RSPCA - Advice

[cjm1066]

Who gave the cat to the RSPCA, after mother inland died the cat was part of her estate and couldn't be moved on until probate was granted, then its according to her will.

So it is held in trust by the executors of her estate, they alas own it and can pay the costs from her estate.

A sad situation.

 

[Greenmist]

I'd say scam, search the number that sent the text, be warned, if you do call the RSPCA (or RSPB for that matter) they will try to push you for a donation or membership, money first animal welfare second

 

[bobt]

its the sort of thing I would expect from them,

 

[yellow belly]

Tell them to put it down, end of conversation!

 

[Greenmist]

Tell them to put it down, end of conversation!

I thought thats what the RSPCA did with the majority of animals it take in

 

[MAH]

Below are the screen shots of what I think are quite odd text messages

I agree with @VSS - not your cat, not your financial responsibility...
Unless you've signed some RSPCS forms at point of hand over that states you accept it

Legal &General have a free page on it - extract "If you decide the best thing for your pet is to be given to a family member or friend, make sure you have a conversation with them first – they won’t be under any legal obligation to take them even if it’s in your will. It may also be a good idea to arrange a backup option, just in case their circumstances change in the future, and they can no longer commit to rehoming."

It depends how strong you feel about it, but id skip HO complaint and report it to the police - Those messages seam to be at the mild end of extortion- give me money or else.

Imagine if a older , more venerable person was receiving that pressure.
Time to hold them to account.
M

 

[Andrewslater]

Got to be a scam. If not I would look to send the messages received to any journalist that would listen.

It’s not your cat. who would the ‘inspectorate’ investigate on welfare grounds? Your dead mother-in-law?

 

[mel b3]

I can believe it.
I reported a dog in distress, that I couldn't help. Two days later I had an African lady on the phone , insisted that I set up a monthly payment to the rspca , and she told me very forcefully , that if I didn't set it up , the rspca could set it up without my consent . I just told her to do one , and that I was going to call the police , as the call had been recorded . I doubt it was a scam , as she almost shat her knickers when I said I was reporting her to the police.

 

[disco_ike]

@Jim xyz what was the outcome?

 

[chriswjx]

Sounds like a scam- tell them to euthanise the cat, they have control of the cat, it is their responsibility to ensure it is not suffering.

Find the paperwork you would have received when signing the cat over to there care for T&C.

Second this and @VSS 's remarks.

Honestly, if they got me into a right mood, I'd be looking at reversing it onto them! How can they prove that the dental troubles are not due to negligent care on their part? (As the responsible party for their care!!!)

Also agree with @MAH, the tone of those messages are incredibly extortionate!! Even if they do backtrack on that, I'd be looking at police complaint and try and work out who else I can raise a stink with (local MP?). Intimidating and threatening with no doubts about it (or else they wouldn't have brought up the inspectorate...), sound more like back alley debt collectors than a "charity"...

 

[Jim xyz]

@Jim xyz what was the outcome?

Made a phone call to the office in question and got to the bottom of it. This was harmless and a bit of miscommunication but I now dislike the RSPCA even more.

Basically the cat was dropped at the “RSPCA” office by the neighbour who’d been feeding it.

This office although affiliated to the RSPCA is basically a group of well meaning cat-ladies (not the ones in one-piece Lycra). Apparently they have to pay the RSPCA £3000 a year to be allowed to operate under their banner.

From what I could gather, these very well meaning if slightly odd ladies raise their own funds to operate and I think they probably end up putting their hands in their own pockets a fair bit as well. There seems to have been some genuine confusion on their part what was happening to the cat and one of these ladies decided that she’d call us and ask us to pay towards the vets bill.

Clearly she needs a little more work on her communication skills and I feel sorry for her hubby if there is one but from what I can gather she was trying to get some money in on her own initiative.

They now understand fully that the cat is theirs to be re-homed if possible and that I’m not in the position to give them £600.

I’m not sure how many millions the RSPCA has tucked away but I think they should be supporting these ladies rather than fleecing them for £3000 a year.

 

[MAH]

who else I can raise a stink with (

@cjm1066
The charity commission might like to hear about it too.
It's probably a story the Tabloid press would buy if the police weren't interested.
Then use the cash to fix the cat.

I can see a head line -

Feline Fang Extortion Exposed.

Moggies molars cause pain for charity.

Being curious i Googled the definition of Extortion - Law. the crime of obtaining money or some other thing of value by the abuse of one's office or authority.

M.

 

[chriswjx]

Being curious i Googled the definition of Extortion - Law. the crime of obtaining money or some other thing of value by the abuse of one's office or authority.

Sounds about right...

I’m not sure how many millions the RSPCA has tucked away but I think they should be supporting these ladies rather than fleecing them for £3000 a year.

How do you think they end up with millions tucked away... Same as the RSPB, chronically fund raising as short of cash - what they mean to say is, let us spend your money so we don't have to spend ours!!!

 

[disco_ike]

That sounds like aweful behaviour and if that is the way they think they should be operating then the RSPCA needs to know they have factions using their name and behaving badly.

 

[jall55]

I would report this right to the top - As some say above what if this was a little old lady - They would have paid i am sure

 

[Andrewslater]

Got to be a scam. If not I would look to send the messages received to any journalist that would listen.

It’s not your cat. who would the ‘inspectorate’ investigate on welfare grounds? Your dead mother-in-law?

Come to think of it, even if it is a scam i would be contacting the RSPCA and auggesting they have a serious data breach.

 

[Greenmist]

Made a phone call to the office in question and got to the bottom of it. This was harmless and a bit of miscommunication but I now dislike the RSPCA even more.

Basically the cat was dropped at the “RSPCA” office by the neighbour who’d been feeding it.

This office although affiliated to the RSPCA is basically a group of well meaning cat-ladies (not the ones in one-piece Lycra). Apparently they have to pay the RSPCA £3000 a year to be allowed to operate under their banner.

From what I could gather, these very well meaning if slightly odd ladies raise their own funds to operate and I think they probably end up putting their hands in their own pockets a fair bit as well. There seems to have been some genuine confusion on their part what was happening to the cat and one of these ladies decided that she’d call us and ask us to pay towards the vets bill.

Clearly she needs a little more work on her communication skills and I feel sorry for her hubby if there is one but from what I can gather she was trying to get some money in on her own initiative.

They now understand fully that the cat is theirs to be re-homed if possible and that I’m not in the position to give them £600.

I’m not sure how many millions the RSPCA has tucked away but I think they should be supporting these ladies rather than fleecing them for £3000 a year.

Not good enough, that wasn't asking

 

[Andrewslater]

Not good enough, that wasn't asking

turns out to ha e been blackmail i stead of a scam. Absolutely disgraceful!

 

[Rookandrabbit]

@Jim xyz tell them the money is in the Kitty!!

 

[chriswjx]

This was harmless

Will respectfully disagree with you on this one. As has been said by others, if you had not been getting those messages, how many others would cave on that.

The immediate mention of opening a welfare case with the inspectorate without even getting a response from you is threatening behaviour (in the first image - where they say how the messages are noted as delivered).

You were confident to stand your ground, but I know plenty of people who would be in an utter panic.