RSPCA KILL PET CAT

Brighton man furious after RSPCA put down his cat

An animal lover said his “blood is boiling” after his cat was put down by the RSPCA - without his knowledge.

John Edwards said his beloved Gizmo had been missing for two weeks when he learned he had been mistaken for a stray and picked up by the animal charity.

The white puss, described as a “fluffy furball”, was put down the same day.

Mr Edwards, of Gloucester Street, Brighton, said: “I am absolutely seething. He always used to go out walking and all the neighbours knew this.

“My other cat, who is a Siamese, is grieving as he knows his mate has gone.

“My blood is boiling and I don’t know when I’ll calm down.”

Gizmo was taken two weeks ago by animal inspectors from the RSPCA but Mr Edwards only found out his cat had been picked up on Monday after leaflets were delivered by concerned residents.

A spokeswoman for RSPCA said they were called to the street by members of the public who said they thought the animal had been involved in a fight.

She added: “We are very sorry for the distress caused to Mr Edwards due to the sad death of his cat.

“Unfortunately the animal was in very bad health, with bad teeth and matted fur. He was covered in fight wounds when concerned residents asked us for help. Wonder if they ever considered vet treatment. Oops, no that costs money!!

“Nor was he identified with a collar or a microchip and so we were unable to trace his owner. They obviously didn't try too hard since they killed the poor cat the day they took it in!

“The RSPCA does everything it can to avoid having to put animals to sleep, but sometimes we have little choice.” 2008 figures show the RSPCA kill a staggering 22 dogs and 33 cats per day so guess they didn't try too hard to find homes. We await with baited breath, the figures for 2009.

She reminded pet owners to microchip their pets to avoiding similar situations. Maybe time to remind them that they are an animal welfare organisation, not a slaughterhouse.

http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/5056556.Brighton_man_furious_after_RSPCA_put_down_his_cat/#

KILLING BLACKIE THE COLLIE COSTS THE RSPCA DEARLY

You just couldn't make this up!!

RSPCA HUGE loss after Caernarfon pet is put down

The RSPCA has lost out on part of a£400,000 legacy after a pet dog was put down.

Blackie's owner Claude Atack, 80, from Caernarfon, Gwynedd, had specified that any charity which found his pet a home would get a large part of his estate.

Solicitor Dewi Pritchard Jones thought the dog was in good health and was shocked he had been put down.

But the RSPCA said Blackie was found to suffer from numerous health problems, and was put down on humane grounds. Blackie's vet said he was a bit overweight and had the start of cataracts but was otherwise perfectly healthy!

Mr Atack was found collapsed at his home by concerned neighbours when they realised they had not seen him walking sheepdog Blackie on 29 January.

'Safe'

"He walked Blackie four times a day, and he lived for the dog," said Mr Pritchard Jones.

Mr Atack died in hospital on 1 February.

A neighbour initially looked after Blackie, then he was handed over to the RSPCA.

"I wasn't concerned because their leaflets state that they do not put animals down without good reason. I thought he was safe," said the solicitor.

He added that Mr Atack had stated in his will that his estate should be shared between different charities, but with no less than one fifth going to an animal charity.

But verbally he had told his solicitor that more of his estate should be given to any charity which found Blackie a new home.

He had stipulated that he could be "especially generous" to any charity which found his dog a home.

Mr Pritchard Jones said that a couple, who do not wish to be named but who knew Mr Atack, came forward to offer Blackie a home on 8 February.

They traced him to an RSPCA kennel at Shrewsbury, but were told he had already been put down on the day he was handed in.

However the RSPCA said Blackie went to them on 2 February, and was only put to sleep on 8 February, after he was assessed for six days. But that's not what the centre said!!

"They said it was because he was in poor health, but I know his health was good," said Mr Pritchard Jones.

"The old gentleman thought the world of him and at any sign of illness he would be whipped off to the vet," he said.

Other charities

"The vet said he (Blackie) had cataracts and was overweight, as a dog which is pampered tends to be," he added.

The incident would have broken Mr Atack's heart, he said.

"He lived by himself, it was just him and the dog," he added.

The solicitor added that the money - in excess of £400,000 - would be shared between other charities.

"I am angry about what happened, because I have a dog which is 15 years old, and you can't put them down just because they are old," he said.

"I think Blackie would have made someone elderly a lovely companion, as he was used to being around an older person, and they often don't want the hassle of getting a puppy," he added.

The RSPCA said all animals that go into RSPCA care go through an assessment period which includes a general health check by a vet.

"Blackie had numerous health problems including a severe heart murmur and the vet recommended he was put to sleep on humane grounds," said a spokesperson.

"The RSPCA has a strong reputation of re-homing elderly animals and the very difficult decision regarding Blackie was purely based on welfare grounds and would not have altered had the RSPCA known about his deceased owner's will." Liar Liar Liar. You would have banked the money and then killed him!!

BBC News