Thursday 22 April 2010

Give Us More Money Or The Puppy Gets It!

The Royal Society for the Protection of Animals (RSPCA) has been taking in animals for more than 180 years. But membership is falling and the charity needs to save more than £50 million over the next three years.
So, instead of looking at how it might trim its budget to meet conditions by cutting back on the advertising budget (which is currently running ads every bloody five minutes on some satellite channels), or by stopping the practice of pouring obscenely huge sums of money into the pockets of lawyers, it’s going to….not take in any more animals unless they are cruelty or neglect cases.
… owners bringing in unwanted pets will be directed to another charity or given advice on how to look after the animal.
Which they’ll follow, of course. Being responsible own…

Oh. Hang on.

Still, it saves the RSPCA a few bob…
Tim Wass, Head of Inspectorate, said the RSPCA has been "the dustbin for society's animals" but the charity cannot afford to keep on taking in every unwanted pet.

He said 75,000 animals are re-homed every year but all centres are currently full and the charity has a duty to concentrate on animals suffering cruelty and neglect.

“Like any organisation at the moment we have to answer some difficult economic challenges. RSPCA has always prioritised which animals it takes in. We are looking to formalise that... to make sure that our finite resources go to the animals that need them most,” he said.
Oh, really?
The RSPCA also hope the move will teach owners to take more responsibility for their pets. The charity said that in the past a cat has been dumped because "it did not match the couch", dogs were rejected for "barking" or "hiding shoes" and a chinchilla was brought in because the owner "did not realise it could live for 20 years".
And those sorts of owners are still going to do that. But without the RSPCA to fall back on, they aren’t suddenly going to become sensible owners. They are simply going to dump the animals on another charity.

Or on the street.
The charity also wants to focus more on legal cases since new laws came to prevent animal cruelty.
Well, let’s hope it chooses those a bit more carefully in the future, if ‘not wasting money’ is going to be at the forefront, eh?
The British Veterinary Association (BVA) said the RSPCA said the RSPCA does not have "unlimited resources" to take on animals that have been dumped simply because they are no longer fashionable.

"The recession perhaps has some impact but there is a growing trend for people to buy animals as status symbols and indeed it is all too easy to take on a pet without realising the responsibilities for the care and welfare of that animal," a spokesman said.
Yes, it is. But unless you want to slap legislation on the act of buying and owning a pet, then it…

Ah. I begin to see where this is going.
But Kim Hamilton, chief executive of another animal rescue charity Blue Cross, said pets should be accepted from owners who "simply cannot cope".

"The Blue Cross will always help people who make the responsible choice to give up their pet and will continue to do all that we can to help as many abandoned animals as possible find permanent, loving new homes," she said.
So, if you have any money to leave to charity, don’t leave it to the RSPCA. Leave it to these folks instead.

Because they’re going to need it….

15 comments:

Furor Teutonicus said...

Reminds me of a Billy Conoly scetch;

Aye! Two cans of beer, an "OCH AYE!!!! WHEY'RE GONNA GET PISSED TONEEEGHT!!!!"

Trouble is, it was PINK. Half a bottle later; "OCH NOOOO Ayme gonna shit me trooosers! Get me to the laavy..... QUICK!"

Furor Teutonicus said...

Hmm. I apologise. I WAS answering; "So, Should He Not Have Taken Responsibility For Himself..?"

NOTHING to do with Puppies, I am sorry to say. Although I HAVE got a few recipes from Korea when any one is interested.

Oldrightie said...

*RSPCA: Mark Watts, chief executive, received £105,500 in pay and perks in the year to April 2009.

Bucko said...

So they are moving from "Charity for helping animals" to "fake charity for prosecuting humans".
Cool

English Viking said...

I stopped giving them a penny, and have advised all and sundry to do the same, ever since I found out that they contributed over a million quid to Tony Blair's NuLab traitor party. Seriously. Check it if you don't believe me.

I currently own 12 cats, all in pristine condition, and understand the commitment required to care properly for these excellent creatures. I also understand that some people cannot cope, and need assistance. (That is why I have 12!)

In all my dealings with RSPCA (extensive) I have found front-line 'officers' to be rude, arrogant, ignorant and petty-minded, power-mad, little Hitler types. It must be the uniform. They seem desperate to find a reason to say 'no' to any request and love shuffling pieces of paper around. Strange how the ladies on the donation switchboard are all so very nice.

The Cats Protection League is a far better bet.

Dippyness. said...

They have millions invested in Trust Funds. Are amongst the top 3 wealthiest charities.
So busy spending dosh on smart new offices & lobbying they pretend they can't afford to take in strays!
Blood Boiling!!!!!
Well done on the blog. :)

Furor Teutonicus said...

English Viking said...
I currently own 12 cats,


You mean you are owned by 12 cats, surely?

Love cats. Not a great fan of dogs, but deffinatly do NOT trust humans without proof of pedigree.

Dippyness. said...

BTW...Help out at Border Collie Rescue when I can..Rehabilitating aggressive dogs. They're run on shoe strings...& rely on mugs like me to help.
NEVER GIVE TO FUCKING POLITICAL RSPCA!

Furor Teutonicus said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Macheath said...

'But membership is falling...

I'll bet it is, after their recent highly-publicised legal antics over legacies. Whatever the opposite of public relations is, these guys are masters of it.

And when they aren't busy fleecing widows and orphans, if English Viking's info is anything to go by, they're casting their bread upon the political waters.

Keep at 'em, JuliaM, they deserve it!

English Viking said...

Furor,

Of course, you are correct. It's their house, they just allow me to live here. (Very kind of them, too)

John Pickworth said...

"He said 75,000 animals are re-homed every year..."

Bloody hell.

That must be some hole down the end of his garden! Bet he's got nice roses?

JuliaM said...

"Mark Watts, chief executive, received £105,500 in pay and perks in the year to April 2009."

I'm sure he's worth every penny...

"In all my dealings with RSPCA (extensive) I have found front-line 'officers' to be rude, arrogant, ignorant and petty-minded, power-mad, little Hitler types. It must be the uniform."

I've never met one, but had occasion to use their helpline once, and found the operator snotty, condescending and unprofessional.

They were no help either.

"Help out at Border Collie Rescue when I can..Rehabilitating aggressive dogs. They're run on shoe strings...& rely on mugs like me to help. "

I prefer to give to the smaller, single-person run local charities. That way, I know the money isn't spent on advertising or lawyers!

"Whatever the opposite of public relations is, these guys are masters of it."

Heh! Good point...

RantinRab said...

Didn't the RSPCA and the SSPCA have a fall out a year or two back?

Anonymous said...

Celia Hammond can always use some help. She's a diamond.