Press Release from SHG: RSPCA ATTEMPTS TO CENSOR THE INTERNET AND SUPPRESS CRITICISM. NB. we are not responsible for the content on external websites.

OCT 1st 2009 STOP PRESS: The legal team from the UK's largest and richest animal welfare charity, have today contacted this rescue threatening to sue for Trademark Infringement for using the acronym that is their name. If you have made a will that contains this acronym, please contact your solicitor immediately to make sure you don't infringe their trademark. We have checked and it is OK to replace offending acronym with 'CINNAMON TRUST'. Robert Killick writing for Our Dogs Says

REMEMBER NOW: The RSPCA kill on average, 22 dogs per day (8313 in 2008) and 33 cats per day (12,329 in 2008). That is from their own figures published in their 2008 report. We believe the public should know how their money is being used

Just a suggestion but do you think this is how it went?

SATURDAY, 5 SEPTEMBER 2009
Minutes of a call made to The RSPCA Helpline

The RSPCA: Good afternoon The RSPCA inquiries, how can I help?

CALLER: Oh hello, I'm calling concerning the Ten German Shepherd Dogs which were shot by your society.

The RSPCA: Oh, o right, okay.

CALLER: OK, umm, I'm just wondering how you actually assessed these animals?

The RSPCA: Umm, let's just have a look, I'll just get the information on it one second.

CALLER: Thank you.

The RSPCA: Right let's have a look, umm yes. (slight pause) In the first instance one inspector attended the address after the relative came to us, umm obviously they at the, they at the time, umm realised they wouldn't be suitable for re-homing or taking to a rescue centre. So we advised the owners that, umm they were umm, advised we were unable to take the dogs and other rescue organisations should be contacted for help. Umm, so they did that, umm the next day they umm, we were aware they had tried other organisations and they wouldn't take the dogs either, so the following morning, umm the inspector along with another inspector and another animal umm collection officer went along, and they umm, and they assessed then umm actually discussion between eight officers that the dogs would have to be euthanised, so a lot of the inspectors got involved in it. The actual physical kind of examination or assessment obviously I wasn't there so I wouldn't be able to tell you how that was. It was really based on their umm, (interrupted by caller)

CALLER: Do you actually know who was there on site when it actually took place?

The RSPCA: Sorry?

CALLER: Who was there and who advised them to kill these dogs?

The RSPCA: Let's have a look, umm well some inspectors were on site, there was also umm, lets have a look, lets just see, (long pause then she speaks to herself - umm, see if anyone else was there as well) (another long pause) well, the umm, to be honest, it was our inspectors umm I don't know who else had been involved with it, obviously there were umm issues their umm, with they had some very severe skin conditions umm, but the main problem was that they had never been socialized with people umm and had been kept on their own umm together so they were extremely vicious (interrupted by caller)

CALLER: Ok so how did you manage to get near them to actually euthanise them?

The RSPCA: They had to have a grasper, they couldn't actually get that close so they needed to use a grasper.

CALLER: And they knew, and they got that close to know the skin condition was untreatable?

The RSPCA: Umm well it was very severe umm skin condition, certainly restraining them and then shaving that limb would of umm definitely caused them unnecessary suffering it was that bad.

CALLER: So they knew that they knew that skin condition was untreatable - absolutely?

The RSPCA: I don't know about the severe skin condition, that was a side issue, they weren't put down because of that, it was because they had nowhere to go, they were unrehomable and the next of kin of the owner of the owner who had died were told if we have to take them we will not be able to rehome them we would have to euthanise them, they were given other options, they were told to go to other organisations and they did, and they (other organisation) also umm refused to take them so they...(interrupted by caller)

CALLER: So knowing, knowing that those dogs were unrehomable, has a severe skin condition that was apparently untreatable ok? They advised the next of kin to go somewhere else?

The RSPCA: No no no, we said if they come to us we will have to, we are letting you know now we would have to umm, we wouldn't be able to rehome them so we'd only be able to euthanise them if you have to come to us. They tried other organisations, they all said they'd no we can't take them either. So they did have other options of going to be rehomed if they, but the other organisations also said no.

CALLER: Right okay, and what other organisation was that?

The RSPCA: Certainly umm the DOGS TRUST.

CALLER: THE DOGS TRUST?
The RSPCA: Yeah.

CALLER: Anymore?

The RSPCA: Umm I don't have any more names of any more, umm the only one I know of is The DOGS TRUST.

CALLER: Also on your, umm website, not your website sorry, your umm, on another, someone stated, from you, somebody stated that you never use umm these bolts to euthanise dogs....well we just discovered you do (interrupted by The RSPCA)

The RSPCA: It's extremely rare umm, in this case, it was deemed the only suitable way because there was, because all,..you know it, I know it's a really distressing situation for everyone and a lot of people, you know umm very upset about it, but because they were, so.....vicious, that is a problem. We usually wouldn't use, normally use words like vicious, they were extremely aggressive, they, as well as the risk to the dogs we have to take into account the risk to the humans involved as well, umm and they were just deemed too aggressive so they had to be on a grasper.

CALLER: So you assessed these,....they were assessed on their own territory weren't they?

The RSPCA: Umm...they,...they were yes, they were assessed umm, (interrupted by caller)

CALLER: They were assessed and killed on their own territory!!

The RSPCA: Yes they were.

CALLER: Yes they were !! - isn't it not in their nature to protect their own territory? Shouldn't they have been given a chance to be in a different atmosphere?

The RSPCA: Well it was also that, bearing in mind it was also umm that they had never been integrated with humans.......(interrupted by caller)

CALLER: You know they had never been integrated with humans? You know that?

The RSPCA: They were unsocialised with people, and umm and they had been left on their own, umm the owner had died umm and because they were so aggressive umm it would also be extremely difficult to take them anywhere as well, the umm, you know the idea of having to restrain them and put them in you know cages and then transporting them by car, from a umm, really quiet remote location in wales would have also been very distressing as well.

CALLER: Very distressing, but do you not think it was very distressing having a grasp put around their neck and looking down the barrel of a gun?

The RSPCA: Well.......you know, I, (interrupted by caller)

CALLER: Because the gun that they (the dogs)were killed with actually has to make contact with the dogs head, didn't it?

The RSPCA: Mm mm (yes).

CALLER: Yes, so they couldn't have been that vicious to get that close to them could they?

The RSPCA: Well they had the grasper didn't they!?

CALLER: Yes they had the grasper ok, but somebody was standing in from of that dog ok, a vicious dog with a pistol to its head, surely they couldn't have got it right the first time!? (interrupted by The RSPCA)

The RSPCA: Well, well they certainly would have.

CALLER: All ten dogs? All ten dogs were unsuitable for rehoming? - all ten dogs were un socialised and vicious? All ten dogs needed a bolt through the head? Is that the case?

The RSPCA: The case is that they could not be rehomed. We couldn't rehome them with another family, nor could other organisations.

CALLER: Ok, what about the police force?

The RSPCA: I'm not sure if they would have been asked. What would they have done with them?

CALLER: Train them, rehabilitated them. They had just lost their owner, they were terrified, ok!? They had strangers coming onto their territory. Was that not all taken into account? Obviously not!!

The RSPCA: Of course it was.

CALLER: If that was taken into account, ok, why were those dogs still shot?

The RSPCA: (long pause).............it was taken into...(interrupted by caller)

CALLER: Someone was standing ok?, within inches of that dog's head, those dogs heads ok, with a gun to their (the dogs) head, ok. This tells me that those dogs cannot have possibly been as vicious as you're letting on.

The RSPCA: (long pause).............well I don't think I'm going to be able to change your mind, I'm letting you know the facts......that was.....(interrupted by caller)

CALLER: It's true isn't it? It's true isn't it that (interrupted by The RSPCA)

The RSPCA: No it's not true - it's not true...

CALLER: The gun has to make contact with the dogs head. So somebody is standing extremely close to that animal. A very very "vicious", "un socialised", "unrehomable", animal, and someone is standing within inches of its head.

The RSPCA: (very long pause)............the other option is that, the animal (interrupted by caller)

CALLER: That's true isn't it, though? That was true, isn't it?

The RSPCA: No I'm not saying it's true. you keep on trying to make me say it's true, I'm not going to.

CALLER: Well obviously, if, if the gun has to make contact to the dogs head, somebody is standing within inches of that dogs face, that dogs jaw. aren't they?

The RSPCA: Well to be fair, people stand within inches of,... you know,..various other dangerous animals when they have to be...(interrupted by caller)

CALLER: Well I'm talking about the, I'm talking about the actual German Shepherd Dogs that have just been....(interrupted by The RSPCA)

The RSPCA: I wasn't there on site and nor were you so I don't think either of us can make any assumptions.

CALLER: No but we, we know, the kind of captive bolt that killed them ok, the gun used makes contact with the animals head.

The RSPCA: Right, the only other option...(interrupted by caller)

CALLER: .......and you know that you've just agreed to that with me.

The RSPCA: Yeah, I know, I've said, I've already said that. What you're, I don't want you, want you to put words into my mouth..(interrupted by caller)

CALLER: I'm not, but you said they were vicious, yeah? Ok? Let's go through it. You said they were vicious - unrehomable (The RSPCA agrees) - ok - someone had to have a grasp on their (the dogs) neck, they were very vicious ok, ok, and that the gun used to kill these animals umm, was the type of gun which had to make contact to the actual animal,.. yeah!? (interrupted by The RSPCA)

The RSPCA: By default (interrupted by caller)

CALLER: So somebody pulling that trigger...(interrupted by The RSPCA)

The RSPCA: No no, it doesn't mean by default, that if you can get close to an animal, that it's not automatically vicious, it can still be very vicious, just because you can get close to it doesn't mean it's not aggressive.

CALLER: So all ten dogs ok, (interrupted by The RSPCA)

The RSPCA: at some point, someone has to get close to an animal to euthanise it, whether it be by a captive bolt, whether it be by some other kind of, some other...you know.......something like (interrupted by caller)

CALLER: I understand that I understand, but all ten dogs, yeah? All ten dogs?

The RSPCA: Yep, hmm hmm

CALLER: and all ten dogs, somebody got close enough to those "vicious" "vicious" dogs ok, and that close,..(interrupted by The RSPCA)

The RSPCA: nobody is saying that is was very very easy, at no point have we said that this was the easiest...(interrupted by caller)

CALLER: No, but I can imagine, I've seen a dog struggle ok, whilst having a grasp around its neck ok. (interrupted by The RSPCA)

The RSPCA: bear in mind that there was not just one person doing this, there wouldn't be only one person who would do this easily. This is difficult, it is a difficult decision that we had to make, and we're not saying that we enjoyed doing it...(interrupted by caller)

CALLER: Dogs do jump about and roll about, and, and go absolutely berserk, don't they, with a grasp around their neck?

The RSPCA: (long pause)...........well I wasn't there I couldn't say if they did.

CALLER: Well dogs do and if they were that vicious I should imagine they would. If they were so vicious that they needed to be shot,.....(interrupted by The RSPCA)

The RSPCA: I can't generalise like that, I don't know if,..(interrupted by caller)

CALLER: ....then I should imagine that they would have gone absolutely berserk. Especially having strangers on their territory as well, losing their owner, and having strangers on their territory, I should imagine the dogs would have been going absolutely mental ok,..(interrupted by The RSPCA)

The RSPCA: I imagine...(interrupted by caller)

CALLER: so...and then someone, somebody gets close enough to get a direct aim into their (dogs) head,...(interrupted by The RSPCA)

The RSPCA: ok, maybe..(interrupted by caller)

CALLER: First-time? Second time? Third time? Fourth time? Fifth time?, How many shots did it take to kill those animals?

The RSPCA: well there was 10 dogs so I imagine 10.

CALLER: Ten?, ten, ok so one bullet per mental dog?

The RSPCA: Is there anything I can actually help you with? because I've answered those questions which I can see you're not satisfied with, I can't actually change a fact.

CALLER: No, because I don't believe a word of it. I think those dogs just got shot for the sake of being shot. Because if they were that,....why did they tell the next of kin to go elsewhere if those dogs were in such a bad bad way?

The RSPCA: So what would you have suggested would have happened with dogs that aren't rehomable, that no one would take, not us....(interrupted by caller)

CALLER: well they were assessed on their own territory, ok. Is it not in their nature to protect their own territory?

The RSPCA: Ok,


CALLER: I would like to know also, ok, what vet ok, because there obviously wasnt a vet present, ok. umm, we know this, ....(interrupted by The RSPCA)
The RSPCA: How do you know this?

CALLER: because we do, because you've already just said it on the phone, there were your inspectors there. We know that there's not a vet, and if there is a vet, we want to speak to that vet, and we want answers from that vet.

The RSPCA: Who's we? I don't know who I'm speaking to. Is this just you or are you part of an organisation?

CALLER: No, we're not part of an organisation, we're a group of very very very angry public members who donate to you, which has now ceased with the news that we got about the dogs.

The RSPCA: That, that's fair enough. If you feel that way then you're more than welcome to do so. I don't think I am going to be able to satisfy you over the phone on this, on this phone call, or I'm not going to be able to change your mind. You're very clearly upset, I imagine you've read about it...(interrupted by caller)

CALLER: I am very very upset. As an animal lover who gives you my money, (The RSPCA...yes) I am very very upset, because when people die, the homes for life scheme that you have, what do you do? put a bullet to their dog's heads? after they've after they've..(interrupted by The RSPCA)

The RSPCA: That would be quite a generalisation and an assumption. Every home for life animal is going to be rehomed as we have promised. Home for life animals aren't going to be the kind of dogs these (slaughtered GSD's)...(interrupted by caller)

CALLER: ..and you know that do you?

The RSPCA: Just assume, you're just assuming now, we...(interrupted by caller)

CALLER: ..but hang on, do you know that? Do you know that every home for life animal is going to be rehomable?

The RSPCA: If that's what's in a will then we have to do that. I, I, think...(interrupted by caller)

CALLER: I beg your pardon,? sorry....

The RSPCA: Assuming every animal we have we're going to shoot for some reason, I think that is unreasonable, you know it's not true....(interrupted by caller)

CALLER:...ok, ok,...all the home for life animals, you've just said that they will be rehomed, ok, (interrupted by The RSPCA)

The RSPCA: They are home for life animals....(interrupted by caller)

CALLER: Home for life animals, what if one of those home for life animals comes to you as "vicious" as one of those German Shepherd Dogs you've just killed?

The RSPCA: Well I'm not part of the home for life scheme, it would have to be assessed - it might even be assessed beforehand so, I don't know. This (GSD case) is a very very rare situation, this doesn't happen very often at all - it's very rare.

CALLER: No!? what about the other two hounds that you, that you shot through the head?

The RSPCA: ??

CALLER: yes, it's been in the paper, there's absolute mayhem over it - over your actions against these poor animals, ok....pets do not...(interrupted by The RSPCA)

The RSPCA: ...ok, I can tell you are clearly upset but I'm not going to be able to answer all your questions now....am I?

CALLER: I beg your pardon?

The RSPCA: You think we're lying? How can I possibly answer your questions if you think everything I'm going to say to you is a lie?

CALLER: because it stands to reason, ok, concerning these dogs ok, these German Shepherd Dogs, it stands to reason that a dog going absolutely berserk because there are strangers on its territory, right? (The RSPCA - hmm), is not going to be assessed accurately..(interrupted by The RSPCA)

The RSPCA: How do you know? These people are trained....(interrupted by caller)

CALLER: .....these people are trained so they know ok, that when they take them (actual) dogs out of that environment, that they're going to be exactly the same? And they know that do they?

The RSPCA: (long pause).....sorry?

CALLER: They know that those particular dogs would have been just as "vicious" taken out of their environment?

The RSPCA: (pause)...they were too, they were too aggressive to move.

CALLER: ok, but someone got close enough with a gun and a grasp...(interrupted by The RSPCA)

The RSPCA: ...well someone has to get close enough to do that...

CALLER: Obviously they got close enough, and then they killed them with one shot...yeah?

The RSPCA: (long pause)........yeah, look, I don't really know where we're going to go with this.

CALLER: I'm sorry but it just doesn't seem real.

The RSPCA: What can I possibly do to make this better for you?

CALLER: How can you poss......I'm afraid you can't. And do you know you have lost a hell of a lot of support?

The RSPCA: You're getting angry with me. I can see you're angry with the organisation, I, personally, am not going to be able to satisfy you....

CALLER: ...because the organisation, ok...are lying to the public - taking their money..millions of pounds...(The RSPCA - that's your opinion)...No no no no, ok, it's proof. Millions of pounds a year (The RSPCA - right).....taking out unnecessary prosecutions and slaughtering animals unnecessarily.

The RSPCA: So now you think the prosecutions are unnecessary?

CALLER: Well....(interrupted by The RSPCA)

The RSPCA: ...who would you rather did the prosecutions?

CALLER: I beg your pardon?

The RSPCA: Who would you rather be doing prosecutions against animal cruelty?
CALLER: The CPS.

The RSPCA: Right, then I would suggest you go to them. Is there anything else I can help you with, then, you know, please say, but I think I'm not going to be able....(interrupted by caller)

CALLER: I would ask, I would ask that you do one thing.
The RSPCA: Whats that?

CALLER: Stop lying.

Call Ended.

Don't let them get away with what we believe is an atrocity!!

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