Please help me get justice for my cat. RSPCA are responsible for her death.

A question about : Please help me get justice for my cat. RSPCA are responsible for her death.

Hello there,

I am reaching out for support to make the RSPCA respond for pushing my cat to her death.

Please follow the link and sign and share my petition!

change.org/p/rspca-review-your-protocol-and-respond-to-the-death-of-my-cat

Thank you,

Mary Rudgard.

Best answers:

• For those interested in a brief synopsis.
  Cat was unwell, RSPCA took it to a vet for treatment without the owners knowledge, cat was collected the next day and taken to the owners vet where the decision was made to put the cat down.
  The cat wasn't pushed to its death from an upstairs window by the RSPCA.
• I'm sorry for your loss, OP, but for any future cats you own, please know that this bit is completely wrong:
  Quote:
• I don't quite understand what happened, did the RSPCA take her out of your garden just because they thought she looked a bit scruffy?
  I didn't know they had the power to take animals away like that, I find it quite shocking that it's legal for them to do that. Surely it counts as trespass if they took her out of your own garden?
  Very sorry for your loss.
• I have signed. The RSPCA disgust me. They seem to have no time for animals unless a camera is on them.
  Over the years I have contacted them twice - both urgent abuse cases - and both times they have not been interested and done nothing. One of the cases involved dogs being kept in a filthy garden with no shelter, no water and very little food. The dogs were literally starving to death. When one eventually died the others were so hungry they ate it.
  The RSPCA have adverts on tv at present asking people to make sure if they die their animals are given to the RSPCA to rehome! If it were not such a lie I would find it hilarious. They are almost certain to put the pets to sleep not rehome them
• I have adopted 2 cats from the RSPCA across the years. My local branch do a huge amount of work rehoming 600+ cats a year and still more keep arriving. They do their best in difficult circumstances.
• Not signed. Too much rambling and emotion and subject matter is not succinct.
• Have you considered that perhaps the cat had taken a bad turn when out in the garden - hence looking ill enough for the RSPCA to seize her and take her to the vet, and her 'decline' had already started? The vets said to you that she only had a matter of weeks - it would be just as much a guess to say the cat was already dying as it would be to assume the trip to the vets was what killed her.
  It doesn't excuse rudeness from the RSPCA member of staff, but if you want the issue to be addressed seriously then I would be approaching it from that angle, not from a supposition that the RSPCA killed your cat (something you couldn't even really prove)
• I used to own a cat which had FIV - and he looked sick to outsiders - yet even the vet said he had a very good quality of life and wasn't in pain or distressed. if the RSPCA had taken him and had him put down - I would probably have been most distressed and angry. to me its kidnapping to take someones pet without their knowledge.
  OH and one read of the RSPCAs annual report (the financial facts) stopped me from ever putting one penny in their coffers!
• So from what I can gather from that petition...
  Cat was 20 years old.
  RSCPA officer saw her in the garden, thought she looked to skinny / not cared for her.
  Took her to a local vet where she stayed the night.
  OP picked up the cat from the vet.
  Cat was vomiting etc
  Took cat back to own vet
  Vet said the cat actually had renal failure BUT the renal failure would have lasted weeks if the cat hadn't been taken and spent a night in an unfamiliar environment
  The cat was put to sleep.
  OP, I do not agree with the RSPCA as an organisation in general, and I definitely don't agree with the officer being rude to you about your cats condition. However, sleeping at the vet overnight would not have caused renal failure. It may have exacerbated symptoms but it wouldn't have been the cause.
  Your own vet said that the renal failure could have lasted weeks... is that what you have wanted for your cat?
  Also, if you want people to read your petition maybe cut it down to the facts, and say what happened. Because at the moment it seems like an essay about things that aren't really relevant to this story - the RSPCA euthanise healthy animals... and? Most people know that, but they didn't euthanise your cat so it's not exactly relevant.
  I am really sorry for you that you've lost your cat, I know how horrible it is. But if you want people to take you seriously it might be worth rewriting your petition
• I understand how the OP feels - and can understand why their petition is more emotional than factual. but, the fact remains that THIER cat was removed from their garden (theft) and they were not asked why the cat looked ill, etc at that time. I thought the RSPCA were legally obliged to obtain consent from the owner before taking a cat from its home. unless it was a case of severe neglect and they had legal steps in place.
  Oh and I am another one who has reported pets in dire need of help - and got ignored. the RSPCA does not have my support or respect. one of the animals I reported died a few days later - it COULD have been saved. but the woman on the phone actually told ME to see to the animal - I couldn't - I was housebound at the time!
• Hello to all,
  Thanks for your feedback, all is helpful.
  The problem here is that the RSPCA are doing this kind of thing EVERY day. I have spoken to so many people with devastating stories and people are afraid to do anything because the RSPCA have the funds (donations) to take innocent people to court.
  Before it goes on too and people start assuming things… My cat did not look ill. She was honestly very energetic and happy, we had her the previous day and she was running through my house. We had secured our garden because of her age.
  The RSPCA officer trespassed into my garden and literally stole my cat. She didn’t contact us until it was too late for us to go and get her. I can’t even imagine what she must have been thinking, just pure and utter terror.
  Enough for her to decline so much she was trying to drag herself to the litter tray, defecting and vomiting on herself.
  I’m sorry but I am well aware that the renal failure wasn’t brought on by her being taken, however her dramatic decline and traumatic end was.
  I’m sorry if my petition seems to motional for you, we have already tried giving the RSPCA the facts, so I’m hoping if they have any heart left they will understand that what they are doing is breaking people’s hearts.
  What happened here is wrong. What is still happening is wrong. There is no doubt that they should acknowledge this and have a protocol in place to prevent it happening again. I find it hard to believe that people disagree with that.
• It is a tricky one. Although not a completely clear cut issue, cats are considered property and it is an offence to steal someone's cat. I don't think you'll change any policy through a petition. Not to dampen your hopes, but it will simply be ignored. Honestly, I think your best course of action is the legal path. If the RSPCA entered your property, took your personal property (your cat) and accused you of animal cruelty, then I think you'd have a strong basis from criminal prosecution.
  I don't know for certain, but I would assume they would need to apply for a warrant to remove any animal from private property, even where cruelty was suspected. For that, I would think they'd need to produce evidence and have attempted to make contact with the property owner first.
  I hate to sound a bit 'wild west' by throwing law suits around, but in this case I think it's the only way they will pay any attention.
  Worth a discussion with a solicitor if you know one, or any legal bods on this board?
• My understanding was that the RSPCA can only enter your property with your permission, or with a warrant. In the latter case, the police would be accompanying them.
  I thought they could also remove animals in an emergency without a warrant if a vet says the animal is suffering sufficiently.
  That was my loose understanding based on watching the documentary about them!
  You're saying that in this case, an RSPCA staff member entered your garden to remove the cat, without trying to talk to your father. If that's what happened, then I'd agree with Johnny Dangerously about speaking to a lawyer, or perhaps even the police.
  See here: https://www.nigelweller.co.uk/your-rights/4565811521 (especially the last bit)
  Do you have proof that the cat was taken from your garden? Ie could she (the cat) have been outside the garden, on the street etc?
  What you need to do is take the emotion out of what you write (I know this is hard) and focus on the facts, and where the RSPCA did things that they shouldn't have. Write a clear, succinct summary that you can discuss with someone with legal expertise.
• Johnny Dangerously and pinkteapot
  Because of her age we had secured the garden, we were afraid she might wander of and die somewhere one day and we would never be able to find her to bury her.
  The reason I haven't considered legal action is because it's our word against theirs at the end of the day. I was hoping to least make them accept that this shouldn't be happening and try and change their protocol.
  How on earth can I prove that my cat didn't leave my garden? And she absolutely didn't!
• Well I think first of all you claim that she was removed from the garden and see if they dispute it. Her age, condition secured garden etc. would mean they would have to be pretty confident they can prove she was outside of the garden. Either way, it's forcing them to document their account of events.
  Then I would question why they didn't attempt to contact you directly before taking them to the vets. If they thought the cat was sick, then their first port of call would be to contact the owner, not to confiscate the animal.
  Either way, judging by your written account, I'd say they have a lot to answer for, and you have a strong case for prosecution, although I'm not a solicitor. The principal here is that if a cat clearly has an owner, then the first action by them should be to speak to the owner. If they don't think the response from the owner is satisfactory, then they should apply to remove the animal legally.
  As an example, my older cat once broke her jaw, most likely from falling out of a tree (stupid animal). She was in a miserable state, and I found her almost by chance in the morning as she called to me on my way out to work. Now, my cat used to stay out for days when she was younger, and I'd be lucky if I saw her some mornings. If an RSPCA officer found her before I did, should I be charged for animal cruelty? Of course not. As soon as I was aware, it was off to an emergency vet. If an RSPCA officer found her, I would have done the same right away. It should only be considered neglect if you have failed to act on something you are aware of.
  In your case, the cat may have had a very bad turn when the RSPCA found her (for the sake of argument). Their first port of call should have been to try and contact you. And even if they thought she was in a bad state and took here there and then (which I'd recommend they do), then the conversation with you should have been 'we thought you should know your cat is very poorly', rather than 'you've been neglecting your cat'.
  If your response what that you couldn't care less, then I'd say they have right to go down the neglect route.
  Overly long post, didn't mean to write that much.
• how did the RSPCA get in the back garden without your dad seeing them.