!! that relys totally on donation and stupid unfounded one sided critisizm effects it and animal welfare directly.....and that includes rabbits.

Any other charity only has to attempt to make things better....they are never judged if they succeeed or not or at what speed they attempt to ,because if they were in the same way some feel the rspca should then most of their time would be spent explaining why they hav'nt cured poverty, hunger, cancer or whatever.......yesterday!

And finally , finally in me spending the time giving this sort of explanation on here it has not cost the rspca one single penny and so they have not had to employ a pr guru at £Xk per year to give you a slimy shiny faceless reply that means ****......it appears they cannot win!:(

Alan.

[Jack's-Jane]

Hi jane.....are you sitting comfortably?

Its difficult to give a complete reply to this because there are times that I myself is confused by how it all works but here goes.....

The relationship between branches and national is a simbiotic one in which as you rightly say they are independant but at the same time both rely upon each other for survival.

Local branches benefit from the national in the support they offer not just in the use of one of the most prominant and well known brand names there is but also financially and physically. For instance our metal runs and set up were part funded from a grant via the rspca regional board which is good for us and no doubt some of you will have noticed the ad I put in the rabbit care section for fosterers in the norwich area which are in the process of setting up again part funded from the national regional board.Some branches also that fail to be able to support a committee are held "in trust" by the national rspca so to speak whilst new commitees are sought(this can be a lengthy process)and the branch is effectivly kept alive although operating in a much reduced way.

The national rspca obviously benefits from the local branches in all the rehoming it carries out in their name but also it allows far more volunteers to get involved at a grass roots level than would be possible if it were one big unweildy organisation.......and before anybody says it still is... yes I know it still appears so but that would be nothing compared to what it would be like.Think of it like devolved local government with a central overall power, and if you do, you will see the rspca has been doing something really well for decades that our politicians have been telling us they want to see happen in future in politics

The two arms of the rspca assist each other and the examples I have given are just that.....examples. There are many many more ways this goes on seemlessly without fanfare day in day out to the benefit of all animals.

It is a complicated set up and it is easy to find fault as with all big organisations.....but the bottom line is.... without the rspca animal welfare would not be where it is now and like it and acknowledge it or not we all shelter under the umbrella of its achievements.

As for why do we take critisism personally......mmmm

The national rspca will not defend itself on here whether it is right or it has in some way failed. As with most things ..there is always another side to any story and I can tell you some of the complaints on here I have looked into I have found a very different side to it when viewed from the rspca's perspective. Whats more the rspca has to operate within the law which sadly most people on here are not fully aware of and the constraints it imposes on them. To that end it is left to the volunteers like us to try and redress the balance with information and reason and if need be defend it against wild stupid remarks and statements that do nothing to help any animals .

And the final thing I would really like to remind people of is the rspca in all its forms is a charity.I cannot think of any other charity where the expectations of it are so high and people feel so free to critisize if they feel it has not jumped through the hoops they feel it should and at the speed they think it should.Its not a government run and funded organisation its a CHARITY!!! that relys totally on donation and stupid unfounded one sided critisizm effects it and animal welfare directly.....and that includes rabbits.

Any other charity only has to attempt to make things better....they are never judged if they succeeed or not or at what speed they attempt to ,because if they were in the same way some feel the rspca should then most of their time would be spent explaining why they hav'nt cured poverty, hunger, cancer or whatever.......yesterday!

And finally , finally in me spending the time giving this sort of explanation on here it has not cost the rspca one single penny and so they have not had to employ a pr guru at £Xk per year to give you a slimy shiny faceless reply that means ****......it appears they cannot win!:(

Alan.

Thank you for that Alan :)
So the local Branches do actually get some financial support it would seem.

Two days ago I received a follow-up call regarding a complaint I made about Rabbits in a Petshop. I was dutifully informed that 'it is now the RSPCAs policy not to investigate reports concerning animals in Pet Shops until an investigation by the Council Environmental Health Department has taken place. This apparently applies regardless of the fact that the animals concerned may be ill, injured or neglected.

Before I get accused of fibbing the person I was contacted is based at offices in Exeter and is responsible for co-ordinating follow-up calls. I am sure she would be easy to locate by anyone wishing to validate my claims in this post.

[rspcarabbits]

Thank you for that Alan :)
So the local Branches do actually get some financial support it would seem.

Two days ago I received a follow-up call regarding a complaint I made about Rabbits in a Petshop. I was dutifully informed that 'it is now the RSPCAs policy not to investigate reports concerning animals in Pet Shops until an investigation by the Council Environmental Health Department has taken place. This apparently applies regardless of the fact that the animals concerned may be ill, injured or neglected.

Before I get accused of fibbing the person I was contacted is based at offices in Exeter and is responsible for co-ordinating follow-up calls. I am sure she would be easy to locate by anyone wishing to validate my claims in this post.

Hi Jane:)

To take the points you raise.....yes there are circumstances where the national rspca comes to the financial assistance of a branch although in essence the two are independant. It should also be pointed out that the branches all do pay a small "sub" once a year to the national rspca depending upon each of its wealth .

The other issue you raise I'm affraid is one just like I mention about the public expecting the rspca to jump through the hoops it sets and expects without consideration of other factors.

Before I go on can I say I have no doubt what you say is correct and I personally would never call you a fibber.

However the idea that the rspca directs all complaints about pet shops to the local environmental health department( I'll call it lehd from now on ....my finger hurts!) is one I certainly aggree with and one I have certainly championed for years.

A complaint made via the rspca to the local environmental health department carries some weight and the said authority will check it out. The lehd in the past has got away lightly and because it has not received said complaints in any numbers in the past it has assummed everybody is happy with pet shops and the licences it issues and so has got on with the other areas it is responsible for to the detriment of what we are now discussing.

On a personal note I have sat infront of our lehd and complained re how rabbits are treated in pet shops and their failure in implement guidlines set out in the pet shop act and this certainly has been their response.

Nobody likes animal neglect or cruelty and everybody expects an instant response from the rspca but consider this......the lehd is judge , jury and executioner. They have the power to stop a pet shop selling any animals instantly....the more complaints they get the more likely it is they will act. The rspca obviously can prosecute in extreme circumstances but this takes time , has an uncertain outcome and a pet shop will always hide behind and blame a lowly employee who has not done their job and a promise it will not happen in future.

No... tackling the pet shop at its roots with the one authority who can make a huge difference to all animals a pet shop sells and instantly certainly makes sense.Co-operation between the rspca and the lehd is a very good thing and is something we should all embrace whilst at the same time being prepared to complain direct to the lehd is something we should all do in every likewise case.

Sadly individual cases will suffer in the short term and I hate the very thought of this going on but making the lehd aware of what is going on all the time will bring greater rewards in the long term .Up until recently they have to some degree not been aware of the problems because they have not recieved the complaints .

Also jane with respect ,the tone of your post is one of dissatisfaction with the rspca at not doing what you want but you make no similar point aimed at your lehd for not jumping through the hoops you have set at the speed you think they should.

Knowing how you get on with your lehd in this case I will certianly follow with interest and if they do not do their job promptly....how you get on with their complaits proceedure re lack of action.:)

[Jack's-Jane]

Knowing how you get on with your lehd in this case I will certianly follow with interest and if they do not do their job promptly....how you get on with their complaits proceedure re lack of action.:)

Not sure I understand that comment :? but never mind........

Yes, I do often feel disappointed with the apparent lack of action by the RSPCA. I am not implying that everyone in the organisation is, how shall I put this........less than helpful. Neither do I expect anyone to 'jump through hoops'. But I do expect a report of a suffering animal to be acted upon within a reasonable timescale. One reason I was given for this not being possible in the case I reported was because there are not enough Inspectors to deal with all the calls received. I questioned why a wealthy charity should be in such a situation and at least I got what sounded like the honest reply of 'I dont have any idea'.........

:?

[rspcarabbits]

Not sure I understand that comment :? but never mind........

Yes, I do often feel disappointed with the apparent lack of action by the RSPCA. I am not implying that everyone in the organisation is, how shall I put this........less than helpful. Neither do I expect anyone to 'jump through hoops'. But I do expect a report of a suffering animal to be acted upon within a reasonable timescale. One reason I was given for this not being possible in the case I reported was because there are not enough Inspectors to deal with all the calls received. I questioned why a wealthy charity should be in such a situation and at least I got what sounded like the honest reply of 'I dont have any idea'.........

:?

hi jane:)

My comment is quite simple....this whole matter should be reported by yourself to the lehd ..they are the government body who in this case should be informed post haste and I follow with interest what the outcome is.

My post attempted to explain why and I agree with what you were told.

The lehd is, when it comes to how shops deal and treat animals, the one who holds all the cards as they issue and can revoke the pet shop's animal licence and it would be why you were directed to them by the RSPCA to make a complaint. The pet shops have different rules and exemptions regarding animal care which makes it very difficult for the rspca to take any action. It is a bit like farm animal care!! i.e battery hens.

Although the rspca may seem a wealthy charity and is the main animal charity in this country it will sadly never be big enough to deal with all cruelty complaints. Cruelty in pet shops and wrongfull selling is one area the lehd has more power to act than the rspca surprisingly but only if everbody is willing to stand up and complain and demand results. We were told by our lehd that they are only able to act in cases like this if they get enough complaints. We were also told that if they receive too many complaints then they can revoke the licence . This may be a campaign worth starting by someone with oranisational skills which I certainly do not posess (woman are definately better at this by my own admission):):lol:

By complaining in this fashion this is one area everybody with however little time and with animal care foremost in mind can make a difference. Do not just complain but be prepared to ensure the lehd follows it up promptly and demand a reply so you know they have and they know they have to. Also encourage other like minded rabbit loving owners to do the same, I certainly do if someone complains to me. Sadly too few english people are willing to make a fuss!!!!

Pet shops will only change when they feel the public has a real voice in changing their ways - through the lehd we as the public have - but only if we are united in really wanting to make a change in how pet shops disrepect animals lives.

[losing-the-plot]

Has anyone had any bad experiences with the RSPCA?
My answer to that question is Yes. Everytime I come into contact with them.

If the RSPCA dont want to help animals in poor condition in a pet shop, how can they promote themselves as a charity who are apparently
"working tirelessly to reduce the harmful impact of human activities on animals through education, campaigning and the application of ethics, science and law"


Also, if the general public are supposed to report bad pet shops to the Local Environmental Health Department, just how is Joe Public supposed to know that? Most people concerned about animal welfare immediately think of the RSPCA because of the way they promote themselves through the media, their website and the documentaries made about them. There is nothing on the website that says to contact the LEHD, it just says:

"- If you know about an animal that is injured or being treated cruelly, call the RSPCA's national 24-hour cruelty and advice line on"

[rspcarabbits]

Has anyone had any bad experiences with the RSPCA?
My answer to that question is Yes. Everytime I come into contact with them.

If the RSPCA dont want to help animals in poor condition in a pet shop, how can they promote themselves as a charity who are apparently
"working tirelessly to reduce the harmful impact of human activities on animals through education, campaigning and the application of ethics, science and law"


Also, if the general public are supposed to report bad pet shops to the Local Environmental Health Department, just how is Joe Public supposed to know that? Most people concerned about animal welfare immediately think of the RSPCA because of the way they promote themselves through the media, their website and the documentaries made about them. There is nothing on the website that says to contact the LEHD, it just says:

"- If you know about an animal that is injured or being treated cruelly, call the RSPCA's national 24-hour cruelty and advice line on"

I think your points are best commented on in reverse order.

As you rightly point out it is a cruelty and ADVICE line.

If people are given the advice of contacting the lehd when they ring for whatever reason then that is how Joe Public gets to know .....I'm affraid I fail to see the point you are making.

The inferrence "If the rspca dont want to help animals ......." is just insulting to the thousands of people paid or otherwise up and down the country in or associated with the rspca. The rspca has many failings and limitations but not wanting to help any animal in distress is not one of them and certainly not one in the last 10years of our involvement with them that I have ever come across.Whats more anybody coming across such an attitude I would encourage to report in the correct manner...I know we would

[AlisonA]

I have just had an excellent experience of the RSPCA - I had a particular concern which I raised, and the situation has been completely resolved with some quite brave action by the RSPCA, very swiftly. I was honestly expecting it all to go quiet and to be fobbed off (it was one of those issues where everyone could have blamed everyone else), but they have taken action, and I have received timely, polite and grateful feedback.

[marvy]

The rspca have to work to guide lines - I have phoned over the years over what I see as cruelty ( animals have been removed) and in another occasions I have had call backs saying what happened when they visited and the housing changes that need to be applyed.

[FluffyBun]

Oops double post:oops:

[FluffyBun]

Yes.

Anyone hear the Radio 4 programme last night about them being called to account? About a dog that died in their care after the owner was cleared of neglect - falsely charged in fact as the dog had an incurable condition. They 'lost' the details conveniently and 'forgot' to autopsy. Also cases of santuaries they had closed down = cost them tens of thousands of pounds sueing owners they could have spent a couple of thousand quid helping them put the problems right.... And weirdest of all, a 15 year old child they sued because she had failed to take her injured cat to the vet. In fact - she had asked her dad but dad said leave it a day or two and see if cat improves. A neighbour saw the cat's injured tail, phoned RSPCA and the CHILD ended up being sued, so the RSPCA could try to establish a legal precedent. When they were laughed out of court - they appealed in the High Courts and sued the child again. Also laughed out of court but the RSPCA man they interviewed crowed about it being a victory because he claimed they were trying to 'clarify' the law.

We had our own lovely experience with them, years ago when we lived in the middle of Birmingham. Very busy streets but I decided it was cruel to keep my cat as a 'house cat', so let her have her freedom to roam the garden. She had an ID tag on but it was one of those little barrel ones with the name inside on a piece of paper and the end must have fallen off as I didn't notice...

First we knew of it, the cat vanished. Turned out, a street away from our house, she was hit by a car that was driven off but the couple in the car behind saw what happened and took her to the RSPCA. The couple who found her asked the RSPCA if no-one claimed her, could they have her? She was a sweet little cat and they fell in love with her but (they later told me) they made it plain they didn;t want any cat - just her. Guaranteed sale fifty quid for the RSPCA... so... over 10 days, us phoning their hospital every day asking if a black and white cat had been brought in from X area of Birmingham - they denied it.

Once or twice even made pretense of going to check the hospital and would come back to the phone and say they had no black and white cat from X district...

I continued to ring every day in case she came in as a stray. Then after 10 days, my 6 year old saw a sign in someone's window on the next street - had anyone lost a black and white cat? Turned out to be the couple. Even when I turned up to see if she was in the hospital - they still denied it, up til the last minute, then got shifty, then said *Well yes we might have a black and white cat from X area, but she won't be your's*... Second she saw me (she'd been elft in a tiny cage for 10 days), she went NUTS - was so pleased to see her mum, they couldn't deny she was mine. She was fully insured - had they admitted having her, I could have got her the best treatment. But they'd already sold her - so denied she was in there. They'd amputated her leg but mysteriously, when I asked for their x rays so my own vet could take a look, the X rays had 'disappeared'.... They could see my cat was wearing a collar so not likely to be a stray - well fed, well cared for, insured, and very very bonded to her family - but appeared to have no remorse about trying to flog her for fifty quid to cover some of their costs. A few more days and the couple would have been fleeced of their fifty quid and guess what? The cat would have walked back from that street to our's and be back in our house, anyways! We paid for the op but many years on (the cat is an old lady now), she has the disadvantage of only having 3 legs and their reluctance to hand over X rays made me suspect it was just the cheapest option, not what a private vet would have done...

[picksmum]

I have had a bad experience with the RSPCA, but Legislation is a lot of their problems.

They refused to remove an anbandoned dog, cat and ferrett next door to me, the ferrett sadly died. ( i had to have it pts)
all because there was evidence they were being fed.........by me!
never mind the fact they had not been fed for a good few days prior to me finding out the owner had deserted them :evil::censored:

i had to make my own arrangements to remove the remaining two animals.

[honeybunny]

My mother, who lives in Wiltshire..had a bad experience the Sunday before last.

She had one of her neighbours knock her door..about 9.30 in the morning.. to ask if she knew what they could do as a youngish..they think about 15-18 month old... swan was on their driveway near to their porch.
They were not sure if he was injured or just exhausted as couldn't get near him..he was more or less fully grown his feathers were not quite the adult snow-white yet ..and if anyone approached he hissed and struggled..so they thought it best to steer clear.

Anyway they said.."I know we'll ring tthe RSPCA..they'll help"

The response they got...."sorry we are busy..if you are still worried about it tonight ring back and we'll see what we can do":roll:

Now this was a possibly injured, protected species of bird..who was a danger to the public..the couple couldn't use their front door.....

my mother said "ring them back and tell them we have the Wiltshire Times here with cameras..they'll be along in under 10 seconds" :lol:

Luckily another neighbour who worked on the Longleat estate came along..phone a friend of his who works with animlas/birds..he turned up with a special large net..caught the bird checked it over and drove it to Shearwater Lake and released it..so a happy ending

[kayj]

How about this one I got yesterday. A woman had found a stray rabbit and had it in a carrier and phoned her local RSPCA (not in my area) who are also a animal shelter who told the woman that they will give her a reference number and put it on the waiting list and if she hasn't heard anything within 4wks then to give them a call and they will let her know where it is on the list but it could be up to 6 weeks. When the woman said 'Yes but it is in a carrier' she was told that it would be fine in that as long as it as got food and water and if she could give it some exercise then that would be a bonus but it doesn't matter:shock:. The woman was horrifie4d as she kept telling them that she couldn't keep it as she had a couple of cats and a dog.
The carrier wasn't 6ft x 2 x 2ft