Warm boot recommendations please

[Valkyrie]

I have just received a news bulletin from HART wildlife centre.

 

Now I know the RSPCA has a bit of a track record for not wanting to bother with wildlife but I will never fund this charity ever again - especially as they are supposed to check farms regularly and it appears that they don't. I am so cross.

 

Begin forwarded message:

 

Subject: RSPCA new policy, All wildlife to be euthanised

 

I have received some very alarming news regarding the RSPCA’s decision NOT to treat any wildlife, Hedgehogs included

 

The RSPCA's new policy ( because of lack of funds due to the credit crunch) is to euthanise ( KILL!!!) all wildlife taken to them or picked up by them

 

They will not pay for any wildlife to be taken to a vet or wildlife rescue centre and inspectors & ACO ( Animal Collection Officers) have been told to kill all wildlife they get instead. The Inspector or ACO has to get specific permission from the duty Chief Inspector for the region/group BEFORE considering any treatment or rescue/rehabilitation of any wildlife. This is all to do with saving money. The Chief Inspectors are instructing euthanasia for almost everything.

 

I am really worried that RSPCA staff are being told to kill sick, injured, orphaned hedgehogs and all other wildlife. If they become ill, no matter how minor or easily treatable the illness or injury is, they will be automatically killed regardless, without even being fully or properly assessed. Even if just cold, hungry and underweight. What about those just waking up from hibernation? They are all just thin and weak, nothing else wrong with them.

 

The big worry that I have, is that a member of public rings the RSPCA control centre. The call centre staff don't know that a different policy is now in place. They take the call, pass it to an ACO or inspector. The inspector or ACO report back to the Control Centre saying the call has been dealt with. The public won't know that "dealt with" means euthanised, instead of taking the animal to a vet or wildlife hospital for care and attention.

 

I can understand that the RSPCA has financial problems. It is totally unacceptable to use Euthanasia because of a decrease in their funds.

 

We must all protest about this decision by the RSPCA.

 

It is now even more important to tell as many people as you can to feed and look after hedgehogs in their garden. We need to keep them healthy. Once they become ill, that is the end of it. They will not be treated or saved any more.

 

There is a discussion topic http://www.hedgehoghelp.co.uk/index.php/topic,2671.0.html

 

Regards

 

Derek Knight

[Valkyrie]

Well I've tried the link given, but I can't see anything relating to this topic. I assume that this is the case because it has been forwarded by the wildlife centre, but . . . am I getting hot under the collar for a rumour that I have just added to?

[Old Speckled Hen]

When I worked in the Veterinary arena the RSPCA were the pits.

We did lots of work free where wildlife was concerned and never inolved them because that is exactly what they did ...... Kill Kill Kill

They were pretty good at high profile press cases though .... surprise surprise ... and I know personally that legacies from "little old cat-ladies" were largely spent on "needless infrastructure" know what I mean

[The Dogmother]

A vet of my acquaintance is none to happy with them either.

[Valkyrie]

I thought I would e-mail them to ask whether this is their new policy. So far I have to become a member - which is like watching paint dry, putting it mildly. I get as far as the personal details and then when I get to the next page it says it's expired. Euthanised themselves! Don't know why I have to go through all that just to ask a question. I've just got in, so here goes. I wonder what the reply will be?

[Lydia]

I'm not at all surprised but to have it written down is deeply depressing.

 

I supported the RSPCA for years but abandoned my support last year after a series of damning reports on their failures.

 

Thanks for the link to the hedgehog site Koojie. Very interesting forum that.

[Guest]

one of my friends volunteers for the RSPCA so I'll ask her to try and find out

[Valkyrie]

Thanks Poet, that would be much appreciated.

I have had the standard response from them so far, but nothing else.

[Guest]

she's on the case

[chelsea]

wouldnt surprise me with the RSPCA seems to me all their ethics went out the window years ago.

[Lesley]

I stopped supporting them about 10 years ago after their response - or lack of - re an injured deer we'd just hit. I had to watch it die, slowly

 

...and again, when we moved to this farm and needed help in catching feral cats so that we could get them neutered.......

[Guest]

here's my friend's response...

Seems the RSPCA is up in arms over this rumour and rightly so!

 

Here is the response I got aswell as emails from Wildlife Centre Managers who are really hurt by the comments that are going around who are stating that they are simply lies.

 

Dear C.......

 

Les has forwarded your email regarding the rumour that it is now the

RSPCA's policy to euthanise all wildlife.

 

As Manager of the Society's biggest and busiest wildlife centre, I can

categorically tell you that this rumour is untrue. It appears to have

arisen in the south-west following mis-interpretation of a memo from a

Chief Inspector regarding hedgehogs being taken to an independent

wildlife rehabilitator. It appears that some of these were euthanised at

the centre (who then charged the RSPCA). The CI simply reminded his

staff that they were able to make the same decision on some of these

seriously ill hogs and euthanase them in the field, thus alleviating

suffering at an earlier stage and reducing the cost to the Society. This

was mis-interpreted by the independent rehabilitator, who then started

spreading the rumour. The more cynical amongst us might think he did it

deliberately to damage the Society.

 

The RSPCA continues to be committed to alleviating suffering in

wildlife casualties and euthanasia is only used when there is no

prospect of the animal being returned to the wild. In 2006 (I don't have

data for other years), 38% of all calls tasked to Inspectors or ACOs

were wildlife casualties. Therefore it is a very important part of the

Society's work.

 

At Stapeley in 2008 we admitted over 5000 wildlife casualties with a

very good release rate. We are also involved in research projects to

measure the post-release survival of some of the species we deal with.

These research projects have shown that post-release survival is very

good across a wide range of species.

 

I hope this message alleviates your concerns.

 

maybe you could pass it on to your sources?

[Valkyrie]

Thought you might like to see this:

 

"The RSPCA has been made aware of an alarming rumour being circulated claiming that the Society has changed its policy regarding wild animals. It goes on to claim that due to the credit crunch, every wild animal the Society picks up, will be automatically put to sleep. This is completely untrue.

 

Wildlife counts for a huge proportion of calls made to the RSPCA every year. Our inspectors and officers regularly respond to calls regarding injured or sick wild animals and birds. Every effort is made to ensure that these are taken to one of our own specialist wildlife centres, to a vet or one of the independent organisations that we work with and that they are rehabilitated and released where possible.

 

The RSPCA takes the decision to euthanise wildlife on a case by case basis, only ever with the welfare of the animal in mind and to alleviate suffering.

 

Thank you again for your enquiry.

 

Kind regards

 

RSPCA HQ Advice Team"

 

Isn't it sad that someone would start up something like this and even upsets the other wildlife centres - also a pity that the newsletter was sent to me without verification - and I also passed it on before checking.

I still don't like the RSPCA anyway - for loads of reasons.

 

Thank you Poet - HART knows now too.

[Guest]

I am a naturally suspicious person I'm afraid and like to double check things. I can't imagine my friend volunteering for an organisation that was not principalled as she is very much like myself.

 

I think a lot of the bad press the RSPCA gets comes from rumour and hearsay, I know they have their faults but they also do a lot of good work. It would be a real shame if the good work they actually do was jeopardised by lies.