RSPCA INSPECTORS KILL DOGS AS PART OF THEIR TRAINING

Enquiry history RSPCA Inspector Training Enquiry.

LETTER TO RSPCA (2006)

It has been brought to my attention that RSPCA inspectors are required to kill animals as part of their training. I have heard that this is done both with animals in a slaughterhouse and also shooting dogs, for example, in animal shelters.

The following link has relevant extracts from your Watchdog magazine; http://www.webtribe.net/~watchdog/watchdog73.htm

Can you please comment on this practise and whether this is still part of your inspectors training?

RSPCA REPLY

Thank you for your recent enquiry expressing your concerns about the euthanasia of animals by student inspectors. The training of student inspectors in all routes (by firearms and injection methods) of euthanasia is essential. While nobody becomes an inspector to euthanase animals, sometimes this is the kindest and only option, particularly with animals that are sick or injured. It is also sometimes necessary to euthanase those animals for which appropriate homes are not available and which would therefore endure long-term suffering through deprivation of basic needs (as far as domestic animals are concerned, this in itself reduces the space for an animal that could be rehomed). All 'initial' euthanasia performed by staff members must be supervised by a veterinary surgeon to ensure that animals are not subjected to unnecessary stress. Where appropriate, sedation is used but the temperament of the animal is assessed before the process is undertaken. I would like to assure you that all students are assessed for their competence before they are allowed to perform euthanasia unsupervised. The ethics of human destruction are an integral part of the training process and euthanasia is one of the most difficult areas for new inspectors to come to terms with. All students are trained in the theory and practice on prosthesis before being allowed anywhere near a live animal. The RSPCA works tirelessly to prevent cruelty, promote kindness and to alleviate the suffering of all animals. Sadly, it is often left to organisations like the RSPCA to 'pick up the pieces' from irresponsible pet owners who allow their animals to breed indiscriminately or who abandon their animals when surplus to their requirements. I hope that the above information clarifies this matter and alleviates any concerns that you may have.

Thank you for contacting the Society.

Kind regards RSPCA Enquiries Service

http://www.veggieromance.com/f/49654

COUPLE DESPARATELY NEEDING HELP ARE JAILED BY RSPCA

Only a matter of days ago the RSPCA killed a family's cat, only hours after capturing it. Last month they failed to prosecute a man who kicked his girlfriends dog to death, saying it didn't suffer.
And they have the audacity to prosecute AND JAIL a STRUGGLING couple who just needed some HELP ! DISGRACEFUL.

A husband and wife from Bath have been jailed and banned from keeping animals for ten years after cats, dogs and rabbits were discovered living in 'filthy' conditions in their home.
Mark and Rebecca Lanfear, have been given 12-week jail terms after causing 'prolonged suffering' to their 18 pets.
The couple appeared before Bath Magistrates Court to admit ten charges each of animal neglect, while Mrs Lanfear's 69-year-old mother, Sheila Wheeler, also pleaded guilty to the same charges and was given a 12-week community order.
The suffering they caused to the animals in their care cost the RSPCA around £28,000 in vets' bills, accommodation and court costs in a case that a senior official said was caused by 'things getting horribly out of hand'.
An RSPCA investigation was launched following a tip-off from a member of the public in October last year.
RSPCA Chief Inspector Becky Griffiths, led the team which entered the house in Oldfield Park. Celia Strathdee, defending, said her clients were deeply ashamed at what had happened and acknowledged that what they had done was wrong.
She said events in the family home had spiralled out of control in such a desperate way that none of the defendants felt able to tackle the problems.
Mrs Strathdee said the couple lived with Mrs Wheeler who was in poor health.
She told the court Mr Lanfear had been suspended from his job as a driver due to illness, creating a 'huge' drop in his monthly income and contribution to the running of the house.
The 47-year-old's parents had both diagnosed with cancer which proved terminal for his mother who died in October last year.
Mrs Lanfear, who works as a claims negotiator for a firm in Bath, was then left with the task of helping to take care of her husband's father and her own mother as well as the finances of the house.
The 43-year-old suffered a nervous breakdown and took two months off work from July to August last year.
Mrs Lanfear has three horses which live in a yard around ten miles away from her house.
Mrs Strathdee said: "It seems to me that when everything was going wrong and the stress became too much she (Mrs Lanfear) sought refuge at the yard.
"The horses were not just loved but adored.
"Despite the fact that chaos seems to run in the home, the horses were beautifully looked after."
Chairman of the bench, Andrew Turnbull, said the offences were so severe that custody was the only appropriate sentence.
He also ordered that the RSPCA must take possession of Mrs Lanfear's three horses within 28 days.
Chief Insp Griffiths said the ruling was unusually severe and that custody was normally imposed only in cases involving physical attacks on animals.
She said: "This is a strong message to people that they have to look after their animals.
"We must now take steps to get the horses rehomed as soon as possible."
http://www.thisisbath.co.uk/news/Couple-jailed-animal-neglect/article-1072540-detail/article.html

THE RSPCA KILLERS

Family's missing cat is put down 1hr after it's found !

The rspca have been accused of killing a couple's pet cat - just one hour after picking her up in a neighbouring garden.
Three-year-old Luna had gone out to play, but a neighbour thought she was a stray and called the animal charity on Saturday morning.
Twenty minutes later an inspector arrived and an hour after that the tabby had been taken to a local vet's and put down by a lethal injection.
Upset owners Harry and Jennifer Hamilton now plan to take legal action against the RSPCA.
Harry, a 28-year-old engineer, raged: "Luna was the nicest cat in the world. My wife, who is fiveand-a-half months pregnant, is absolutely devastated.
"We can't believe a charity we support with donations could behave in this way. We are gutted."
He added: "The RSPCA said they thought Luna was a stray and vicious, but lots of cats are scared when approached by strangers. I thought they were supposed to keep a cat for 28 days not just a few hours. I'm so mad."
He and teacher Jennifer, 25, now plan to bury Luna in the back garden at their home in Goole, East Yorkshire.
The RSPCA, which is investigating the matter, said: "We apologise profusely for this upsetting incident."

COMMENTS
palval wrote:
As an animal lover I am appalled at this poor cats demise and the heartache caused to her owners Maybe if this incident hadnt occured on a Saturday morning events wouldnt have taken place so quickly
I have become disillusioned with the RSPCA recently and any future pleadings for money from them will be consigned to the recyling bin and my money given to other animal charities (GS – good thought here)
17/6/2009 13:42 BST on Mirror.co.uk
Romano wrote:
God, this is terrible! This sort of tragedy could happen to many cats whom some folk think are strays. Actually, it almost certainly has happened many times. The RSPCA are not often as quick to come out to cruelty cases as they are to a supposedley stray cat. I strongly suggest the RSPCA be ultra careful in future!
Francis H. Giles (Reading)
17/6/2009 14:03 BST on Mirror.co.uk
hasa23 wrote:
Thanks to the mirror for help on this - the RSPCA ought to know what they have done to my family!
Thanks again.
17/6/2009 14:12 BST on Mirror.co.uk
Becca_Bee wrote:
The RSPCA, which is investigating the matter, said: "We apologise profusely for this upsetting incident."
Not good enough. My cat recently went missing and after putting posters up we found out he'd died. The woman who found him rang the council, who took him to the RSPCA were they "disposed" of him. They didn't even bother scanning him, if they did they would have discovered he was microchipped and they could have informed us that he was dead and we could have buried him at home.
What is the point in supporting and donating to a charity if the people who work there can't even do their jobs properly?
17/6/2009 14:33 BST on Mirror.co.uk
Tan wrote:
This is awful and not the 1st time i have sadly heard this happening with the charity.
17/6/2009 14:53 BST on Mirror.co.uk
FeeFeeFee wrote:
Whilst I sympathise with the loss of this loving pet, suing the RSPCA isn't going to change what happened, only stretch their already over stretched budget.
Perhaps if this couple had been responsible enough to have their cat Microchipped then this misunderstanding could have been avoided. (GS – what rubbish – for uselessness of microchipping, see comment high-lighted above)

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2009/06/17/the-rspca-killers-115875-21447065/