: My name is Sophia, and the RSPCA cannot be trusted. (Update @ post 105)

[sophia]

I came across this page by accident as i was looking for a page about complaints against the RSPCA.
I am a part time model, training to work as a councellor, however, something happened last week which has completeley saddened me, and left me feeling guilty.

A couple of weeks ago, a cat came into my garden , which looked like it had had a bit of a hard time. I have 4 of my own so left it in my garden , offered it food, made a sheltor for it, and kept feeding it. Then four days later, it came with two of its kittens, less than 4 months old. I fed them , let them come inside, and socialise with my cats, but i was worried the little girl my get pregnant, as there was a male tom cat, trying to always haul himself onto her. She was very frightened of humans and it took me some time to get her to trust me, she had a brother, who was more easy to tame, but she was warming to me!!

I was concerned about the mother cats brething, and took her into the rspca, with a view to the vets looking at her, and if was well enough, i would give her medication, and take her back home with me.. Also maybe the little kittens could be found good homes too. So on saturday , i took them all down, BUT said, and made clear to the RSPCA that if their was any problem, they should contact me and i would take all 3 of them back home with me, because i knew the little girl was abit feral, but i told them that i would take her in, if there was a problem. I left my work number , and mobile number...They said they would phone me if their was a problem, and all that would happen , is the vet would just check them over.
I waited 3 days, nothing, then i phoned myself, i enquired on how they were all doing, i was first given 3 different versions, one that the kitens were doing fine, and that the mother was in isolation, then i said i would like to adopt the mother cat , if the kittens are rehomeable. I was the told that i cant rehome her, but when i mentioned that i was an official member of the rspca, and that in the past the vet had neautered strays for me, that i had taken back home and rehomed them successfully, AND that is when i got told that THEY HAD PUT TO SLEEP both the mother and the little girl that was feral, When i had said to them to call me if there was any problem and that i would take the cats back home with me.
I have now filed a complaint against them, and will go to the press if i have to, also i have now cancelled my membership with them, and they are no longer going to be recieving donations from me.
They murdered two cats that i took to them in good faith, and i was promised that they would call me, they didnt !
Im told that the little boy kitten is still alive, and i am trying to get hime to come back home with me.
I feel partly responsible for this happening to them, i shouldve never took them down their..if they had told me they were going to kill them, i swear on my life, i would have brought them straight back home. i swear.

[Moli]

I would not trust RSPCA or as it is up here SSPCA....Such a shame when you were prepared to look after them...Sorry it turned out like this for you, you must be very upset...Try not to beat yourself up about it, you did what you though was best, and thought they would be looked after...Hope so much you get the little boy back...

Welcome to Catsey....

[louise_81]

you can't be responsible for other peoples actions, you did the right thing, thinking they would have a better life if you did this for them, you had no idea this would happen to them. Please don't beat yourself up about it.

[Moli]

They say they are animals lovers ....thats a joke!!!!

[sophia]

Thankyou for your support, but it was my fault...
i now keep thinking that what if i had just left them alone, they would still be living...
im going down for the boy tommorow, thats the only way i can make it up to his mother , and sister, is by getting him back , and showing him, and them, how much he means to me.
i keep thinking back to saturday, and i just wished i had not taken them down thr...
But thankyou for your support. If i dont get the boy back, i will go to the press as stated in my statment to them.
sophi

[catwoman999]

So sorry to hear this horrible story.
Many years ago before I entered the animal welfare/ vet nursing field, (back to office work now-too heart wrenching as a career) I used to feed a semi-feral Tom cat. He did not like human contact, and I used to have to stand clear before he would eat the food I gave him (ha, laced with wormers). I gained his trust enough for me to frontline him as he appeared to have a flea allergy. The sweet boy first footed me on a very cold new years day, and I saw my chance and put him in a cat carrier and called SSPCA. An elderly SSPCA officer came out within a few hours, took one look at him (not a pretty cat, bits of ears missing, battle scars, fur missing etc) and said he would take him back to SSPCA but he would be put to sleep. The reason being he was semi-feral and not rehomable or pretty. So, I did not let him take cat, and thanked him for being honest.
I have since learned (done work for SSPCA since) that MOST feral cats are put to sleep when 'rescued'.
I fed this cat a while longer, but the winter was really bad and I worried about him. To cut a long story short I caught him again and the CP took him, neutered him, tested him (he was FIV positive) and rehomed him in an only cat household and kept indoors. Sweet retired couple took him. Though he was semi-feral, he settled to home life well. See the CP have the time and volunteer network that SSPCA does not, and they focus only on cats.
I would advise people to call CP in the first instance when needing help for a stray/lost cat/kitten. They NEVER put a healthy cat down :-D (even if FIV+)
Now CP are not perfect either, but would trust them more than SSPCA.
The SSPCA don't like pts animals either, but they struggle to rehome heathy cats, low on funds so have to make the hard decision that semi-feral cats will be even harder to home :cry: when their centres are full to bursting already and funding is low. Thus very hard decisions have to be made.
I this case the RSPCA had your contact number to take these cats back and rehome yourself, and that is what is unforgivable. I reckon wires have crossed, your details lost and the decision was made to pts not realising you were another option.
Hope you get the little male kitten back!
Though, you should have waited til you got him back before posting your story just in case RSPCA see this :oops:
Good luck and let us know how you get on...
My thoughts are with you, and as the others said you did nothing wrong. Just did what you thought was best for the little cat family...

[Elaine]

So very sorry to hear about what has happened, sadly you are not alone with this kind of thing.
I wont get on my soap box over it but I do support you and I too would probably go to the press about it.
Dont beat yourself up too much over what has happened, difficult as I'd be the same in your shoes. RSPCA/SSPCA are a law unto themselves.

[yola]

Sophia, I can understand you must be very upset - it was difficult enough reading your story from the outside as it were. However you handed the cats over in good faith so please don't blame yourself - the RSPCA were not honest with you!!

I fully agree that you should pen a really factual, detailed press release (try to keep it neutral, totally factual and non-emotive) and circulate it to local media as well as the national tabloids who do sometimes like this kind of news.

Finally, post your story on as many /petanimal (not just cat) forums as you can and if one cat or other animal is saved by your actions then your campaign will have been worthwhile.

[catwoman999]

I meant to mention, that when you hand animals over to the sspca/rspca you have to officially sign over the ownership of the animal to sspca/rspca. Regardless of whether the animal is a stray or owned by you. This covers them legally to make all decisions regarding the cat/dog etc. Once you have signed over (signed paper), you have given your premission to allow the RSPCA to do whatever they feel is right without consulting you first, even though you gave them your details.
I am not saying this is right... Its just how they operate.
Please keep us up to date with your progress, and I really do hope you get the boy kitten back.

[sophia]

I am a member/ or was a member , cancelled it as of friday, of this local branch. I had in the past signed these forms BUT said if there ever was a problem, that i would take any cats they couldnt rehome back..and every time they gave them back to me, and i successfully rehomed them.
The branch i am talking about, i have had dealings with the last 5 years or so, i even was a volunteer in the cattery.
The last feral cat , ann marie, was taken in by them, and which i said to them i would take back if she couldnt be handled, they phoned me and told me to take her back, a form was signed back then also.
I hear what you are saying but the thing is that even before i signed the form , they said that THEY WOULD CALL ME! Thats why i left my work number and mobile..and then the form was signed..and i had a eye witness to this, my sister in law, she was with me.
I am well known for my work with animals in yorkshire, but somebody over there wasnt doing what they had promised to do and that was to call me.

[catwoman999]

I am a member/ or was a member , cancelled it as of friday, of this local branch. I had in the past signed these forms BUT said if there ever was a problem, that i would take any cats they couldnt rehome back..and every time they gave them back to me, and i successfully rehomed them.
The branch i am talking about, i have had dealings with the last 5 years or so, i even was a volunteer in the cattery.
The last feral cat , ann marie, was taken in by them, and which i said to them i would take back if she couldnt be handled, they phoned me and told me to take her back, a form was signed back then also.
I hear what you are saying but the thing is that even before i signed the form , they said that THEY WOULD CALL ME! Thats why i left my work number and mobile..and then the form was signed..and i had a eye witness to this, my sister in law, she was with me.
I am well known for my work with animals in yorkshire, but somebody over there wasnt doing what they had promised to do and that was to call me.

Please don't be angry at me...:oops:
I was just explaining how the system works for other people on this thread!!!
To make others think before handing over to SSPCA/RSPCA, knowledge is power as I say!
I AM ON YOUR SIDE, if you read towards the end of my first post, I explained that your contact details maybe got lost (it happens) or were not passed on/ slipped through the net. And I did say that this was 'unforgivable'. But legally they are not obliged to do so.... But morally YES!!!
Please reread my first post to you, a bit long I know...
Whats your progress? Have you contacted them about the male kitten? We would all love to know, how it turns out.

[catwoman999]

...And I would not advise animal lovers to stop donating to charities when mistakes are made. Cos in the long run, if funding decreases EVEN MORE animals will be pts or not rescued at all to cut costs. Thus, punishing the poor animals, and not the humans that make these decisions.
Just a thought... ;)

[random]

I'm so sorry to hear this, yet another utter crap up and why I absolutely despise the RSPCA. Prevention of cruelty fair enough, but not by PTS every animal they don't feel is 'good' enough to warrant a chance.

[sophia]

please dont think i was angry with you..
i am not, infact, i didnt know i would get so much support from all you guys.

thankyou so much.
sophia.

[sophia]

The rspca head office, and local branch is looking into what happened on saturday, when i left the kittens and the mum.
I recieved a letter from them today.

The little boy, has colichi virus, type of cat flu, but i have asked the manager to give me a call for when he is ready for adoption as i want him to come with me.
Im not resting until he is safely back with me...i will continue to look in on his progress every other day.

Im told there will be a full investigation into what happened but i still keep telling myself, i should never have taken them there, and if i get the boy kitten back, then i will give him so much love that it goes straight to his mum and little sister.
i will keep you all notified, and please can you say a prayer that i can get him home.
thankyou for yr support..it means so much to me.
sophia

[FayRose]

I do not wish to cause upset here but I must speak up on behalf of the RSPCA.

YES, they make mistakes, YES things go wrong, YES they do sometimes have staff/volunteers who are not all that they should be, either caring-wise or with sufficient understanding and knowledge.
BUT, this is a huge organisation and there are many hundreds of people involved. I don't imagine any organisation or charity of this size gets everything right and only manages to employ/attract perfect folk who don't make poor decisions.

I have family members involved with the RSPCA and if you had seen some of the things they have had to deal with, it would make your blood run cold. On occasions they have also been subject to personal attacks and threats.
I have known them work more than 24 hours without a break in an effort to save the life of an animal and it has taken blood sweat and many tears, not always successfully.
In one particular case, the RSPCA removed a dog to a place of safety, the owner went to court, was foolishly given the dog back and it was dead within weeks. I won't write here what the owner did to it. :evil:

This may seem a rant and is in no way an attack on anyone who has had a bad experience, but please, believe me, there are some incredibly 'good' people working with the RSPCA who would be equally outraged at an animal being PTS for no reason other than it would be 'difficult to re-home'.

[kado]

I understand what you are trying to say but when only bad things are reported that they have done to animals they will get stick.

[yola]

Fay-Rose, I think the primary issue people have is the RSPCA's policy of euthanising healthy animals or ones which they deem 'difficult to home'. For those of us involved with Cats Protection which operates a non-destroy policy unless the animal is very unwell - even then, where possible they will try and either rehome into a specialist environment or keep as a long-term foster.

I'm sure those involved on a salaried our volunteer basis with the RSPCA are also involved out of love for animals; I don't think anyone is doubting that.

In this instance yes - maybe a mistake was made - but it's the overall policy that underpins and ultimately condones this rather rash action of animal destruction that has resulted in much anger here.

[alexgirl73]

The RSPCA has many volunteers who I utterly applaud, due to the hard work and commitment they put in to animal welfare. However the RSPCA as a whole is a very flawed organisation! I have known of 100's of instances where they have not lifted one finger to help animals in distress or/and danger, we have all read the horrific reports of animals and pets being destroyed due to incompetence and to be perfectly frank, money seems to matter much more than the animals! catwoman wrote about not cutting off funding to them as more animals will suffer, well tbh, if they actually spent the money that was sitting in their bank accounts instead of hoarding it, thousands of animals need not be destroyed, but could be kept in kennels etc until new homes were found!!! if people want to give, and i pray that they do, give to animal charities with a no destruction policy, like CP, the dogs trust etc, charities that actually give a damn about the animals they are helping, and who desperately need the money! Rant over *sorry*

[catwoman999]

The RSPCA has many volunteers who I utterly applaud, due to the hard work and commitment they put in to animal welfare. However the RSPCA as a whole is a very flawed organisation! I have known of 100's of instances where they have not lifted one finger to help animals in distress or/and danger, we have all read the horrific reports of animals and pets being destroyed due to incompetence and to be perfectly frank, money seems to matter much more than the animals! catwoman wrote about not cutting off funding to them as more animals will suffer, well tbh, if they actually spent the money that was sitting in their bank accounts instead of hoarding it, thousands of animals need not be destroyed, but could be kept in kennels etc until new homes were found!!! if people want to give, and i pray that they do, give to animal charities with a no destruction policy, like CP, the dogs trust etc, charities that actually give a damn about the animals they are helping, and who desperately need the money! Rant over *sorry*

Please if you are going to quote me, please quote me accurately... :mad: I was appealing for all charities not just the RSPCA/SSPCA.
I said....
...And I would not advise animal lovers to stop donating to charities when mistakes are made. Cos in the long run, if funding decreases EVEN MORE animals will be pts or not rescued at all to cut costs. Thus, punishing the poor animals, and not the humans that make these decisions.
Just a thought...

And its a fact that the RSPCA/SSPCA are struggling for money. The money you 'say' they have hoarded in the bank.... PLEASE...
They spend hundreds of thousands a month on wages, overheads, vets bills, food for animals, vans, fuel etc. the list goes on.... They need to have money in their account, to cover these expenses lol.
If you are gonna 'rant' get your facts correct, or you are in danger of punishing the poor animals even more by urging people to stop funding....
Life is not black and white, there is alot of grey areas...

[alexgirl73]

I was not having a go at you catwoman, I was saying that the RSPCA is one of the richest charities out there, and if people want to continue to give, please give to a charity that needs it! And one that will do right by the animals. And I never said that life was black and white, but simply that I, like many, many others, have no time whatsoever for the RSPCA.

[catwoman999]

I was not having a go at you catwoman, I was saying that the RSPCA is one of the richest charities out there, and if people want to continue to give, please give to a charity that needs it! And one that will do right by the animals. And I never said that life was black and white, but simply that I, like many, many others, have no time whatsoever for the RSPCA.

They are not 'rich' lol....
They are well donated to, compared to other charities.
But they also have alot more outgoings/overheads...
As I have said in one of my first posts on this thread, I do not agree with their putting to sleep of healthy animals just because they will be hard to home policy. I made that more than clear. Please re-read my first post :p
CP, Dogs Trust etc are great, but because they are run on a network of volunteers who have others jobs etc it may take them a while to attend. Thats when the RSPCA/SSPCA are vital because in an emergency situation they can be there within an hour(not always), you may have to wait longer for a CP volunteer.
Yes, the RSPCA should be held to account when they get it wrong but sometimes people are too quick to jump in with stupid comments not based on any fact. And that is dangerous, if the RSPCA was no more we would all sorely miss them, flaws and all. After all there are lots of good things they do, its only the bad that get in the newspapers!!!!!

[trick]

hope this is not too contraversial but why did you not take the cats to a vet and pay for their treatment if you were willing to take them on? Why have the charity bear the cost?
also if any bothered to phone th RSPCA janeys cat might have been rescued days a go!!!

[yola]

Trick, not that I'm (I@m) answering for Sophia, but sometimes when people don' t have much experience with animals they reach for the first lifeline they can think of - and in most cases that's the RSPCA. If you're not a pet owner how do you know what the costs might be? How do you know which is a good vet in your area? The RSPCA often seems the logical and 'safe' bet when uncertain.

[John]

Friend of mine had the same problem..took a stray cat that she had been feeding, to the RSPCA.and said if the owners did not turn up she would have it and look after it..a couple of days later she phoned and was told the cat was PTS..she was devastated..she along with others me included cancelled our RSPCA membership..I now support CP and Bath Cats and Dogs home..amongest others

[sophia]

Hi, this is a response to Trick???...
Y'know that is a great question, and by no means contraversial.
When the mother cat first appered in my garden, i had already thought of fostering her, had made an appointment for her to be seen at my vets because i was concerned about her breathing and her eye, then a cple of days later , her 2 kittens appeared. I have four of my own, and i was looking after another stray cat which had been left by its owner.
i had actually offered to pay for any treatment given to the cats, and the reason i appproached the rspca in the first place was to get a cat trap from them, it was then that i was told that they could rehome them because they were kittens, but that all three of them needed to come together. Then i just thought, if they could go to a good good home, wouldnt that be great, that someone else will get to enjoy what i could see, but i did say to them that i would pay for any treatment given as i know how cash strapped they are, ( i was a member for almost 5 years, )AND also when i went down that day, i said if they could , for whatever reason ,NOT handle them , then to just call me, and i would take them back. I took them in good faith.
Money is no issue for me, i work hard for it so that i can give my cats all the luxuries they can ever want as well, as the most important thing,LOVE. In my WILL, most of the money is left to animal charities, so you see, it wasnt about me saving money, it was me thinking that if they could be rehomed then that would be great, but if not, then i would not have minded taking them on...my own vets didnt have a cat trap, so thats why i had to ask the rspca to let me borrow thrs.
I just now wished that i hadnt listened to the lady who said you can bring them down in the cat trap, and that they can be rehomed...thats what i feel i wish i could change, and the fact that i was told that they would call me, and didnt , when i said if there was any problem, to call me.
ps: When i was at college , and not working, i looked after strays who were abandoned or injured, i used all my student allowances to pay for the treatment and their care, so the question has never been about money with me. But thankyou for voicing your opinion.
sophia

[sophia]

I offered to pay for any treatment the mom was given, her breathing i was concerned about, and also if the kittens needed any treatment.
The little boy has , im told, has colichi virus which i have offered to pay for any treatment. sophia

[sophia]

PLEASE, PLEASE DONT ARGUE WITH EACH OTHER.
YOU ALL HAVE YOUR OWN OPINIONS, AND THAT IS GREAT, for me, it shows you are all passionate about this, and in your own way, care so much about animals..but if my thread is going to cause arguments, then that is something i dont want.
All i am thinking about is getting the little boy kitten back.
Some of you are sympathetic to me, others are not, but in your own ways, you are all RIGHT!
It was my mistake believing what i was told and taking them there, nobody elses, BUT please, please dont argue with each other.
love to you all,
sophia.xx

[Phoenix]

Question:If they could be rehomed why did they put two of them to sleep? I don't understand that ...

[sophia]

That is exactly what i asked, WHY?? Why did you put them to sleep??
They told me it was because the mum was sick, which i noticed she was BUT the little girl,, they said because she was feral.
I had told them she was feral, but that any problems , to call me...but they didnt...and that is what this whole thing is about. This is why i have this whole investigation thing going on.
sophia.

ps: Yet they had said they could give them a home, and i was promised if they couldnt, then they would call me.

[alexgirl73]

I have everything crossed you get the little boy back soon Sophia xx

[random]

The RSPCA has many volunteers who I utterly applaud, due to the hard work and commitment they put in to animal welfare. However the RSPCA as a whole is a very flawed organisation! I have known of 100's of instances where they have not lifted one finger to help animals in distress or/and danger, we have all read the horrific reports of animals and pets being destroyed due to incompetence and to be perfectly frank, money seems to matter much more than the animals! catwoman wrote about not cutting off funding to them as more animals will suffer, well tbh, if they actually spent the money that was sitting in their bank accounts instead of hoarding it, thousands of animals need not be destroyed, but could be kept in kennels etc until new homes were found!!! if people want to give, and i pray that they do, give to animal charities with a no destruction policy, like CP, the dogs trust etc, charities that actually give a damn about the animals they are helping, and who desperately need the money! Rant over *sorry*

Totally agree. x

[catwoman999]

Totally agree. x

Totally disagree!!!!!

[catwoman999]

All you posters that HATE/LOATHE the RSPCA have you ever bred from your cats or dogs? I know at least one of you has...
Mindless people breeding needlessly, make the job for the RSPCA worse by adding to the numbers of strays / neglect of animals.
With all the will in the world the RSPCA can't help or rehome every animal. :( There just isn't the space.... They are full to bursting as it is, and there just isn't the space to keep them all, or volunteer fosters.
THATS when the sad decisions have to be made, they pts feral/sick to give the space to a healthy/social cats who will be easier to home. THERE ONLY IS SO MUCH SPACE AT REHOMING CENTRES!!!!!!!
So neuter/ spay your animals and please do not breed from them :cry: Because YOU are part of the problem!!!!

[random]

All you posters that HATE/LOATHE the RSPCA have you ever bred from your cats or dogs? I know at least one of you has...
Mindless people breeding needlessly, make the job for the RSPCA worse by adding to the numbers of strays / neglect of animals.
With all the will in the world the RSPCA can't help or rehome every animal. :( There just isn't the space.... They are full to bursting as it is, and there just isn't the space to keep them all, or volunteer fosters.
THATS when the sad decisions have to be made, they pts feral/sick to give the space to a healthy/social cats who will be easier to home. THERE ONLY IS SO MUCH SPACE AT REHOMING CENTRES!!!!!!!
So neuter/ spay your animals and please do not breed from them :cry: Because YOU are part of the problem!!!!

Well that depends how responsible you are with the homing of the kittens. ;)

[kado]

Who do you mean catwoman? I know i have got kittens but they are going to a good home there staying here. I let her have the litter but if i havent decided to keep them they would have found good homes vetted by myself. I decided to keep them within 4 hrs of Maisey given birth. I let the problem continue so i had to sort it out myself

[catwoman999]

Well that depends how responsible you are with the homing of the kittens. ;)

WRONG AGAIN!!! :p
No matter how carefully you rehome your cats, you are not a mind reader! Peoples circumstances change.... And do not always want to hand the cat back to the breeder and sell it on to god knows who... The breeder cannot control that, unfortunately.
Many pedigree animals end up in rescues, not just moggies and mongrels FACT!!!!!
Ethical breeding phaw... doesn't exist....

[random]

WRONG AGAIN!!! :p
No matter how carefully you rehome your cats, you are not a mind reader! Peoples circumstances change.... And do not always want to hand the cat back to the breeder and sell it on to god knows who... The breeder cannot control that, unfortunately.
Many pedigree animals end up in rescues, not just moggies and mongrels FACT!!!!!
Ethical breeding phaw... doesn't exist....

Oh and there was me thinking it was only moggies and mongrels in rescue when I have donated to breed rescue and even rescued and helped rehome ped animals, how silly of me!

Seems I am always wrong and so are a lot of people here since you joined the forum, that's just fine, an attitude which I have long learned how to deal with. Only when you speak in such a manner that you undermine everyone else's point but your own you don't open your mind enough to further yourself and learn. But ho hum, you know it all anyway so what is there to learn? You are very lucky!

[catwoman999]

Who do you mean catwoman? I know i have got kittens but they are going to a good home there staying here. I let her have the litter but if i havent decided to keep them they would have found good homes vetted by myself. I decided to keep them within 4 hrs of Maisey given birth. I let the problem continue so i had to sort it out myself

I wasn't refering to you Kado, you didn't slate the RSPCA like the others did! :p
But, I do think you've got your hands full lol....

[catwoman999]

Oh and there was me thinking it was only moggies and mongrels in rescue when I have donated to breed rescue and even rescued and helped rehome ped animals, how silly of me!

Seems I am always wrong and so are a lot of people here since you joined the forum, that's just fine, an attitude which I have long learned how to deal with. Only when you speak in such a manner that you undermine everyone else's point but your own you don't open your mind enough to further yourself and learn. But ho hum, you know it all anyway so what is there to learn? You are very lucky!

I didn't say I know it all lol...
But thank you for saying I do....:D

[catwoman999]

If people ask for advice on here, I will give it. And I won't apologise for my vet nurse training or knowledge regarding cats!
Too many people give pink fluffy answers, while lovely, don't usually help the OP.
I am sorry my joining the forum has upset a few people :(
But knowledge is power, and won't apologise for it..
Jealousy is a nasty thing, but I have learnt to deal with it ;)
And I have a suspicion you may be a friend of the girl who joined here recently who has a problem with me.

[kado]

Sorry catwoman had to ask. Yes i have my hands full but love it.

[sophia]

Guys , please dont! I respect all your point of view, and like i said before, all your opinions , some way or other, are right in their own way.
And if you dont agree with someone, just agree to disagree.
please. i dont ilke people falling out with each other.
much love
sophia;


WE ALL LOVE ANIMALS, and if we learn to keep them as the number one priority, then we can only be doing the best thing...which is what we all want...right???

[catwoman999]

Guys , please dont! I respect all your point of view, and like i said before, all your opinions , some way or other, are right in their own way.
And if you dont agree with someone, just agree to disagree.
please. i dont ilke people falling out with each other.
much love
sophia;


WE ALL LOVE ANIMALS, and if we learn to keep them as the number one priority, then we can only be doing the best thing...which is what we all want...right???

Thats what forums are for an exchange of views. And maybe even sway each others way of thinking on things! And see the bigger picture, BOTH sides!
I can handle it Sophia.
Your thread was always gonna turn into a debate, I am sure you were aware of that when you posted ;)
Hope you are further forward with getting the wee man back :-D

[sophia]

Hi Catwoman!

Im going down tomorrow to have a look at him. I said i would even pay more than is required for the adoption fee.
I just want to see him...


xx

ps: I just dont like it when people argue...as long as you guys dont start to swear at each other...ok. much love . sophia.

[EmmaG]

Well that depends how responsible you are with the homing of the kittens. ;)

Actually the facts are that anybody who breeds their cats are making the problem worse, yes you might have very good homes lined up for the kittens, but you are taking away homes that the cats/kittens in the rescue shelters require.

Ok, so some potential owners might only have a particular breed of cat they would rehome which is not found in a rescue centre but I reckon this is the minority.

I am not anti/pro breeding but just stating the facts.

[Phoenix]

I would always adopt from a rescue anyway. ;)

[EmmaG]

Hi Catwoman!

Im going down tomorrow to have a look at him. I said i would even pay more than is required for the adoption fee.
I just want to see him...


xx

ps: I just dont like it when people argue...as long as you guys dont start to swear at each other...ok. much love . sophia.

We like a good debate on Catsey - I would like to think that it doesn't normally get nasty.

I hope the little fella is ok.

[EmmaG]

I would always adopt from a rescue anyway. ;)

I always have :-D ;)

[catwoman999]

Hi Catwoman!

Im going down tomorrow to have a look at him. I said i would even pay more than is required for the adoption fee.
I just want to see him...


xx

ps: I just dont like it when people argue...as long as you guys dont start to swear at each other...ok. much love . sophia.

Me swear??? Never, my mother brought me up better than that :lol:
I am glad you are going to see him tomorrow :-D Fingers crossed for you.
And yes, a good debate never hurt anyone!

[catwoman999]

Actually the facts are that anybody who breeds their cats are making the problem worse, yes you might have very good homes lined up for the kittens, but you are taking away homes that the cats/kittens in the rescue shelters require.

Ok, so some potential owners might only have a particular breed of cat they would rehome which is not found in a rescue centre but I reckon this is the minority.

I am not anti/pro breeding but just stating the facts.

Fantastic point Emma! :-D

[sophia]

To Cat woman, and everybody else.

I will go down and see him tomorrow, and ill let you know what happenes. I have pictures of all of them but at this moment in time, i just cant look at them, but i will post them on.

Im glad i came on here, because each of you, in your own way has given me so much support, and made me think more logically. I am extremely lucky to have good family and friends..and you guys have helped me. thankyou.

xxxxxx

[kado]

You welcome sophia.

[catwoman999]

To Cat woman, and everybody else.

I will go down and see him tomorrow, and ill let you know what happenes. I have pictures of all of them but at this moment in time, i just cant look at them, but i will post them on.

Im glad i came on here, because each of you, in your own way has given me so much support, and made me think more logically. I am extremely lucky to have good family and friends..and you guys have helped me. thankyou.

xxxxxx

Thats a lovely post from you :-D Sophia.
We all look forward to the seeing the pics in time... When you are ready!

[moonstone]

Sophia:D I think you are wonderful to care so much for this little boy:D I hope that you manage to get him home safely :D
Just thought that i would mention that RSPCA NO LONGER TAKE IN STRAYS:( apparently they (and this is from HQ Horsham not the local branches)are saving their resources for cruelty cases:? so there you have it:evil:
I cannot understand how they can make this stance as Joe Public on finding a stray animal will automatically think of RSPCA:? and what will now happen to those strays when they are turned away:(
One of my neighbours (herself in her 70,s and disabled)found a pregnant cat in the very cold spell we had just after Xmas this year:( she was very worried about this cat and contacted RSPCA asking for her to be collected (she thought this pussy was about to give birth and told the woman )only to be told to put the cat outside and not to let it back in:evil: my neighbour was appalled and told this woman so:evil: the result was she came to ask me for help and i contacted the wonderful celia Hammond who immiediatly offered to take the poor pregnant kitty:D
If this kitty had been left she would have given birth outside in the cold with the blessing of RSPCA who quite frankly couldn't have cared less for her wellbeing:evil:
For probably the most well known animal welfare organisation i think that is a really poor attitude:(
Cats protection do not operate in this area either:(
As said i do hope that you can get your little boy back:D

[FayRose]

Check out this link if you've been told the RSPCA do not take in strays. :?
In particular look at Moses, Brady and Clint.
http://www.rspcaexeter.org.uk/cats.html

[catwoman999]

Check out this link if you've been told the RSPCA do not take in strays. :?
In particular look at Moses, Brady and Clint.
http://www.rspcaexeter.org.uk/cats.html

Thanks for the link :D Hope some of the above read it!!!
But I feel I cannot post anymore on this thread, as people feel I am trouble making :(

[sophia]

They would not let me see him! They sent me a letter this morning saying it was my fault that i took them down there, the receptionist lied saying that i had said i dont want them because i ahve seven of my own cats? and that they can do anything with them..WHAT they are forgetting is that My sister was also with me when i went down.
The headquarters are doing their own investigation into this but next week, i am seeing a journalist and my solicitor to take them to court.
They can lie and save their own behinds as much as they want, but in the end, The truth always wins. Im never going to give up on this.
and incidentally, they said, the little feral kitten was distressed and thats why we killed her...well i suppose in their book it makes it alright!! Im not giving up on this.
Sophia

[kado]

I realy do hope you can get your boy back. I can see that you clearly love him. He should be back home with you

[alexgirl73]

oh Sophia, I really feel for you on this :( So very sad, I pray you get the little boy soon xx

[pcspik]

Like others have said, the RSPCA are flawed. I heard of some case years ago when a housecat got out, a neighbour spotted it, and called the RSPCA. The cat looked a bit raggly and thin (it was a 16 year old) and the RSPCA inspector decided to put it down there and then. Never mind scanning it to see if it was microchipped (which it was) or asking locally. Understandably the owners were upset.

Also last year there was a "feral" colony nearby (literally 200 yards from my old flat) - the neighbours were feeding them, and they called out the RSPCA. They did nothing, and in the end, the Cats Protection got them all. The neighbours over exaggerated too, saying that there was 40 cats. I say "feral" because in truth they were not. All bar 4 could be picked up easily. Out of the 4, only 1 was feral (which was released back onto the site) the other 3 were just very nervous and got homes as pets. There was only 12 cats too.

I personally called the RSPCA about a family who had 4 ringworm infested cats (the cats kept on coming onto my windowsill so I could get a good look at them) and it took 10 calls for them to do a visit. In the end, the cats were not taken away, and it was just left alone.

As for some people who said about the FIV cats, I hate them for it. My Pickle's treatment before I got him was all done on the RSPCA as the vets he was at does all the RSPCA work, but they could not rehome him from the vets due to him being FIV positive. Had he not gone to the Cats Protection he would have been pts as the RSPCA would not take him to the nearest rehoming centre.

One thing: they dont tell you the truth. They constantly put the "home for life" adverts on the telly: what they dont tell you is if they have a cat (or even dog) with a minor condition (even if manageable) or is extremely old, it is PTS. Only if you have a perfect, young animal with an easy temperament then they will get a home. That is why when I die, my cats are going back to the Cats Protection.

Where I live there are a lot of street people trying to get hold to donate £5 a month to the RSPCA. I refuse and when they do bother me I say "when you stop putting FIV kitties to sleep then I will support you". Also when we have had other small animal charities collecting I always ask about their FIV policy. If they cant answer then I dont give.

[trick]

can I remind you that these charities have to work within the law and can not just lift people cats with out reason. cats are not protected by law as dogs are, or you would have cat wardens and you wouldn't be allowed to let your cat out you, and you would have to poop scoop up after them, and be acountable for the protected species thay catch
the powers they do have are riddled with loop hole and have to go through so many agencies before a leanient judge lets offenders off.
so if you know anyone else who wants their job go ahead cos the cp wont the police could but dont.
I'd like to see your reaction when scooping a living animal off the road with its insides hanging out its pelvic cavity or knowing what to do with 60 cats so inbred some of there legs point upwards and they all have cronic cat flu.
could you deal with that, by 5pm when the vet shut and no one can take them,
Any ideas? cos most of you seem to think tehy could do a better job.

[alexgirl73]

no one is denying that there are cases where they do a fantastic job, but the simple point MANY people are trying to make is that there are far too many incidents where they don't lift a finger, don't care or destroy animals needlessly! They need to be held more accountable and more closely regulated!

[Moli]

I just do not trust them, many times I have heard of healthy animals put to sleep!!!

[trick]

I think most people on here think they are a waist of space.
In the eyes of the law cats are either somebodies pet and so healthy friendly stray cats are usualy are owned so it is unlawful to remove them or pick them up.
Feral cats are effectively wild animals and it is deemed cruel to cage a wild animal, or maybe some think that the terror they suffer is ok aslong as you can fix it to appease your own human values.
So how long do you keep a wild amimal caged? till the vet has a look, till you X-ray it, see if it makes it through the night, 6 monthes cage rest, till it becomes cage bound?
Cruel or not feral cats can take up kennel space for months,years while homeable cats get turned away or destroyed.
Could you decide who stays and who goes, I couln't

[trick]

what kind of life would the unhomeable, unwanted animals have living their life in a kennel even if there was the resources which there is not. so everbody should stop donating its a real help to the animals!!!!!!!

[kado]

Every animal deserves a chance wether feral or domesticated.

[alexgirl73]

In our branch of the CP, with feral cats who are healthy, we simply neuter and release. Therefore cutting down on any more breeding. If a feral cat is ill, we have feral pens where we will kep them (not in a vets btw), where they can recuperate before either being released, or in a high number of cases (and like 2 who I have been looking after for a few weeks), adopted as barn or stable cats and go off to live on farms. In the 2 yeras I have been with the CP, I have only seen a handful of animals PTS, and that wa due to severe health problems! And yes we have had cats take up cage space for over a year, I'd rather see that than see a perfectly healthy cat destroyed! And while that animal may be taking up space, it's amazing how quickly most rehoming actually happens. Where there is a will there is a way.

[catwoman999]

In our branch of the CP, with feral cats who are healthy, we simply neuter and release. Therefore cutting down on any more breeding. If a feral cat is ill, we have feral pens where we will kep them (not in a vets btw), where they can recuperate before either being released, or in a high number of cases (and like 2 who I have been looking after for a few weeks), adopted as barn or stable cats and go off to live on farms. In the 2 yeras I have been with the CP, I have only seen a handful of animals PTS, and that wa due to severe health problems! And yes we have had cats take up cage space for over a year, I'd rather see that than see a perfectly healthy cat destroyed! And while that animal may be taking up space, it's amazing how quickly most rehoming actually happens. Where there is a will there is a way.

And CP have the luxury of being a cat specific charity. Thus have the resources to focus only on cats and do the best by these cats :D Why I would always recommend someone contacts them first regarding a cat needing rescue....
On the other hand the RSPCA/SSPCA deal with ALL animals cats, dogs, rabbit, guinea pigs, snakes, all the wild life etc. in Britain... They can't possibly board all of them, can they?
Please THINK about it.... Again, nothing is black and white there are shades of grey!
Noah has only so much room in his Ark...
Said I wasn't gonna post again on this thread, but really, is everybody so closed minded about the RSPCA?
Yes, unfortunately they can't help every animal, thats why more people should contact breed/animal specific rescue charities...

[Elaine]

There are flaws with every charity organisation but at the end of the day it's the whole system that needs changing.
It's like everything else, we always hear so many of the negatives. Bad news makes good headlines, especially in the UK.
I have, in the past, had issues with how some organisations are run, the CP being one of them. I also have huge issues over the snap testing of cats for FIV but the other side of the coin is, what are these organisations to do with the growing numbers of strays etc and limited rescources.
I personally choose not to donate to the larger organisations but I do try to support the smaller, independant rescues. Thats just my personal choice.

[Darky]

I have never liked the RSPCA, due to hearing far too many horror stories about them my entire life - recounted by my parents with their experiences and the experiences of others.

What this thread has done for me, however, has raised my respect for Cats Protection and if anyone shall be getting donations from me - it'll definitely be them.

My fiance and I were very sad when at Waitrose.. They had a charity thing at the end of the shop where you can pick up little green tokens and pop them into a charity of your choice, three charities were available.. RSPCA had about five times the amount that Cats Protection has. :C My fiance's family, who own no pets, always make sure to put tokens into CP's bit.

[alexgirl73]

And CP have the luxury of being a cat specific charity. Thus have the resources to focus only on cats and do the best by these cats :D Why I would always recommend someone contacts them first regarding a cat needing rescue....
On the other hand the RSPCA/SSPCA deal with ALL animals cats, dogs, rabbit, guinea pigs, snakes, all the wild life etc. in Britain... They can't possibly board all of them, can they?
Please THINK about it.... Again, nothing is black and white there are shades of grey!
Noah has only so much room in his Ark...
Said I wasn't gonna post again on this thread, but really, is everybody so closed minded about the RSPCA?
Yes, unfortunately they can't help every animal, thats why more people should contact breed specific rescue charities...

I also have guinea pigs, ferrets, hamsters, and chickens (yes I am an animal collector, for the love of the animals), and I am a member of forums for each and every one of them. And on each and every one of those forums there are rescues who deal with theses animals and they are also full of negative tales of RSPCA involvement!! As I have said before, there are some wonderful people involved with the RSPCA, and I hate to think of them being tarred with the same brush, but there are just too many of these types of stories involving ALL animals (not just cats), adn surely this can no longer be ignored!

[pcspik]

no one is denying that there are cases where they do a fantastic job, but the simple point MANY people are trying to make is that there are far too many incidents where they don't lift a finger, don't care or destroy animals needlessly! They need to be held more accountable and more closely regulated!

That is the point exactly. For example an branch of the RSPCA (based 2 hours away) were called to a house with 60 cats all riddled with ringworm. They were all taken off the people concerned: 30 of the cats were pts because they simply had no space for them. The RSPCA did not bother to phone any other charity concerned: our branch would have happily taken some of them as at the time our isolation unit was empty. Other branches of the Cats Protection were able to help too. If the RSPCA had actually contacted other charities which were able to help before simply putting them down, then the majority, if not all, the cats would have still been alive.

I know this is dogs but this proves the same point:-

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_west/8230378.stm

Again another rescue organisation that could have helped with a case. If they had actually phoned (and waited for an response within an adequate time) then they would have gotten the animals off their hands, leaving their inspectors free to do other work.

[borderdawn]

Do you know what the RSPCA said to me about a Dobermann that was starving and being hit and tormented as well as having fireworks chucked at him and having open sores on him and being chained so he couldnt even move away? The "inspector" said, "stop feeding him, when he can no longer stand, we will remove him!" Can you imagine my reply???

[alexgirl73]

OMG!!!!

I can imagine your reply would have been very similar to what my first thought was Dawn! disgusting!

[catwoman999]

Do you know what the RSPCA said to me about a Dobermann that was starving and being hit and tormented as well as having fireworks chucked at him and having open sores on him and being chained so he couldnt even move away? The "inspector" said, "stop feeding him, when he can no longer stand, we will remove him!" Can you imagine my reply???

I know, it happens...
Madness...
:(

[borderdawn]

OMG!!!!

I can imagine your reply would have been very similar to what my first thought was Dawn! disgusting!
Well all I can say is he spent just two more nights at that place! ;)

[pcspik]

Exactly. With the people who lived nearby who had the 3 ringworm cats, I was annoyed that they did not do anything. Not only were there 3 people in the property (bearing in mind that ringworm is an zoonose: meaning it can be transferred onto humans, which means that the girl could potentially infect all her classmates) but not to do anything about it does in my mind, is sheer neglect on the RSPCA's part. We are talking about other animals (bearing in mind that these cats have open access to farmland) as well as other cats in the neighbourhood. I was just glad that mine were indoors only.

If the people concerned who owned the cats were not able to treat adequately their cats and keep them indoors (ringworm can be gotten rid of without treatment, albeit longer than with treatment) in the meantime, then I would call that neglect, and then yes, they should be taken off them. Also ringworm can linger for ages (and is near impossible to get rid of) in household furniture so that means that there is a good chance that these cats are wandering the streets again with ringworm!

[Elaine]

Well it may well be the same as the CP thing in that the branches differ from area to area. Whenever I have called the SSPCA, they have responded and called me back to inform me of the out come when I have asked.
Not always to a satisfactory conclusion but certainly not like the horror stories I have heard.

[catwoman999]

Well it may well be the same as the CP thing in that the branches differ from area to area. Whenever I have called the SSPCA, they have responded and called me back to inform me of the out come when I have asked.
Not always to a satisfactory conclusion but certainly not like the horror stories I have heard.

Me neither...
Not saw/heard anything as bad happening at Balerno or at Bothwell...
But of course like everyone else, I have heard the horror stories.

[Elaine]

I do also think that they have a very hard job, I know I couldnt go to cruelty cases etc and keep my mouth shut and my hands to myself, I'd be battering doors in, smacking people and pretty much stealing animals. I really need some anger management:lol:
It must also be soul destroying to make a prosecution and watch the legal system make a mockery of it. Again, I'd need some anger management there too:lol:

[catwoman999]

:oops: I could do with anger management...
Thats the reason I went back to office work ;)
A vet nurse must be seen and not heard in the pressence of a VET....
And god have I got a big gob :-D
I get waaaay to emotionally involved, and want so hit people who inflict pain and suffering on animals...
It kills the soul... And hence why I am a animal person not a people person!!!!

Review of legal system by CW....
Whatever cruelty a human inflicts on an animal, their sentence should be to suffer the same cruelty back that they inflicted.
Yes I am evil!!!!

[Elaine]

Couldnt agree more:lol:
Doesnt the legal system realise that many serial killers begin by animal cruelty.....

[catwoman999]

You could be the person that carries out the sentences on these cruelty cases. Could be better than anger management...:D
As well as saving animals lives, it would save human lives in the long run also!

[trick]

Some of you are forgeting the the law does not allow the removal of the animals unless they are at deaths door. the courts would give the aminals back and it would ruin any future case.
If you think this is wrong then petition your govenment or ask what the RS or SS parlimentary office is currently trying to legislate for!

[trick]

I do also think that they have a very hard job, I know I couldnt go to cruelty cases etc and keep my mouth shut and my hands to myself, I'd be battering doors in, smacking people and pretty much stealing animals. I really need some anger management:lol:
It must also be soul destroying to make a prosecution and watch the legal system make a mockery of it. Again, I'd need some anger management there too:lol:

do try to keep you hands to yourself you wee minx

[catwoman999]

Some of you are forgeting the the law does not allow the removal of the animals unless they are at deaths door. the courts would give the aminals back and it would ruin any future case.
If you think this is wrong then petition your govenment or ask what the RS or SS parlimentary office is currently trying to legislate for!

Great point!!!
May fall on deaf ears though (the good points usually do).

[jan]

It must be me being hormonal tonight but I am crying at a few threads. Sophia I really feel for you, I hope so much that you manage to get the little boy back, I am so sad about what has happened. You cant blame anything you did but do persevere to get him home safe and sound. Hoping so much things turn out happily for you and this little chap. Jan x

[yola]

Any news Sophia? I hope you can get your little fella back home . . . I think that will help begin to heal wounds for you.

[sophia]

I am seeing my solicitor on monday regarding the RSPCA. IN the letter, they said it was all my fault, because i bought the mom cat and kittens down to them!!...but from now on, my solicitor will deal with them, and if the solicitor cant help, then the press will run the story.
They also said in the letter, the rspca, that i cant adopt the kitten.
Well , they will hear from my solicitor this week.
i will keep you all informed. please say a prayer for me.

much love to all of you, and i could never have imagined so much support.
sophia

[jan]

Sophia,
have they said WHY they won t let you adopt the little one? I cant believe they are being so awkward and nasty. They don t seem to be taking the kittens needs into account at all. You go and kick some ass Girl ! Jan X

[sophia]

Jan, in the letter, they said that we are not letting you adopt the male kitten because we feel it will be too much of a financial burden on you since you have cats of your own, and we do not rehome in the same area????

Well, i been given cats before from them, from my area, when they couldnt / or didnt want to rehome them, and as for the financial issue, i probabaly earn more than them lot put together!! I meet with my solicitor tommorow.
xx

ps; You guys are my strength, you have given me the strength to go after them.thankyou so much.x

[Phoenix]

It sounds like they are being a bunch of pr@ts :evil:

Good luck with getting the little boy kitten back where he belongs with you!

[sophia]

Im going to make sure that everybody hears about this, because if this branch can promise and say yes, "we will call", and then later the staff involved retract their stories, then what is this particular branch telling actual owners??

With you guys behind me, i can do anything , and with Gods help...the injustice that was done to these two kittens and their mother, everybody will hear about.
sophia

[Phoenix]

Im going to make sure that everybody hears about this, because if this branch can promise and say yes, "we will call", and then later the staff involved retract their stories, then what is this particular branch telling actual owners??

With you guys behind me, i can do anything , and with Gods help...the injustice that was done to these two kittens and their mother, everybody will hear about.
sophia

And what are they telling people who take the pets they rehome? :evil:

[dumbblondie]

i have never trusted the rspca as a few years ago they wanted 2 stop people from havin exotic pets even thoughs who knew how to look after them they wanted 2 put down the ones people already had as pets

[sophia]

My only regret now is that i wished i had known about this Cat Forum, before i took the mother cat and her two kittens down that weekend.
I would never have taken them down despite their (rspca) saying that they were easily homable, and will be safe.

God, if only i had known about this site before...

sophia

[dumbblondie]

don't beat ur self up about it u didn't know it would happen lets just hope by puttin it up here wat happened that it may save other cats like the mum & daughter from bein put down unnessasary

[Moli]

You did what you thought was right Sophia, many of us have trusted the RSPCA?SSPCA in the past and have learned not to trust them....
Admire you for doing something about it.....If more people did, maybe this would not happen so often!

[kado]

I am with you all the way Sophia