Has anyone had problems with the RSPCA when reporting somone for cruelty to animals?

Question

When reoprting somone for not taking care of their pets (they had gone through a number of animals all of which died at an early age due to neglect) I was made to feel I was in the wrong and wasting the RSPCA's time.

Answer 1

The RSPCA made me feel like I did wrong too, as my neighbours dog is looked up and never walked. I call them and they said so.

Answer 2

In australia the RSPCA especially in Victoria has an reputation of varying degrees. It tends to publisise high profile cases and give the lesser ones a low proirity. Its CEO Dr Wirth has alot to answer to. Especially with the "puppy farms" that supply pups to pet shops.

In New South Wales, all RSPCA inspectors are designated "special constables" under the police offences act of 1901 so they have the power of "suspicion", therefor charge an offender in the same manner as the police would. All this entails is the payment of a fee and swearing an oath on a bible or making an affirmation. council officers do the same as some security personnel and semi govt officials and parking inspectors. Where under Victorian law, the RSPCA inspectors can not arrest anyone based on suspicion or section 459 of the Victoria crimes act unlike police. They have to actually witness the offence being committed and then an arrest can be effected under section 458 of the crimes act, the same powers as a "citizens arrest".

As the RSPCA in Australia is a voluntary and charitable organisation thier powers vary under the different state acts. In the late 19th and early 20th Centrury the Queensland RSPCA has charter that inclued the care of children and the elderly.

Australia has a 3 tier government system. Federal (Commonwealth) State and Local,. The State Governments do most of the work compared to other countries such as Canada, UK and USA where the municipialities or local governments provide most of the services. Each local goverment (city, shire, town, bough, villiage) has "local laws officers" or "by laws inpectors", "rangers" that enforce local by laws and the Animal Act (which is a state act in Victoria) and is the first point of call for animal cruelity. Some are more "active" in enforcement than others.

If worst comes to worst, try your local tv current affairs program. They love this sort of story.

Any charity or volunteer organsation , that also has paid staff are very low on funding income so most of the time prosecutiing the offender will cost more than a conviction. This is whats known as a pyrric victory. Councillors and boards of management are unpaid or hold a stipend for expenses. Local service clubs, emergency organisations. fire brigades, even the Salvation Army and other community "do-gooders" are the same. So its not only the RSPCA. Sometimes the local police will act if the matter is urgent and that would be my first point of call.

I hope this has been of some interest or benefit to you.

try reporting an abused child..there are more laws that protect animals than children.

Im available for further comment at [e-mail]

Answer 3

.Its a shame that the customer service they provide is not up to the care they give also.. Most of the larger rescues in BRITAIN are unfortunately run by office people and accountants. They do not see things the way the inspectors do or the kennel staff. I used to run a small independent rescue centre and when I left there went to see if I could work for a larger one. (Wont name it) but after going for the interview I was not interested at all..

Its a shame that they are run this way and that it has not been dealt with but I know what you mean. Red tape and money and resources..

On the up side any charity that help in no matter how smaller way is still great in my book. I sometimes have to remind myself of this when I have a charity worker shaking a tin in my face.. I am all for giving to charity but I would give my time and knowledge not my money as I don’t have very much as it is.. The volunteer shaking the tin at me looks so disapproving when I say no and walk by.. and the adverts they use to affect the vulnerable caring types in the community have apserlutly no affect on the rest of the population so I whish they would be filled with happy things too as It only hurt the ones who already give to them..

Remember what you did was a good thing no matter how you were treated by them.. If it has got no better buy next week ring again.. Everything that is reported has to be followed up even the time wasters and there are some of them. I had the RSPCA called to look at my horse who I was spending a fortune on in vets bills to discover why he was loosing weight. I worked from the rescue then but was a little embarrassed but please they came to check out a report even though it was not a cruelty case as someone first thought..

You are doing the right thing and if anyone sees anything that the animal cant tell for themselves Please don’t feel there is no point or that its too much to report it. No matter how they make you feel (Which is totally wrong on there behalf) it is the only thing you can do.. Congrats on caring and doing something about it. I wish there were more people like you in the world.

Answer 4

I just thought people might be aware that the RSPCA doesn't have very much authority at all when dealing with neglect cases. From when I was training in animal care a couple of years ago, we got the impression that their hands were tied in a legal sense and couldn't do very much at all.

It is a horrible situation, and I definately think that some legislation needs to be changed to enable offenders to be dealt with appropriately, because domestic animals are totally depend on us to care for them.

The only tip I'd have for you and getting heard is pester the hell out of them. Call them all the time and ask them when they will do something. Eventually they'll get pissed off and do something just to shut you up. I know it shouldn't be that way, but what's more important?

Another thing you could do is video tape or take photos of the offences, that way you are proving that what you say is really happening.

Answer 5

yes I have, I reported a kitten that was injured, skinny and obviously in a great deal of pain, it also had runny discharge coming out of it's bottom. I called the RSPCA and they said "well there are lots of kittens out there" and I ended up having an argument with the woman as she refused to do anything about it. We took the kitten in, it was a feral and really vicious as it was scared and sick, we kept in in the shed as we could not bring it into the house. Sadly it died but at least we tried to help. I would not bother with the RSPCA again.

Answer 6

OH YEAH! It's probably because they are government funded, I was made to feel so small when I reported someone, leaving a dog out in all weather rain, sleet snow, frost, ice it's diabolicle, then the owners say "they got coats they will be fine" I thought ok I'll stick you outside in ya draws u tell me how long u can last!" So to sum up, it's a waste of time and always too little too late! Get the animal out yourself that's what I would do. I HATE CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.

Answer 7

I have reported problems,and they either don't take it seriously or come out and do nothing, last time they said call us if it gets worse the animal died, how much worse do they want it.

Even my vet doesn't like the RSPCA. he says they are only interested if they can get some good publicity photos from it or they are being followed by Rolf Harris and a camara crew.

Answer 8

Do not steal the animal. That's wrong. We can't break one law to satisfy another. If we give up on the laws, and take matters into our own hands, we take away the freedoms that other laws create. I'm with Claire P. Just pester them until they do their job.

We do need a change, call your legislative officials and tell them to do something about that. Don't give up on democracy. And before you vote for the changes, actually read them. Don't go by what you've heard from your mates. A lot of horrible laws end up being passed that were promoted in a good light, and many freedoms were lost by un-informed voters.

Answer 9

I know someone who reported a neighbour for neglecting various of their animals including Horses.

The RSPCA did nothing.

Answer 10

i contacted them on 2 occasions about a dog i bought from a private seller that was near dead and a woman that had rabbits spiting out babies every 4 weeks and they never done a thing. the woman has about 40 rabbits including babies in 5 small hutches. they are having up to 3 litters in 12 weeks. they should all be taken from her!!!!!!!