News: Healthy cats may have to be pts - rspca

[Angiew]

i really don't think the average pet owner knows how bad it is. As rescues we just have to keep shouting this message out.
Just got back from our animal action day, think Yvonne scored 9 neuterings booked but considering the area I am a bit disappointed.

Glenn confirmed that they have a waiting list going back to feb, 4 pages of inspectorate animals to get an PLUS 92 cats at a private boarding kennels. They still have a good homing rate on par with last year so at least are keeping up that end as well.

Again heard the old 'i told her to give them to a rescue' comment - people do not realise that there are no places in rescue - if we could take more on we would.

I can't really think of anything else we can do - are we missing something?

[LesleyW]

The article from the Telegraph quoted the Manager of the RSPCA shelter where Trooper was taken.  Suffice to say I think they would sensationalise any story to get publicity, and there are plenty of people who have tried to get help from them and been turned away, so I am afraid I take his words with a pinch of salt. . 


They are also the shelter that offered to help me with some of my rescues, - obviously with those comments and things that have happened, none of my rescues will be going there!!!!

[Dawn F]

my mums neighbour was the same I reported him to the rspca because she had three litters on year and they said it wasn't cruel - he actually told my mum she was cruel when her cat was neutered

[Susanne (urbantigers)]

I've just posted in non cat chat about a work colleague whose cat is having litter after litter because she doesn't agree with spaying    That's the kind of thing we're up against.  For all the reasons she's given, and despite me arguing til I'm blue in the face about it, I don't think she understands just how many unwanted cats there are.

[maryas]

Hopefully with this publicity maybe more people will come forward to adopt.

[/color]

I do hope so.

Mary

[Yvonne]

I don't know what else I could do, I have three/four cats and I feed all strays. Cannot take any more on at the moment. Hopefully with this publicity maybe more people will come forward to adopt.

[Tiggy's Mum]

I think Sarah_Jane has hit the nail on the head, I fear for the future for both animals and people because society in general is on a downward spiral and so many people take no responsibility for their actions nowadays. They don't care about others, only themselves, and they will continue to breed the life out of the cats and dogs they have to make a quick buck and dump the animals when they're no longer needed. When they can no longer sell the puppies/kittens they won't think to themselves 'oh well, end of the gravy train, best get them neutered now' they will just be cast aside.

I don't know what the solution is, sadly I think things will get much much worse 

I also agree the RSPCA branches shouldn't be tarred with the same brush as the organisation the RSPCA. My local branch is excellent, they are entirely self-funded receiving no support from HQ and vet bills were in excess of £150,000 last year.

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

I think all that you say is right and the point about the small RSPCA branches is very true and it was one of those who saved Mikey, one of our heroes.

I listened last night to our wonderful Angie and the lasy before her and the contrast was incredible in attitude. The first lady said that she would probably end up putting cats to sleep to make way for more but Angie said she would stop rescue rather than do that...................gooooooooooooo Angie cos I agree that ptscats for no reason but to make more space cannot be the way to go.

Its like us owners saying well we can only have x number of cats but because there are so many kittens needing homes we will pts all our cats over 5..................what a terrible thought 

[Sarah_Jane]

I live and work in what some would call a deprived area (or maybe thats just the people i know) but i am terrified by what i see happening around me.
Sadly in a society where alot of people are having children just so that they can have a council house and the benefits that come with what chance do the animals have, if people are now willing to breed themselves for money can we really expect these people to give a damn if there pet is under fed under medicated under socialised and used as a breeding machine? And this isnt something which is rare, it happens daily.
In my area i know of at least six 'people' that have had numerous children, for the benefits, have moved house 3 times because they have had enough children to qualify for 4 bedrooms and they all have staffies bredding liek maniacs, which have been reported and "the animals are well fed, cared for and there is nothing we can do, except give vouchers for neutering" and that isnt even counting the amount of people i work with (im a support worker) that will do anything for money. Yes i know this isnt every one or even most of the population, problem is it doesnt take many to be breeding animals left right and centre to be in the state we are now with shelters and rescues teeming and animals having to be pts because there is nothing else anyone can do. 
At times i feel that people will do anything for money and sadly this is probably going to get worse with the cuts and the job losses, and animals are the quick and easy way of making a bit if side cash so it is them who will suffer.
And then you get the  coming round pretending to be collecting for local charities and theyre pocketing it!!! (happened last week in my area)
Honest people make me sick.
Anyway...
I agree we do need a law, and a society that respects the law, and a police force to enforce it.
Sadly i dont feel we have any of that. We should protest, petition and scream and kick until something is done and the suffering of the animals and the hard work of rescues and fosters is recognised and given thought to when it comes to making laws might take 50 years like but theres my personal opinion. Rant over.

[Dawn F]

totally true Bee, most charities are big businesses

[Bee]

My girls came from the RSPCA and the staff there were wonderful and the centre was stunning... I guess when people say the RSPCA they aren't referring to the independent centres and their volunteers but the overall beaurocracy of the charity. To be frank they are actually not a lot differant from the 'market leaders' in most charities.. I used to work for Oxfam and I could tell you a thing or two about the way they use their resources... but again, this doesn't mean all the volunteers that work torelessly campaigning for gun control and fairly traded produce should be tarred with the same brush... 

[JenGeorgieBob]

I have to stick up for the RSPCA in Halifax where I do voluntary work - no healthy cats are pts there - they have a fantastic rate of rehoming and fostering cats - it's amazing really.

When I started there over a year ago I was told all aboutt he money that goes to the large RSPCA Branches in London etc. people who donate to RSPCA by DD  are donating to these big ones and the little ones like in Halifax rely on money they make from sales in the RSPCA and in the RSPCA charity shop and donations made to that Branch.  The employees in Halifax also have to be paid from the money they make at the Branch.

Lots of events are organised to raise money and I've seen how hard the people work at the Halifax Branch.

However, the RSPCA as a whole have their hands tied by laws and burocracy etc. like a lot of other charaties and I don't know enough about it to comment but I'm proud to be part of the RSPCA in Halifax.

Mary

I completely agree, where I volunteer is an RSPCA branch that only gets funding from head office if they take in cruelty cases, so those particular cats are funded but otherwise they are independent. I always feel I need to stick up for them so they don't get tarred with the same brush, as the cats are only pts if it is for the cats best interest, they have rehomed fiv, pancreatitis, diabetes, kidney problems and incredibly aggressive cats to the right environment. I got my 2 (Fred and Ginger) from there and they helped them through their illnesses when they were very young and all their siblings gave up. I don't think the people that give money to RSPCA head office realise what it goes to pay for, I certainly didn't realise that there were independent branches until I started volunteering for them nearly a year ago now and would not have volunteered for them if they had the same policies on fiv as the head office as my Benji is fiv+ but they have files and files of research on different conditions, all kept up to date.

[Bee]

I guess maybe I just think that if a law existed it might at least stop some people breeding or buying from breeders..

Are we talking pedigree breeders here?

Sorry, no I meant moggie breeders, I realise there is a place for proper pedigree breeding, I should have explained that 

[maryas]

I have to stick up for the RSPCA in Halifax where I do voluntary work - no healthy cats are pts there - they have a fantastic rate of rehoming and fostering cats - it's amazing really.

When I started there over a year ago I was told all aboutt he money that goes to the large RSPCA Branches in London etc. people who donate to RSPCA by DD  are donating to these big ones and the little ones like in Halifax rely on money they make from sales in the RSPCA and in the RSPCA charity shop and donations made to that Branch.  The employees in Halifax also have to be paid from the money they make at the Branch.

Lots of events are organised to raise money and I've seen how hard the people work at the Halifax Branch.

However, the RSPCA as a whole have their hands tied by laws and burocracy etc. like a lot of other charaties and I don't know enough about it to comment but I'm proud to be part of the RSPCA in Halifax.

Mary

[Guest]

Angie, you sounded brilliant! Wonderful at getting your point across! xx

still sad message tho.

[Rosella moggy]

if you do listen and have time theres an anti-cat irish nutter (sorry to all irish) who almos made the presenter lose her rag 

That's when I switched off .............. complete prat ............... he kept talking about the dogs he was breeding back home (Ireland)  He made me ashamed of me roots 

ETA  Just listened Angie.  Excellent 

[Guest]

Just listening now. So sad. It makes me feel so powerless 

[Angiew]

If you have 15 mins it right at the beginning of the show.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p001d7cm

20/07/11

if you do listen and have time theres an anti-cat irish nutter (sorry to all irish) who almos made the presenter lose her rag 

[Rosella moggy]

I've got an interview on bbc coventry and warwick shortly after 9......

I tuned in around 9.30am Angie to hear female presenter say she has 7 cats.  I thought "Blimey!!! Another nutter"     She explained programme was all about whether to enforce neutering of cats or not and that listeners had already heard from two local rescues.  One said they would prob have to consider PTS healthy cats and another would "cease rescue if she found herself in that position".  I thought ....... now I wonder?  Could that possibly be our Angie? 

It is so obvious this is going to happen. Just not enough homes.

I refuse to accept this. We can change things! we can't accept defeat. 

I guess it was Angie then 

Have you seen Dinah with her catnip rainbow Angie?  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwfBSE9NmI4

She will never forget the TLC she and her babies got from Judith and Cov Cat Group generally. 

[Gillian Harvey]

I guess maybe I just think that if a law existed it might at least stop some people breeding or buying from breeders..

Are we talking pedigree breeders here? because if so, its not the (reputable) ones who are flooding the market  with kittens. You only have to look at the free ads like Gill said, to see how many people are breeding their  moggies. Yes, pedigrees end up in rescue too, and there are specialist pedigree rescues to try and deal with this, but its a small proportion compared to the number of moggies. Our rescue has got 60 cats in at the moment - all moggies, both adults and kittens, no pedigrees, so banning pedigree breeding isnt going to help that.

Also, a lot of pedigree breeders DO now neuter before their kittens go to new homes, so its not them you need to police - its the flipping BYB's of both peds and moggies 

[Bee]

Yes I see, perhaps the benefit system was a poor comparison... and you are right, funding is a huge issue and the RSPCA should be read the riot act... I wish I could house every cat!

I guess maybe I just think that if a law existed it might at least stop some people breeding or buying from breeders.. even if it's only the people that don't realise what they are doing until it becomes a matter of law breaking...  but you are right, policing it wold be almost impossible... 

[Teresa Pawcats]

Regardless of any suggestions on how to improve the situation in years to come,very sadly a problem exists which cannot be sorted for the hear and now. I have tried for over 20 years to save them all and believe me it cant be done. Last year I rescued a beautiful cat who had suffered for months she had cancer and all I could do to help was pts, I remember saying to my vet "If only we had found her a couple of months earlier" vet told me even that would have been too late, Forget me Nots story and picture were posted on Purrs,if it had been possible to prevent this girls suffering by pts when she was healthy I found myself believing I would have done so to spare her the agonies.
I have always fought for every little life but sadly I can now see the reasoning for a mass pts by rspca.
If it must be surely a painless injection is preferable to the atrocities that befall so many strays.

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

You are definately not speaking out of turn and the questions and points you make are very valid..........we older members dont know everything LOL. Mostly its just our own opinions 

A lot of cats producing kittens are coming from  back street breeders and the various freead sites are used to sell these on, also as the telegraph article says many cats are now being turned out due to the financial climate and it seems that many people do not consider a cat as part of the family and its the first thing to be thrown away.

Many on Purrs struggle financially but would move heaven and earth to keep their cats, out there people see babies, change of house or partner, etc etc as a reason to get rid of the cat and many of those cats have been aquired unnneutered and they have seen no reason to neuter.

There are also the ferals that breed and breed until a rescue steps in and maybe takes responsibility for the colony.

None of these things can be policed because unlike the benefit system which knows who it is paying, these are all unknowns.

I am sure I could write a long book on the bloomin subject lol, which also would include the millions that RSPCA get from donations and then waste. They are resonsible for policing of the Animal Welfare Act but only get involved with potentially high publicity cases to drag in even more money.

If they did what the rescues on Purrs do then the kittening problem would likely be reducing.

Ask Angie and the other rescues whay they would do if they had millions in cash coming in each year 

All opinions and ideas are welcomed but most of us can only vent about this cos we are not in a position to help 

[Susanne (urbantigers)]

The problem is who's going to pay for it.  A lot of money is spent on sussing out benefit fraud - payed employees - the aim being you save enough to pay for it  (I assume!).  Who is going to pay for regulating breeders and for employing people to check up that people aren't breaking the law?  Likely it would just go underground anyway.  Plus it would never get to law.  Any indication that there might be a law to prohibit breeding would have many people up in arms about nanny state etc.  I wish there was a way to enforce neutering and regulate breeders but I can't think of any way that would actually work and be enforcable.  So the only alternative is for more education.  I wish the larger charities such as rspca, cp etc. would run more high profile neutering campaigns.  An ad on tv in the middle of coronation street would reach more people than a leaflet in the back of a cat mag.  Yes it would cost, but caring for unwanted kittens costs.

It is theoretically possible for breeders to draw up a proper contract requiring neutering and to sue owners if they dont have it done, but it is difficult to enforce and I think there are also problems with cats being defined as property and therefore the owner could claim that they can do what they want with their property.  I think the only answser is for breeders to neuter before homing and that requires more vets to be willing to neuter at an early age as few breeders are going to be prepared to keep kittens until 5/6 months.  But of course that doesn't help with the moggies.  The ones whose owners just never get around to it or think they can make money out of having kittens.

[lau200]

so sad to think this is where an animal loving country is heading if anything the government such push the costs of caring for pets right the way down so that people can afford them and will take them on

[Bee]

Yes, I do see that, and I see that neutering is the obvious long term solution, but to deal with the current issue of overflowing existing animals for re-homing a short term ban on breeding could surely at least be trialed. I suspect it's more likely that it isn't costing the goverment significant money, only charities and volunteers so it's not a priority.

I realise I am not an expert and probably speaking out of turn on subjects I don't fully understand like many of you here, but it seems to me that it's no harder to police than benefit fraud. Yes, it relies a lot on other people whistle blowing but a law passed could at least reduce the numbers.. it should apply both ways, breeding and buying from breeders. I realise stopping it entirely is just as unrealistic as stopping every human that works and claims welfare at the same time but that law exists despite how hard it is to police and it could help, and that's a start. 

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

Think that is easy Bee, cos there is no way to police it.

RSPCA are a lot to blame with what happens because they tell people to not feed stray cats and they will go away.........yes go away and get pregnant or make more kittens.

Education is part of the answer and RSPCA should get off their backsides and start targetting schools and major advertising, not just putting the can shakers out on the streets and then spending the money on themselves!

I have taken on an unneutered male who was not even rregistered at a vets and nearly one year old, he was neutered after being here 3 days.

I think breeders should have a way under the law to enforce new owners to neuter when they are sold a new kitten not for breeding. The alternative is for breeders to keep kittens and not sell them before they are neutered.

[Bee]

why why why why why is there no law against breeding in this country yet? I just don't understand it... 

[Guest]

Angie, I so admire you. I hope things can change and I didn't mean to come across as negative, so I really really apologise. There just seems to be so many irresponsible people out there, no neutering, or breeding for a quick income and then turfing the cats out and that I find myself heartbroken at what you rescues are dealing with and the emotional and financial strain you are under. You are all paddling like mad in the rapids at the moment and that water is getting harder and faster.

Articles like this just devastate me.

[Angiew]

It is so obvious this is going to happen. Just not enough homes.

I refuse to accept this. We can change things! we can't accept defeat.

I am going to talk to Ella and Archie tonight I think we may have to consider room for another - every little helps!

there you go, possibly another life saved!

[Guest]

Good luck for your interview! Such a sad and sorry state of affairs but at the moment I can't see any other way. It is so obvious this is going to happen. Just not enough homes.

I am going to talk to Ella and Archie tonight I think we may have to consider room for another - every little helps!

[Angiew]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/family/pets/8649073/Healthy-cats-may-be-put-down-RSPCA-warns.html

I've got an interview on bbc coventry and warwick shortly after 9......