Cat in the wheely bin woman has been charged...

Re: Cat in the wheely bin woman has been charged...

Kim Buckley — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 09:48:58 GMT

I recently locummed at a practice which does a lot of work for their local RSPCA clinic. I couldn't believe some of the things I heard and saw!

Admitted a dog with horrendous vomiting and diarrhoea, the dog looked like it was on deaths door. The owner had no money so the RSPCA said they would pay for basic treatment (anti b's and drip) and see if that helped. The dog wasn't getting any better and the vet advised that the dog be pts. The owner refused and was demanding to know why the dog wasn't having tests to find out what was wrong. Obviously there wasn't the money available for this. This carried on and the owner kept phoning and hurling abuse down the phone to the vets and nurses trying to help his dog! In the end the RSPCA agreed to pay for x-rays and an ex lap in case it was a foriegn body, Nothing was found but the dog got better (let the badness out?) and £3.5k later the dog went home. It was agreed that the owner could pay the money back £30 a month! It's going to take 8 years!!

I just think this kind of thing promotes irresponsible pet ownership. This guy is not going to hesitate at getting another dog because the RSPCA will just pick up the bill if it gets sick. After the initial treatment, he should have been told to sign it over or pts in my opinion. I don't think little old ladies donate their pennys to help abusive chavs pay for the pets that they can't afford. That money should go towards helping abused animals and rehoming.

Re: Cat in the wheely bin woman has been charged...

BengalcatRVN — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 07:32:57 GMT

Maybe I've just never had them on a good day, but following my 1st experiance at about 15yrs old, I've lost all respect for them, and they're yet to do something that makes me think otherwise. Inspecters or call centre, never it seems on a good day.
I have a local branch 10 mins down the road, yet everything comes to me as the call centre seems to have no clue about the local branch (and I have called them to ask for details about the local branch, having heard a rumour it was closing down, they had not a clue there was one!)

My rabbit was killed by my neighbours (they let her out and set a dog on her) they had no interest. The police felt it was an RSPCA case, the RSPCA said it wasn't. My parents tried to sort it all out before I came home, but no one gave 2 hoots.

My other personal experiances includes a neighbour feud where the RSPCA would rock up accusing my workplace of animal crulty, my boss being at the vets (ironically) I refused them entry to the premisis (other than the builder I was on my own) but they tried to charm, then almost accuse to try and get me let them in. They made me cry and in the end the builder came out and pretty much told them to go away, and call to speak to my boss rather than harrass a minor.
Sadly the neighbour would call them every couple of weeks, and they'd turn up, but when we put a complant in about them and their pets, they said they wouldn't get involved in neighbourly disputes....yet turned up the following week when my poor pet was dying (delay with the on-call vet arriving, neighbour calls RSPCA about suffering animal, just what I needed)

And thats just a couple of times. As I said, maybe I'm unlucky and just yet to see the good side. Maybe there are just too many administive roles and it needs a shake up, maybe they do need to take a look at everything and stick to concentrating on something that they can do good and well, rather than doing everything half heartedly.

This case maybe high profile, and they maybe are trying to make a point with it, but will they carry on, or is this just a one off for publicity?

I've prob made myself unpopular now, but thought I should explain why I'm not happy and then maybe people might understand why I feel the way I do. I supose I'm offering you my shoes :)

Re: Cat in the wheely bin woman has been charged...

Louise B — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 23:40:10 GMT

[quote user="Princess Ophelia Hermione MacBeth"]

Agreed 100%. You got here before me to post this!

[/quote]

Meant to highlight Ian M's post - I agree 100% with that and hardly at all with a few others!!!

Re: Cat in the wheely bin woman has been charged...

Louise B — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 23:37:34 GMT

Agreed 100%. You got here before me to post this!

Re: Cat in the wheely bin woman has been charged...

loopylou711 — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 22:29:20 GMT

The thing is, ok there prosecuting this woman for binning a cat, ok maybe a little pointless but it is high profile it one case people will know about, because who has not seen this must have been living in a cave, the RSPCA in a way are sending out a message by prosecuting this woman, that animal cruelty will not be accepted and they will prosecute, ok maybe it costs a lot for such a silly case. But surely some publicity is better than no publitcity??

I am not a supporter of the RSPCA since the whole taking donations from Scottish people and not telling them it does not go to scottish animals, although personal what does it matter your helping animals either way!

I agree alot with you Sal, the problem with the RSPCA is all the roles they provide - far too many which sadly will eventually backfire on them!!

As already said Dammed if you do! Dammed if you don't!

Re: Cat in the wheely bin woman has been charged...

Phrin Vernon RVN — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 21:17:57 GMT

I have mixed views about the RSPCA - when working nights at a private practice close to one of their flagship hospitals, I lost count of the amount of times they told people with no money, and a severley injured pet (RTA cat with 2 legs 'dangling' springs to mind) to call us.... not to mention the amount of times the '24 hour' staff at said hospital didn't answer the phone! We used to call just to check after clients complaining, and guess what - they were right! This was a few years ago, but still, it has severly tainted my view of the RSPCA

On the other hand, I now work in a rural mixed practice, and our local RSPCA volunteers are great. A couple of weeks ago we had 5 cats handed in as strays, and our local branch funded emergency treatment (where needed), along with chips, flea, worm and vaccs - and they weren't all kittens either! Two of the cats were decidely manky! But the local branch still helped them!

SO, I guess I am on the fence at the moment - RSPCA as a big national group = bad, RSPCA volunteers on the shop floor, helping local cases = good

Re: Cat in the wheely bin woman has been charged...

Donna France — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 19:13:29 GMT

[quote user="Sal (the 1st) Holesworth VN CMH Chyp (M)PNLP"]maybe it is time the RSPCA decided what they would like to do? Do they want to concentrate on investigating cruelty and spending their income on pursuing prosecutions or do they want to concentrate on providing medical care and rehoming centres[/quote]

I think your right, now working in private practice I come across the 'sorry were full' or clients telling us the rspca told them to turn up with a injured animal etc and I can see why people get annoyed but Idont know what the answer is, more trained staff? more power to prosecute?

But, their hospitals are great and the medical care is gold standard. I loved working as a nurse at the rspca, I would imagine the pdsa would be similar to work for.

Re: Cat in the wheely bin woman has been charged...

Sal the 1st — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 18:55:07 GMT

I just find it sad that cases that are already high profile get persued whilst greater cases of cruelty go on unremarked and not investigated. I actually agree with Ian M they are damned if they do and damned if they dont but maybe it is time the RSPCA decided what they would like to do? Do they want to concentrate on investigating cruelty and spending their income on pursuing prosecutions or do they want to concentrate on providing medical care and rehoming centres

I feel the RSPCA have too many balls in the air at the moment and they are in danger of dropping the lot if they arent careful. Wouldnt it be good if all the major animal charities could collaborate and cut costs as a group instead of fighting it out to land the biggest donations and bequests

Re: Cat in the wheely bin woman has been charged...

Donna France — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 18:50:52 GMT

yes, sal it was, My comment wasnt directed at any particular comment on here, it just felt that the blanket response to the RSPCA is that they are useless which is not true

I completely agree with you that its the higher departments that need a good shake up!

Re: Cat in the wheely bin woman has been charged...

Sal the 1st — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 18:34:17 GMT

[quote user="Donna Hothersall"]

The inspectors, ACO's, vets, nurses and auxillaries work damed hard in the hospitals dealing with the cruelty and neglected cases,(and all the owned pets) the problems usually lie with all the red tape involved in each case, usually lack of evidence.

[/quote]

which is what I was trying to say wasnt it?

Re: Cat in the wheely bin woman has been charged...

Donna France — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 16:41:15 GMT

Having worked as an RSPCA nurse for the first 6 years of my career I can safely say we are not all the same when working for the RSPCA.

Re: Cat in the wheely bin woman has been charged...

Ian_M — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 16:25:35 GMT

I could, but won't, but just did also mention one of my cases that couldn't proceed where the cadaver (evidence) was disposed of by the veterinary practice being paid to store it for us.

Re: Cat in the wheely bin woman has been charged...

Ian_M — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 16:19:56 GMT

I think they can't win either way. If they do prosecute they will get criticised for not prosecuting everything else; if they don't they will get criticised for other reasons. If they do prosecute everything else then it will cost them more (and a lot more in legal costs and officer time to put a case through) and they will have to make a withdrawal from some other activity.

It's not cut and dried, walk a mile ion other people's shoes folks before you mouth off.

Re: Cat in the wheely bin woman has been charged...

Sally Seddon — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 15:10:05 GMT

The dog warden in my area is a waste of space too, on several occasions (including one last night) she has told people to let the stray animal go and continue to wander the streets!!!

Re: Cat in the wheely bin woman has been charged...

Sal the 1st — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 11:10:40 GMT

I think the majority of people who do the ground work for the RSPCA do a good job as far as they are allowed (though I have my reservations on some of them) - for me the problem comes from higher up, ie those making the rules and controlling the purse strings ( but then this happens in many charities, the animal charities are not alone in this). Admin fees account for so much of a charities income. I have done voluntary work for a number of years for a charity that used to employ me but seeing how many admin positions have just been created and the salaries attached to those positions I am seriously considering my future support.

Re: Cat in the wheely bin woman has been charged...

Sophie Bedford RVN CertVNECC — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 10:37:35 GMT

I know exactly what you mean, when we had a stray dog handed in that was found on a dual carriageway we called the RSPCA to see if a local centre could take it in as we're not staffed over the weekend and we were told .... by the RSPCA.... to return to where it was found and it would find its way home eventually!!!!

FFS!!!! it was on a dual carriageway!

Re: Cat in the wheely bin woman has been charged...

Sally Seddon — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 09:07:57 GMT

[quote user="Sal (the 1st) Holesworth VN CMH Chyp (M)PNLP"]

at least I know it isnt just me

[/quote]

And me! Dont even wanna get started on them

Re: Cat in the wheely bin woman has been charged...

Sal the 1st — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 23:50:13 GMT

at least I know it isnt just me

Re: Cat in the wheely bin woman has been charged...

BengalcatRVN — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 21:35:16 GMT

[quote user="Tracy Windler RVN"]

What a huge waste of time. Why, oh why will the RSPCA spend money and time on a case like this, when it is obvious that the woman is not a serial cat-binner, or had any malicious intentions, but was clearly temporarily (or longer) deranged. Yet, when one of our clients calls up with a litter of abandoned kittens, they are told not to bother with them, as they will probably die (a slow, painful, starvation death? Yes, if you don't do anything!)

Fortunately, the local Cat rescue stepped in and brought them to us and they are now 6 weeks and thriving. I'm truly disgusted with the RSPCA.

Yes, I was shocked by the footage, I can't imagine what went through her head and she needs help, but this is not the way to deal with it. A bit of common sense wouldn't go amiss here.

Sorry for the rant, but this has really got my back up, as we just seem to be picking up the pieces for what the RSPCA can't be bothered with these days.

[/quote]

I can tell you why the RSPCA got involved....someone else said HIGH PROFILE. Tell them the media are there, watch them swing into action. I'm sorry, but they only deal with these type of cases. Had the owners not gone to the press, the RSPCA would have ignored them. They never get a penny from me. I refuse to sell their raffle tickets, or collect ink cartridges from them. I've had several personal run-ins with them years ago.

They always pass people to us as they "don't deal with that" or "we are the local vet" they have a clinic near me, but still send cases to my clinic. Poor people get very miffed about going piller to post, esp when they find out the RSPCA clinic was closer to them anyway!

Grrrrrr....don't get me started...

Re: Cat in the wheely bin woman has been charged...

Tracy Windler RVN — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 13:12:44 GMT

Fortunately, the local Cat rescue stepped in and brought them to us and they are now 6 weeks and thriving. I'm truly disgusted with the RSPCA.

Yes, I was shocked by the footage, I can't imagine what went through her head and she needs help, but this is not the way to deal with it. A bit of common sense wouldn't go amiss here.

Sorry for the rant, but this has really got my back up, as we just seem to be picking up the pieces for what the RSPCA can't be bothered with these days.

Re: Cat in the wheely bin woman has been charged...

Vicky RVN — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 12:57:09 GMT

That's sad but true Sal.

Re: Cat in the wheely bin woman has been charged...

Sal the 1st — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 09:25:36 GMT

well excuse me for being cynical - but had this not been a high profile case it probably wouldnt have got this far. I am not condoning her actions at all just saying that there are far greater acts of cruelty that although reported never make the courts

Re: Cat in the wheely bin woman has been charged...

Selena Carnell — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 07:55:09 GMT

good tho i did laugh when i read 'and failure to provide an adequate environment!'

should she have put food and a bed in the bin too. (sorry just my warped sense of humour..) think she has learned her lesson well.