Rspca

[Donlin]

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This morning I saw a photo of four 5month old whippets for sale in Cumbria on Preloved. I thought they looked rather a sorry sight on what looks like a stone bench in a grey stone building. I don't live nearby to be able to go and see them.

Now, I'm used to a dog living inside and don't have any experience of those living outside nor of rescuing animals. So I thought maybe I'm overreacting to this photo and worrying about nothing and so I rang the RSPCA to ask if it was possible for someone to look at the photo to either reassure me or decide if it need to be looked into.

The RSPCA gentleman appeared to be unwilling to do this for me and suggested trading standards or reporting the advert to preloved. (But would it help the dogs if they just removed the advert?)

I was rather disappointed that they did not agree to look at the photo, something that would take a couple of minutes.

Or was I expecting too much?

 

[moonlake]

This morning I saw a photo of four 5month old whippets for sale in Cumbria on Preloved. I thought they looked rather a sorry sight on what looks like a stone bench in a grey stone building. I don't live nearby to be able to go and see them. Now, I'm used to a dog living inside and don't have any experience of those living outside nor of rescuing animals. So I thought maybe I'm overreacting to this photo and worrying about nothing and so I rang the RSPCA to ask if it was possible for someone to look at the photo to either reassure me or decide if it need to be looked into.

The RSPCA gentleman appeared to be unwilling to do this for me and suggested trading standards or reporting the advert to preloved. (But would it help the dogs if they just removed the advert?)

I was rather disappointed that they did not agree to look at the photo, something that would take a couple of minutes.

Or was I expecting too much?

Much too much They only react if there is political mileage or they can do a raid with the police in tow for publicity. No funds to be raised by responding privately to a member of the public.

Gay

www.moonlake.co.uk

 

[Esty]

I agree with Gay. Though the RSPCA do some good work, I have personal experience of them letting people down and being downright callous. A couple of years ago my brother was going through a really nasty divorce. He ended up with nothing and having to live back with my Mum and Dad - his adopted dog couldn't live with them as he had attacked my Mum's elderly cat on more than one occasion. My brother's ex wife suffered from depression and the dog was only walked by my brother so the dog wouldn't have had any life with her. We also have a cat so couldn't take him. As my brother had enough on his plate my Dad said he would try and find a rescue place for the dog. He and my Mum approached the RSPCA (my Mum in tears at having to rehome a dog) and they said they only took in strays from the warden, not surrenders. When my Mum asked what she should do as she couldn't keep him at home, the RSPCA woman actually said to take the dog to the vet and get him put down. He was only 7 at the time, a healthy (if cat hating!) crossbreed with many years ahead of him. I still can't believe the RSPCA said that!! Like my parents didn't feel bad enough :'(

Fortunately, the Dog's Trust said they could take him after a few days and the poor cat finally got released from the bedroom where he had been confined for his own safety. Dog's Trust were WONDERFUL and we can't thank them enough. The dog was only in for less than a week before he was rehomed with a lady who lived in a rural area and who had a dog more or less identical to my brother's dog (unusual given he was a real mix of breeds!) so it all worked out.

I also completed a TTouch course run by Sarah Fisher at our local Dog's Trust centre and the people who work there were amazing. Genuinely doing everything they could for these dogs, no matter how futile it might seem to be (I worked with a blind and deaf 13 year old dog and they even found a home for him!!)

Unfortunately, you do see some horrible sights on the free ads websites, and there is even a school of thought that says some people deliberately show litters in bad situations so rescues will buy them - unfortunately if they do, it just makes it into a proifable business for the backyard breeders and so more likely to happen in future. I do hope those pups will be ok.

 

[Dotty&Duke]

I've had experience of both the RSPCA and Preloved being, shall we say 'less than helpful'. I reported a post on preloved a while ago about a bitch 'in season being' advertised, I felt the advert was aimed at people who would use her just to breed, she was also a very young dog. I asked preloved to remove the post on the above grounds and got no responce what so ever not even 'sorry' but no, If anybody reports anything on there I'm not sure they even bother to read the report let alone do anything.

I also recently collected to whippet for Scruples near to where I live. The person who requested for them to be taken was in a desparate situation, she informed me she had asked the RSPCA to take them one of whom was only 5 yrs old, she got the same responce as Esty mentioned, If they were taken by the RSPCA they would be PTS. Its sad to say but it seems there isn't a lot you can do unless the dogs are being 'obviously miss treated! Lets just say I don't donate to the RSPCA and I've stopped looking at preloved as well because it makes me sooo angry. On a brighter note the 2 whippet mentioned above are now in foster )

 

[TillynPip]

Have only just logged on and seen your post which is frustrating as I have been in Cumbria all day today. I have rescued two dogs from the RSPCA and I agree with everything that has already been said. Pip came to us in a dreadful state, physically and mentally, and although none of this was the RSPCA's fault, they let us adopt her without telling us of her severe health problems which, given the time they had had her, they must have known about. We took on an extremely ill dog who cost a great deal of money to sort out. When my vet asked me to contact the rescue for some information about her so that they could try to make a decision regarding her treatment, to say the charity was evasive is an under-statement. Some time later I received a call from their head office asking if I was interested in fund raising for them. I wasn't and told them about our experience. They appeared genuinely concerned and said they would look into it and guess what - nothing ever heard again, no surprise there then. However, Pip was one of a large number of dogs with this 'family' and, after a tip off, the RSPCA removed some dogs leaving quite a few still in situe. Why? because a deal was made with the owners so that they RSPCA didn't have to go to court for an injunction (or whatever it is called when someone won't voluntarily sign over an animal) and I often wonder what happened to those poor unfortunates - heartbreaking. Nothing would have stopped us from adopting Pip but I think we had a right to know exactly what we were taking on and they certainly knew a lot more than they told us, which was precisely zilch.

 

[janet yates]

Have only just logged on and seen your post which is frustrating as I have been in Cumbria all day today. I have rescued two dogs from the RSPCA and I agree with everything that has already been said. Pip came to us in a dreadful state, physically and mentally, and although none of this was the RSPCA's fault, they let us adopt her without telling us of her severe health problems which, given the time they had had her, they must have known about. We took on an extremely ill dog who cost a great deal of money to sort out. When my vet asked me to contact the rescue for some information about her so that they could try to make a decision regarding her treatment, to say the charity was evasive is an under-statement. Some time later I received a call from their head office asking if I was interested in fund raising for them. I wasn't and told them about our experience. They appeared genuinely concerned and said they would look into it and guess what - nothing ever heard again, no surprise there then. However, Pip was one of a large number of dogs with this 'family' and, after a tip off, the RSPCA removed some dogs leaving quite a few still in situe. Why? because a deal was made with the owners so that they RSPCA didn't have to go to court for an injunction (or whatever it is called when someone won't voluntarily sign over an animal) and I often wonder what happened to those poor unfortunates - heartbreaking. Nothing would have stopped us from adopting Pip but I think we had a right to know exactly what we were taking on and they certainly knew a lot more than they told us, which was precisely zilch.

You may know i had to have my poor boy Milo PTS a few weeks ago and i am looking to buy or re home a whippet and guess where i have been looking,yes prelove and epupz etc. When i read this i was so glad i was not tempted to go and see the pups for sale how can i now be able to trust adverts on these sites.Where do i start to look,is there a list of reputable breeders .

 

[Janet]

I recently contacted the RSPCA because a poor little Staffy bitch in a pitiful condition was tied to the playground railings opposite where I live. They wouldn't have anything to do with it at all and told me they don't collect strays even if they clearly are a cruelty case. I took on a lurcher in the last few weeks from the local RSPCA kennels and already they have been on the phone to me with a really hard sell trying to get me to commit "at least £10 a month" and when I said no they said how about £6 a month and then how about £3 a month. This woman would have given a double glazing salesman a run for his money, she was such hard sell.

 

[TTT]

I donate monthly to a small local indepedant rescue who do their best to help all cases in need. These volunteers are so glad of anything that helps the animals - even old blankets etc to use as bedding. I have heard of the local 'big' animal charity refusing donations of sacks of dog meal because they have their own 'official' contract to have food supplied. Support the little local rescues run by volunteers who do it because they genuinely care. :thumbsup:

 

[JAX]

My sister does cat rescue and has many phone calls from peolpe who have already rung the RSPCA to say they have found a stray cat , usually one that is underfed and looking for warmth , what do the RSPCA say `. Put it back outsdie , if will either fnd its way home or not !!

They now only take cruelty cases in !! and whay Gay said is so very true.

Plus the inspectors and staff get a very good wage too. (w00t)

I woudlnt give them the time of day , let alone any money

 

[pat cope]

I donate monthly to a small local indepedant rescue who do their best to help all cases in need. These volunteers are so glad of anything that helps the animals - even old blankets etc to use as bedding. I have heard of the local 'big' animal charity refusing donations of sacks of dog meal because they have their own 'official' contract to have food supplied. Support the little local rescues run by volunteers who do it because they genuinely care. :thumbsup:

well said. Couln't agree more.They need all the help they can get.

 

[Donlin]

Oh dear.

It was not surprising then that, having not been helpful, the gentleman tried to persuade me to go on their mailing list to be sent literature and opportunities to donate to their coffers. I declined.

Everyone's experiences are so disappointing from such a high profile national charity.

I had naively thought of them as the animals' champion.

I shall be careful who I support from now on.

 

[Esty]

Have only just logged on and seen your post which is frustrating as I have been in Cumbria all day today. I have rescued two dogs from the RSPCA and I agree with everything that has already been said. Pip came to us in a dreadful state, physically and mentally, and although none of this was the RSPCA's fault, they let us adopt her without telling us of her severe health problems which, given the time they had had her, they must have known about. We took on an extremely ill dog who cost a great deal of money to sort out. When my vet asked me to contact the rescue for some information about her so that they could try to make a decision regarding her treatment, to say the charity was evasive is an under-statement. Some time later I received a call from their head office asking if I was interested in fund raising for them. I wasn't and told them about our experience. They appeared genuinely concerned and said they would look into it and guess what - nothing ever heard again, no surprise there then. However, Pip was one of a large number of dogs with this 'family' and, after a tip off, the RSPCA removed some dogs leaving quite a few still in situe. Why? because a deal was made with the owners so that they RSPCA didn't have to go to court for an injunction (or whatever it is called when someone won't voluntarily sign over an animal) and I often wonder what happened to those poor unfortunates - heartbreaking. Nothing would have stopped us from adopting Pip but I think we had a right to know exactly what we were taking on and they certainly knew a lot more than they told us, which was precisely zilch.

You may know i had to have my poor boy Milo PTS a few weeks ago and i am looking to buy or re home a whippet and guess where i have been looking,yes prelove and epupz etc. When i read this i was so glad i was not tempted to go and see the pups for sale how can i now be able to trust adverts on these sites.Where do i start to look,is there a list of reputable breeders .

Some whippets do come into general rescues but they are popular so you would need to get your name down (eg at your local Dog's Trust) as they are often spoken for before they come in. To be honest, as an individual, you might want to rehome a dog from the freeads BUT you need to be very aware that you might not get a true history and the previous owners may disappear into the ether once the deal is done. There are some genuine people, it's just that you don't want to end up with a puppy farmed dog (they use individuals as a front, saying the bitch is out for a walk etc) or one with behavioural/ medical problems that you hadn't anticipated. I contacted my pups breeder when the dogs were 5 weeks old and visited at least once a week, often at short notice, to ensure no foul play. However, she was genuine lady, I know she has taken a couple back and rehomed them when their first homes didn't work out and we have met up several times since with our dogs.

Contact a specific breed rescue such as Scruples - they have many dogs in foster up and down the country so don't just rely on the website to wait and see if you like one as some are matched up to people on the list as soon as they have been assessed and don't even make it to the website! Get yourself on their approved list - at least with a rescue you should have back-up with any problems which may arise

Also, there are a few GREAT breeders on here who really do their homework and breed litters to improve the breed, not to try and make a profit. Their litters often have waiting lists of owners before the pups are even conceived! So look around the forum and just check out posts from people who have bred litters in the past. Look at other posts they've put on and see if you agree with their philosophy. See how other forum members interact with them. Check out their websites. See if anyone else has one of their pups. It's no substitute for meeting people but you can tell a lot by what people write! Good luck with your search

 

[eve]

You may know i had to have my poor boy Milo PTS a few weeks ago and i am looking to buy or re home a whippet and guess where i have been looking,yes prelove and epupz etc. When i read this i was so glad i was not tempted to go and see the pups for sale how can i now be able to trust adverts on these sites.Where do i start to look,is there a list of reputable breeders .

I have bought / " rescued" 2 dogs via ePupz, you can do a lot worse. Most of these dogs (those that are not litters being advertised, some of whom are from puppy farms) are in genuine need of a new home and some of the sellers are genuine very too. I do not regret a single dog that I have rehomed through e Pupz. I would rather give my money to someone genuinely looking for a loving home for a dog that they can no longer keep (and at present there are plenty of people who are having to make such heartbreaking decisions).

I do not use preloved but have found a dog needing a reliable stable home on e Pupz 2 times in the last 3 yaers. If I have space for another, that is where I go.