RSPCA

March 1, 2006

Thanks for everyone's replies to my RSPCA question. I've got to admit that on the whole I couldn't agree more! Must also admit, though, that I did have a reason for asking as I work for the RSPCA, in a voluntary capacity (not paid!) as trustee of a local branch. I think a lot of people still probably don't realise that local RSPCA branches are separate from the national RSPCA, based in Horsham. As it happens, local RSPCA branches are some of the very biggest critics of the national society, as basically they stuff up and we take the crap for it. My branch runs an Animal Centre (and we never ever ever have or will put a healthy animal to sleep! :-) ) and we have to raise all the money locally, we do not get any money that is donated to the national RSPCA so it is a bit of a hack off when you're standing in the rain with a ruddy tin and some old fella comes up and starts giving you an earful about how he won't be giving you a penny because some years

ago the RSPCA wouldn't come out to help a seagull stuck on his roof. The thing is, if it was up to us, we'd have definitely gone out to help the seagull, I'd have personally climbed up on the roof myself! but we have no control over the national RSPCA. If only we did! My biggest problem with RSPCA policy is the meat eating. Freedom Food sucks big time, for obvious reasons. I've been to many a 'fundraising' event where meat is served by people who just do not even begin to appreciate the hypocrisy. Having said that, I would say that most inspectors I know are vegetarians. My hope is that one day things will change. A few years back it would have been unthinkable for the RSPCA to take a stand again hunting, but 'that' changed, I hope to live to see the day when they promote vegetarianism, given that it is the most completely obvious and logical way to 'prevent cruelty' to millions of animals. Having seen the RSPCA 'from the

inside' I have to say that animals in the UK would be infinitely worse off without it, but it is very flawed, as, I guess, are so many large orgainisations. The Animal Welfare Bill, when it becomes law, will really really help as Inspectors will be able to take action to prevent suffering much faster. Suzy-Jane John Davis <mcxg46 wrote: Hi,The RSPCA is certainly not without its faults. As someone mentioned, thereis the hypocrisy of their considering some animals there to be helped andsaved, and others merely as food. There is their 'freedom foods' welfarescheme for farm animals, which suggests that it is all right to eat andabuse them so long as their conditions meet some rudimentary requirements.There is the fact that until recently it was

acceptable for pro-hunters tosit on their board. There is the fact that their shelters are not no-kill,and their officers often quick to euthenise before considering all otheroptions.However. All of that said, they are the biggest and most widely recognisedanimal welfare society in the UK. They are a powerful lobby serving to keepanimal welfare issues in the public eye, they put a lot of effort intoprosecuting those who are cruel to animals, and they do a lot of good for alot of animals.So personally, I tend to be of the opinion that, overall, they do more harmthan good. I also support the WWF for similar reasons. But they arecertainly not perfect, and there is a case to be made for the argument that,as they are seen as the country's primary 'voice for animals', the fact thatthey think it acceptable for some animals to be used for produce and as fooddoes a great deal of harm to the animal rights and welfare

movements.John- "gushoneybungirl" Friday, February 24, 2006 8:58 PMRe: Dogs and RSPCA> I am really delighted to hear that dogs do so well on a Vegan diet! Mypets are vegan too.. but then again... they are rabbits :-) So, your friendworks for the RSPCA... I was just wondering, why is it that a good number ofvegans and people involved in animal rights 'have it in' for the RSPCA? I'mreally open-minded and would just be really interested to know what othersthink, and why.>> S-J>> John Davis wrote:> Hi James,>> My dogs are vegan, and I was worried about putting them onto a vegan diet.> But afriend of mine worked as an animal welfare officer for the RSPCA (yesI> know) claimed that a diet of fresh vegan food is the best

thing a dog can> have, and as far as I know the oldest two dogs on record are both vegan.My> vets at the time said that there was no reason to suspect a balanced vegan> diet would do any harm, the vegan pet food companies I contacted saidtheir> animals thrived on it, and all the vegans who I asked said the same thing.>> So they have been vegan now for several years, and are praised by the vet> for how healthy they are for their breed each time I go in. Oh, and I gave> them a choice between a vegan and a non-vegan food when I first got themand> weaned them off Iams, and they went for the vegan food, so they like the> taste as well.>> So unless your dog is ill in some way, I'd say that in my experience avegan> diet seems great for them. Just make sure you either feed them a complete> dog food, or, if you're going to feed them on fresh food, take the time to> ensure

that the diet is giving them everything they need. (I use amoistened> complete dry food.)>> I don't know of any non-vegie sources offering comparisons, but if ithelps,> www.veggiepets.com is a pretty reputable source of both pet food and> information.>> John> Ps: Yes, I get rejection messages every time I post here too, though the> emails seem to get through anyway!>>> - > "James Hodgskiss"> To:> Wednesday, February 15, 2006 9:09 PM> Dogs>>> I've just got a dog, and want to find out if a vegan diet is suitable for> it.>> Our homeopathic vet says she sees a couple of vegan dogs, but says even> though vegan dogs tend to live as long as meat-eating dogs, from her> experience they don't seem to appear as healthy (e.g., not as shiny coats)> as other

dogs.>> Does anyone know of any independant (i.e., not veggie-orientated)resources> on the web where I can find out more info.>> Cheers,> James>>>> ~~ info ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~> Please remember that the above is only the opinion of the author,> there may be another side to the story you have not heard.> ---------------------------> Was this message Off Topic? Did you know? Was it snipped?> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~> Guidelines: visit> Un: send a blank message to - >

March 2, 2006

Hi,

Oooh, an ulterior motive for asking!

Interesting to hear you say tha thet local branches are run separately from

the national RPSCA, and that they can have different policies (such as

operating no kill shelters). I've been donating money for years and never

knew that. Mind you, I only skim the magazines they send, so that is

probably my fault.

So is it possible to donate to individual branches whose policies you agree

with? Come to think of it, what does the money donated to the RSPCA in

general go towards if not the branches? And if you receive no funding from

the RSPCA, why are local branches called local branches of the RSPCA at all

and not, say, Honiton Rescue Centre?

John

-

" gushoneybungirl " <gushoneybungirl

Wednesday, March 01, 2006 9:36 PM

Re: RSPCA

> Thanks for everyone's replies to my RSPCA question. I've got to admit that

on the whole I couldn't agree more! Must also admit, though, that I did

have a reason for asking as I work for the RSPCA, in a voluntary capacity

(not paid!) as trustee of a local branch. I think a lot of people still

probably don't realise that local RSPCA branches are separate from the

national RSPCA, based in Horsham. As it happens, local RSPCA branches are

some of the very biggest critics of the national society, as basically they

stuff up and we take the crap for it. My branch runs an Animal Centre (and

we never ever ever have or will put a healthy animal to sleep! :-) ) and we

have to raise all the money locally, we do not get any money that is donated

to the national RSPCA so it is a bit of a hack off when you're standing in

the rain with a ruddy tin and some old fella comes up and starts giving you

an earful about how he won't be giving you a penny because some years ago

the RSPCA wouldn't come

> out to help a seagull stuck on his roof. The thing is, if it was up to

us, we'd have definitely gone out to help the seagull, I'd have personally

climbed up on the roof myself! but we have no control over the national

RSPCA. If only we did! My biggest problem with RSPCA policy is the meat

eating. Freedom Food sucks big time, for obvious reasons. I've been to many

a 'fundraising' event where meat is served by people who just do not even

begin to appreciate the hypocrisy. Having said that, I would say that most

inspectors I know are vegetarians. My hope is that one day things will

change. A few years back it would have been unthinkable for the RSPCA to

take a stand again hunting, but 'that' changed, I hope to live to see the

day when they promote vegetarianism, given that it is the most completely

obvious and logical way to 'prevent cruelty' to millions of animals. Having

seen the RSPCA 'from the inside' I have to say that animals in the UK would

be infinitely worse off without

> it, but it is very flawed, as, I guess, are so many large orgainisations.

The Animal Welfare Bill, when it becomes law, will really really help as

Inspectors will be able to take action to prevent suffering much faster.

>

> Suzy-Jane

>

> John Davis <mcxg46 wrote:

> Hi,

>

> The RSPCA is certainly not without its faults. As someone mentioned, there

> is the hypocrisy of their considering some animals there to be helped and

> saved, and others merely as food. There is their 'freedom foods' welfare

> scheme for farm animals, which suggests that it is all right to eat and

> abuse them so long as their conditions meet some rudimentary requirements.

> There is the fact that until recently it was acceptable for pro-hunters to

> sit on their board. There is the fact that their shelters are not no-kill,

> and their officers often quick to euthenise before considering all other

> options.

>

> However. All of that said, they are the biggest and most widely recognised

> animal welfare society in the UK. They are a powerful lobby serving to

keep

> animal welfare issues in the public eye, they put a lot of effort into

> prosecuting those who are cruel to animals, and they do a lot of good for

a

> lot of animals.

>

> So personally, I tend to be of the opinion that, overall, they do more

harm

> than good. I also support the WWF for similar reasons. But they are

> certainly not perfect, and there is a case to be made for the argument

that,

> as they are seen as the country's primary 'voice for animals', the fact

that

> they think it acceptable for some animals to be used for produce and as

food

> does a great deal of harm to the animal rights and welfare movements.

>

> John

>

> -

> " gushoneybungirl "

> To:

> Friday, February 24, 2006 8:58 PM

> Re: Dogs and RSPCA

>

> > I am really delighted to hear that dogs do so well on a Vegan diet! My

> pets are vegan too.. but then again... they are rabbits :-) So, your

friend

> works for the RSPCA... I was just wondering, why is it that a good number

of

> vegans and people involved in animal rights 'have it in' for the RSPCA?

I'm

> really open-minded and would just be really interested to know what others

> think, and why.

> >

> > S-J

> >

> > John Davis wrote:

> > Hi James,

> >

> > My dogs are vegan, and I was worried about putting them onto a vegan

diet.

> > But afriend of mine worked as an animal welfare officer for the RSPCA

(yes

> I

> > know) claimed that a diet of fresh vegan food is the best thing a dog

can

> > have, and as far as I know the oldest two dogs on record are both vegan.

> My

> > vets at the time said that there was no reason to suspect a balanced

vegan

> > diet would do any harm, the vegan pet food companies I contacted said

> their

> > animals thrived on it, and all the vegans who I asked said the same

thing.

> >

> > So they have been vegan now for several years, and are praised by the

vet

> > for how healthy they are for their breed each time I go in. Oh, and I

gave

> > them a choice between a vegan and a non-vegan food when I first got them

> and

> > weaned them off Iams, and they went for the vegan food, so they like the

> > taste as well.

> >

> > So unless your dog is ill in some way, I'd say that in my experience a

> vegan

> > diet seems great for them. Just make sure you either feed them a

complete

> > dog food, or, if you're going to feed them on fresh food, take the time

to

> > ensure that the diet is giving them everything they need. (I use a

> moistened

> > complete dry food.)

> >

> > I don't know of any non-vegie sources offering comparisons, but if it

> helps,

> > www.veggiepets.com is a pretty reputable source of both pet food and

> > information.

> >

> > John

> > Ps: Yes, I get rejection messages every time I post here too, though the

> > emails seem to get through anyway!

> >

> > -

> > " James Hodgskiss "

> > To:

> > Wednesday, February 15, 2006 9:09 PM

> > Dogs

> >

> > I've just got a dog, and want to find out if a vegan diet is suitable

for

> > it.

> >

> > Our homeopathic vet says she sees a couple of vegan dogs, but says even

> > though vegan dogs tend to live as long as meat-eating dogs, from her

> > experience they don't seem to appear as healthy (e.g., not as shiny

coats)

> > as other dogs.

> >

> > Does anyone know of any independant (i.e., not veggie-orientated)

> resources

> > on the web where I can find out more info.

> >

> > Cheers,

> > James

> >

> > ~~ info ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

> > Please remember that the above is only the opinion of the author,

> > there may be another side to the story you have not heard.

> > ---------------------------

> > Was this message Off Topic? Did you know? Was it snipped?

> > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

> > Guidelines: visit

> > Un: send a blank message to -

> >

March 7, 2006

Hi! Yes, most people don't realise that the local branches of the RSPCA are separate registered charities, but that's the way it works. As branches we are 'bound' by rules set by the national RSPCA (a pain!!) but do have freedom to spend the money we raise as we see fit (within limits, of course). Most branches are volunteer run, bigger ones may pay shop managers, animal centre workers and so on, but often the salaries are little more than minimum wage. Money donated to the national RSPCA funds the Inspectorate, campaigns, overseas work and that kind of stuff. Money donated to the local branches goes on whatever the Trustees of the local branch choose to spend it on, usually branch run animal centres and clinics and helping pay vet / neutering costs for people on low incomes. Some RSPCA animal centres and clinics are run by the national RSPCA and some are run by the branches - it's often not clear, but if unsure,

just ask and you will find out. Branches have to use 'RSPCA' in their name just because that's how it's legally set up, with the branches kind of being 'sub-charities' of the national society - it is seriously confusing for sure! I think that most people would choose to donate to their local branch (as more of the money goes directly to help animals) than to the national RSPCA if they understood the set up... which is probably why the national RSPCA don't want to make it very easy to understand :-) Suzy-JaneJohn Davis <mcxg46 wrote: Hi,Oooh, an ulterior motive for asking!Interesting to hear you say tha thet local branches are run separately fromthe national RPSCA, and that they can have different policies (such asoperating no kill shelters). I've been donating money

for years and neverknew that. Mind you, I only skim the magazines they send, so that isprobably my fault.So is it possible to donate to individual branches whose policies you agreewith? Come to think of it, what does the money donated to the RSPCA ingeneral go towards if not the branches? And if you receive no funding fromthe RSPCA, why are local branches called local branches of the RSPCA at alland not, say, Honiton Rescue Centre?John- "gushoneybungirl" Wednesday, March 01, 2006 9:36 PMRe: RSPCA> Thanks for everyone's replies to my RSPCA question. I've got to admit thaton the whole I couldn't agree more! Must also admit, though, that I didhave a reason for asking as I work for the RSPCA, in a voluntary capacity(not paid!) as trustee of a local branch. I think a lot of people

stillprobably don't realise that local RSPCA branches are separate from thenational RSPCA, based in Horsham. As it happens, local RSPCA branches aresome of the very biggest critics of the national society, as basically theystuff up and we take the crap for it. My branch runs an Animal Centre (andwe never ever ever have or will put a healthy animal to sleep! :-) ) and wehave to raise all the money locally, we do not get any money that is donatedto the national RSPCA so it is a bit of a hack off when you're standing inthe rain with a ruddy tin and some old fella comes up and starts giving youan earful about how he won't be giving you a penny because some years agothe RSPCA wouldn't come> out to help a seagull stuck on his roof. The thing is, if it was up tous, we'd have definitely gone out to help the seagull, I'd have personallyclimbed up on the roof myself! but we have no control over the nationalRSPCA. If only we did! My

biggest problem with RSPCA policy is the meateating. Freedom Food sucks big time, for obvious reasons. I've been to manya 'fundraising' event where meat is served by people who just do not evenbegin to appreciate the hypocrisy. Having said that, I would say that mostinspectors I know are vegetarians. My hope is that one day things willchange. A few years back it would have been unthinkable for the RSPCA totake a stand again hunting, but 'that' changed, I hope to live to see theday when they promote vegetarianism, given that it is the most completelyobvious and logical way to 'prevent cruelty' to millions of animals. Havingseen the RSPCA 'from the inside' I have to say that animals in the UK wouldbe infinitely worse off without> it, but it is very flawed, as, I guess, are so many large orgainisations.The Animal Welfare Bill, when it becomes law, will really really help asInspectors will be able to take action to prevent suffering

much faster.>> Suzy-Jane>> John Davis wrote:> Hi,>> The RSPCA is certainly not without its faults. As someone mentioned, there> is the hypocrisy of their considering some animals there to be helped and> saved, and others merely as food. There is their 'freedom foods' welfare> scheme for farm animals, which suggests that it is all right to eat and> abuse them so long as their conditions meet some rudimentary requirements.> There is the fact that until recently it was acceptable for pro-hunters to> sit on their board. There is the fact that their shelters are not no-kill,> and their officers often quick to euthenise before considering all other> options.>> However. All of that said, they are the biggest and most widely recognised> animal welfare society in the UK. They are a powerful lobby serving tokeep> animal welfare issues

in the public eye, they put a lot of effort into> prosecuting those who are cruel to animals, and they do a lot of good fora> lot of animals.>> So personally, I tend to be of the opinion that, overall, they do moreharm> than good. I also support the WWF for similar reasons. But they are> certainly not perfect, and there is a case to be made for the argumentthat,> as they are seen as the country's primary 'voice for animals', the factthat> they think it acceptable for some animals to be used for produce and asfood> does a great deal of harm to the animal rights and welfare movements.>> John>> - > "gushoneybungirl"> To:> Friday, February 24, 2006 8:58 PM> Re: Dogs and RSPCA>>> > I am really delighted to hear that dogs do so well on a Vegan diet! My> pets are

vegan too.. but then again... they are rabbits :-) So, yourfriend> works for the RSPCA... I was just wondering, why is it that a good numberof> vegans and people involved in animal rights 'have it in' for the RSPCA?I'm> really open-minded and would just be really interested to know what others> think, and why.> >> > S-J> >> > John Davis wrote:> > Hi James,> >> > My dogs are vegan, and I was worried about putting them onto a vegandiet.> > But afriend of mine worked as an animal welfare officer for the RSPCA(yes> I> > know) claimed that a diet of fresh vegan food is the best thing a dogcan> > have, and as far as I know the oldest two dogs on record are both vegan.> My> > vets at the time said that there was no reason to suspect a balancedvegan> > diet would do any harm, the vegan pet food companies

I contacted said> their> > animals thrived on it, and all the vegans who I asked said the samething.> >> > So they have been vegan now for several years, and are praised by thevet> > for how healthy they are for their breed each time I go in. Oh, and Igave> > them a choice between a vegan and a non-vegan food when I first got them> and> > weaned them off Iams, and they went for the vegan food, so they like the> > taste as well.> >> > So unless your dog is ill in some way, I'd say that in my experience a> vegan> > diet seems great for them. Just make sure you either feed them acomplete> > dog food, or, if you're going to feed them on fresh food, take the timeto> > ensure that the diet is giving them everything they need. (I use a> moistened> > complete dry food.)> >> > I don't know of any

non-vegie sources offering comparisons, but if it> helps,> > www.veggiepets.com is a pretty reputable source of both pet food and> > information.> >> > John> > Ps: Yes, I get rejection messages every time I post here too, though the> > emails seem to get through anyway!> >> >> > - > > "James Hodgskiss"> > To:> > Wednesday, February 15, 2006 9:09 PM> > Dogs> >> >> > I've just got a dog, and want to find out if a vegan diet is suitablefor> > it.> >> > Our homeopathic vet says she sees a couple of vegan dogs, but says even> > though vegan dogs tend to live as long as meat-eating dogs, from her> > experience they don't seem to appear as healthy (e.g., not as shinycoats)> > as other dogs.>

>> > Does anyone know of any independant (i.e., not veggie-orientated)> resources> > on the web where I can find out more info.> >> > Cheers,> > James> >> >> >> > ~~ info ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~> > Please remember that the above is only the opinion of the author,> > there may be another side to the story you have not heard.> > ---------------------------> > Was this message Off Topic? Did you know? Was it snipped?> > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~> > Guidelines: visit> > Un: send a blank message to - > >