Hoping the RSPCA respond to this call

[dabs]

I won't go into all the ins & outs but they are going to visit next week. It seems a long way off but there are 3 inspectors for the whole of SE Kent. Apparently, you must insist on a log number when you phone the national number.

 I asked for a log number when I last phoned about the dogs and got refused!

Apparently, you have to be firm. They are regular call centre people with no animal background or knowledge and have a script like any other call centre people.

Trust me Mark, there is no one firmer than me, but this bloke was pushing his luck, that is why I ended up hanging up on him. 

[Mark]

I won't go into all the ins & outs but they are going to visit next week. It seems a long way off but there are 3 inspectors for the whole of SE Kent. Apparently, you must insist on a log number when you phone the national number.

 I asked for a log number when I last phoned about the dogs and got refused!

Apparently, you have to be firm. They are regular call centre people with no animal background or knowledge and have a script like any other call centre people.

[dabs]

I won't go into all the ins & outs but they are going to visit next week. It seems a long way off but there are 3 inspectors for the whole of SE Kent. Apparently, you must insist on a log number when you phone the national number.

 I asked for a log number when I last phoned about the dogs and got refused!

[Mark]

I won't go into all the ins & outs but they are going to visit next week. It seems a long way off but there are 3 inspectors for the whole of SE Kent. Apparently, you must insist on a log number when you phone the national number.

[Mark]

Sharon chased them up this morning but they were quite curt and said they were busy and would be in touch if there was any news. Despite being full, Caroline, our welfare officer has a soft heart for oldies that have been through the mill and she is willing to squeeze this one in somewhere.

[Mouse2]

I am also very frustrated with the RSPCA since I arrived in this country 12 years ago. This has been going on for a while.

10 years ago phoned and asked for help with an emaciated kitten I found in the car park in front of our block of flats.. It was around Christmas and very cold outside. RSPCA man told me to put kitten back outside as I have "stolen" it from its owners. The cat had no collar and it vomited each time I fed it. Luckily a local charity was more helpfull.

4 years ago we also found an entire male stray cat that was so thin he fell of our back garden wall he was sitting on. We fed him and took him in and he started putting weight on immediately. Took him to the vet and again no collar or chip or any response to posters. Phoned RSPCA for advice and again they told us to let the cat go and that we were not to neuter and home it as the cat my be a show cat for breeding. The RSPCA man was very threatening on the phone telling us we are not to neuter as we are committing a crime. The local charity again neutered the moggy(show cat my a**e) for free and we were able to home it immediately after that. No one wants an entire male in the house. They spray.

That was the last time I bothered phoning the RSPCA. Local charities are the only way to go.

[Bazsmum]

Thanks goodness something is going to happen ... fingers crossed for the kitty xxxx

Here, here! 

[Sam (Fussy_Furball)]

Thanks goodness something is going to happen ... fingers crossed for the kitty xxxx

[Mark]

Margaret, our coordinator has spoken to someone at the local RSPCA and they are going to investigate.  (seems wrong putting a smiley here but you know what I mean) Sharon or myself will update when there is some news.

[LesleyW]

I had a couple phone me on Tuesday to say they were having problems with a neighbour to the back of them who has adult cats breeding out of control and recently they had found dead kittens in their garden and the next door neighbour's garden.  There was also a poorly kitten hanging around which they managed to catch and called the RSPCA out.

The Inspector called and said that although the kitten was lethargic it's eyes and nose were clear and therefore he could not take it in.  He said the neighbour concerned was known to them but at the present time there was nothing they could do as no evidence of cruelty (aren't two deceased kittens evidence of some sort of cruelty).  The Inspector also said he was leaving the area and would pass the case on to his successor. (talk about passing the buck).

The couple were so concerned about the poorly kitten they took it to the vet and now one of the Vet nurses is nursing it back to health.  The couple also have booked one of the female cats from the house in to be spayed (they think this latest litter are her kittens) even though it is not their cat and the Vet has kindly offered them a discount, treating the cat as a stray.

They had two other kittens they had cornered and were desperate to find space for before a similar fate befell them but the RSPCA and the Cats Protection both said they were full.  They tried another local rescue who gave them my name as "kitten specialists" so by the time I tried to say I was full they already felt they were being passed frome one rescue to another - so there are two extremely feral kittens in a pen in the cat room - even had to tell OH they were dumped outside as I had already promised to say "No" to anymore.

The other laugh is that I have four kittens I am fostering for the local RSPCA shelter because they are full and can't take anymore!!

[Mark]

I mentioned complaining to the man and he said he doesn't want to get into all that, he just wants the cat taken out of danger.
We can't complain on his behalf - also, we can't afford to burn our bridges with them so I really think it needs some tact. I am disgusted with them but we have to do whatever helps the cat and future cats.

I will send you his details and the address where the cat is Sharon.

[Canterbury_cats (Sharon)]

Mark, can you send me the mans details etc. No guarantees but i do have a back door to the local RSPCA inspector. Whehter that might be any good its something we can see they havent before. But i agree he needs to keep ringing and also make lots of fuss about not good PR and making a big issue of no doing anything..

The more that make a fuss the more they might take notice.. I can only imagine the frusteration of the man who is trying to do his best.

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

I agree with trigger and although Sams way maybe the correct one it wiill not get dealt with as well as triggers.....maybe do both 

[Kay and Penny]

if I personally felt let down by the RSPCA I would write to their patrons with full details, and photographs if possible

[Sam (Fussy_Furball)]

Maybe this guy should try complaing:

I would like to submit a comment or complaint about my local branch. How do I do this?

Comments or complaints can be directed to our Customer Service Coordinator via My RSPCA, our online enquiry submission process or in writing to the following address:

Customer Service Coordinator
RSPCA
Wilberforce Way
Southwater
Horsham
West Sussex RH13 9RS

http://www.rspca.org.uk/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RSPCA/RSPCARedirect&pg=FAQs&articleId=1176908763570&topic=1116592351782&subtopic=1172248214099&previousPage=1114778749280#1176908763570

[Mark]

Rude, obstructive and brick wall were some of the words the man used. He is a bit of a talker (pot calling kettle  ) but at the same time, they should be good listeners?

Vanishing moggie was the other suggestion I made - obviously I was speaking for myself and not on behalf of any organisation you understand  - The problem there is that the cat isn't normally allowed out so he won't have a chance. Doesn't help that we have nowhere to put it if it did. This poor man is so frustrated as he expected some kind of help for the cat after speaking to 2 animal welfare organisations and I can't blame him tbh.

The man said he really feared for the cat and it frightens him to think what it could be going through. 

[dabs]

At the risk of starting a debate here, I had cause to phone the RSPCA last week as part of my day job. It was to report concerns that one of my perpetratours was beating her dogs and forcing them to fight each other and using puppies to bait them with. The call handler was rude and obstructive and in the end I hung up out of sheer frustration, it was like talking to a brick wall. 

As for the cat, cats have a tendancy to go missing, if this cat happens to wander thru this chaps garden on his way to the great outside world, then he cannot be held responsible surely. Would be a shame if the cat found his way into a carrier Mark! 

[Mark]

I rang the man just now. He said that the national helpline felt like he was talking to someone at a British Gas call centre and the local branch were very dismissive and kept interrupting him saying there wasn't anything they could do etc. He said in the end, he said "are you going to do something, you aren't being very helpful" he said the woman said that he was being rude and they ended the call. He said he has run out of ideas with CP having no power and the RSPCA couldn't care less. He said he thinks as well as neglect, the cat is probably suffering abuse. He said he picked the cat up to have a look at it and the son from next door saw him and ran in the opposite direction. He said the "boy" (about 16) is a right little so & so.

I said if the RSPCA do act, they will know it was him. He said he didn't care. He said he will put up with a lot fropm people but will not tolerate animal cruelty in any way. I suggested he keeps badgering them and they may do something to get him off their back. He agrees it is a good idea so is going to ring them tomorrow and keep ringing until something happens. I am also going to ask if one of our welfare people can speak to them.

He said he said to the daughter that the cat was thin and asked her when it was last fed. she said "yesterday" - he said given that this was 7pm, it is disgusting 

[Mark]

My oh's mum had a dog that was on its last legs, balding, blind and had trouble with its back legs-someone had phoned the rspca saying it was being mistreated and the rspca were round to their house. Little did the caller know the dog was 16 and very frail, not being mistreated at all.

Not saying this is the case here tho 

I know what you mean CC but you would have thought the neighbour would have explained to him rather than saying there was nothing wrong with it. There is no excuse for it being covered in fleas though?

[Mark]

not wanting to hijack your thread but our cats owner phoned up 2 hours ago

Yay  - Sorry been out today. Still not message from the man,Hopefully he will call when he gets in from work.

[CC & The Pussycat Guys & Dolls]

Mark I dont think its the rspca in genral 

My oh's mum had a dog that was on its last legs, balding, blind and had trouble with its back legs-someone had phoned the rspca saying it was being mistreated and the rspca were round to their house. Little did the caller know the dog was 16 and very frail, not being mistreated at all.

Not saying this is the case here tho 

[Angiew]

not wanting to hijack your thread but our cats owner phoned up 2 hours ago

[Mark]

I am waiting for him to get back. From what I can make out, the neighbours have the cat back inside now and we aren't allowed to knock at doors and ask to see cats. That is why I am hoping he calls back with an update soon.

It is possible the cat is elderly but I would expect the neighbours would have explained it it was genuinely elderly/ill.

The road is literally 1 minute from here but I have no idea what street number. If the cat was out and the man could give me access to the back, I could take a camera and send photos to the RSPCA.

I know at the same time people can exaggerate - eg the "Feral" that had "Lacerated" the woman's arm. When I got there, she had a regular scratch on her arm and I picked the cat up purring and put it in the carrier 
All the same, we have to take people at their word. I don't think he would have tried to phone at 5.30am without good reason.

[Angiew]

Do you have anyone to be able to check the cat out to see whether it needs urgent medical treatment?

I had a call a couple of nights ago the cat was found thin,limping,  blood coming from its eyes, nose and mouth. or at least thats what i was told.

told them to contact rspca. in the meantime i checked to see if it could come in, rang back and someone went to fetch. Fosterers took it to vet - which was vets now but in reality there was no blood - the cat is just an old cat probably a thyroid problem and arthritis - i doubt I'd have taken it to vets now. Luckily by then we had an rspca log number for it and hopefully the bill will go to them!

I was expecting it to be an RTA - now we are faced with possibly an owner thinking 'it has gone off to die", though the area it was found in, it is more likely to be dumped.

[Mark]

A man around the corner from me left 2 long messages about his neighbour's cat (oddly he had phoned at 5.30am and 6am)
He said the cat isn't usually allowed out but it had got out into the garden. It is emaciated, covered in fleas, hardly any fur and he said it looks as if it has cat flu. He said he put a bowl of food out at the cat was scraping it out onto the floor but unable to eat (mouth probs?). He said he spoke to the neighbours but they claim there is nothing wrong with the cat.
The man said he is a cat lover and has cats of his own and is extremely worried about this cat. I his landline explaining that we don't have any powers of investigation and left him the RSPCA cruelty number and also the local branch number. I have asked that he leaves a message to let us know the outcome. I assume the man is at work now as there was no answer on the landline and the mobile went to voicemail.

I really hope they act - I'm afraid I don't have a lot of faith in them although the woman that runs our local branch is ex-CP so hoping that something will happen and quickly