All change!

Things are all change here at the RSPCA press office this week.

Monday saw the return of our head of press Henry Macaulay to RSPCA HQ after taking a nine-month sabattical. He's been travelling the world and making us all jealous with his amazing adventures.

Thursday sees my departure from the RSPCA press office. Yes, I am journeying to pastures new to take on a new role as communications officer for Battersea Dogs and Cats Home. I have spent two years here and have loved every minute. But, it's time for a change! However, I am thrilled I will still be working in the animal welfare and charity sectors and hope you will still keep up to date with what I am up to on my Twitter feed - JudeAtRSPCA - which is set to change to JudeAtBattersea next week.

But, this is not the end of the blog. My colleagues will be taking over and filling you in on all you need to know! Make sure you regularly check out http://lifeattherspcapressoffice.blogspot.com/ or follow them on Twitter - @KatyaRSPCA @HelenRSPCA @ARobbinsRSPCA @CalieRSPCA
Thanks so much for following my blog and hope you have enjoyed it. xxxx

Air gun attacks on the rise - alarming new stats released today

Today, the RSPCA is releasing stats which show an increase in the severity and frequency of air gun attacks on animals.

Hundreds of animals are needlessly suffering as reckless air gun users continue to take pot shots at animals.

Every year, especially during the summer, RSPCA centres are overrun with animals who have been victimised in these cruel and callous attacks.

Throughout last year, the RSPCA dealt with 567 complaints, collections and rescues regarding air gun incidents - 135 of those were between January and April. During the same period this year, it has already dealt with 165 cases and the charity fears the numbers may continue to soar during the summer months.*

Cats are the most frequent victims of air gun attacks but dogs, birds and wildlife have also been injured in this heartless way.

However, we're worried that many cases go unreported or some owners may never know what has happened to their pet as injured animals usually look for a quiet wooded or sheltered area in which to die.

Therefore, these alarming stats may only be the tip of the iceberg.

RSPCA Harmsworth Hospital director David Grant has been treating animals suffering wounds inflicted by air guns for nearly 43 years. 

He said: “We’re seeing far too many animals being brought in for treatment after they have suffered life-threatening injuries.

“The severity of injuries inflicted by air guns has increased dramatically. Modern air guns have immense power and the pellets are not being embedded on the surface of the cat, as I used to regularly deal with, but are now passing through the body and smashing bones to smithereens.

A new offence was introduced earlier this year to drive down the number of under 18s who are accessing air guns.*

From February this year, owners have been liable for a fine of up to £1,000 if they do not take steps to prevent people under the age of 18 accessing their air gun. Safety leaflets are also now issued with every air gun purchased.

I make no secret of how much I adore my cat. I can't even imagine what it would be like to lose him in such a horrific manner. He isn't a big fan of the outside and has only occasionally strayed out of our garden on his own - which I must say I am relieved about given that a shop selling air guns is just around the corner. My heart goes out to anyone who loses a much-loved pet due to the heartless actions of others.

Here’s just some of the cases the RSPCA has picked up the pieces for already so far this year.

Ginger Tom Benny was nearly paralysed when he was shot with an air gun and the pellet narrowly missed his spine.  Owner Mandy Chesterton found Benny near her home with blood pouring from a wound near his leg. He was immediately rushed to a vet for treatment.

Mandy said: “I am just shocked that someone would shoot at an innocent animal. Benny is now quite nervous about going out and he keeps just staying in the garden.”

An elderly cat was repeatedly shot with an air gun which left five lead pellets lodged in his back leg. Vets were able to remove one of the pellets from 17-year-old Aslan’s leg but a vet did not want to risk operating on him due to his old age.

Owner Mrs Copland said: “I’m not convinced he’ll ever be right again now, not at his age. I’m afraid to let him out on his own because if he manages to get over the fence, I’m not sure he’ll be able to get back again. It’s disconcerting to think that somebody’s out there shooting at things. You just don’t know why they did it.”

Six-month-old tabby Marley suffered a broken leg after he was shot with an air gun at close range. Vets removed the pellet and his leg had to be pinned while he was on cage rest and recovering from his ordeal.

Owner Emma Gibson said:  “My daughter was the one who found Marley lying in the garden and it really upset her to find our cat in this way.”

To report an air gun incident, or any other form of animal cruelty, call the RSPCA’s 24-hour cruelty and advice line on 0300 1234 999. 

Back Off Badgers!

A BBC poll has today revealed that the UK public is opposed to the much-debated badger cull.

You lovely people - both young and old, men and women, living in both towns and the countryside - have voiced your anger at the Government’s plans to introduce a badger cull in England.

2/3 (63%) of people asked in a telephone poll said they were against the cull which the Government says could prevent the spread of bovine TB in cattle.

However, the RSPCA has long voiced its opinions that a cull is not an effective way combat the spread of the disease. We believe that vaccination, increased levels of testing, improved biosecurity and stricter controls on the movement of cattle are more sustainable ways of reducing the risk.

The RSPCA has spent years campaigning against the cull. More than 40,000 people objected to the plans following our Back Off Badgers campaign which voiced our opposition to the cull in England. In addition, we received hundreds of postcards and text messages from people voicing their support for England’s badgers.

A cull could actually rid some areas of up to 70% of their badger population, which would be heartbreaking. It may also fail to reduce the problem anyway.

The Independent Scientific Group on cattle TB (ISG) examined the science behind a badger cull. Its report in 2007 concluded that killing badgers could actually increase the spread of bTB, making matters worse rather than better. 

The report is here - http://www.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/farmanimal/diseases/atoz/tb/isg/report/final_report.pdf

A cull is simply not the answer to reduce the rate of bovine TB in cattle. Yes, something needs to be done but plans need to be well thought out to make sure they are effective in the long term to protect the welfare of all animals.

The full BBC story is here - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-13684482

More info on what the RSPCA is doing about the issue is on our website -  http://www.rspca.org.uk/getinvolved/campaigns/badgers

If you shout loud enough, will people listen?

I am a big believer in strength in numbers so I am hoping a letter sent to David Cameron calling for the ban on wild animals in circuses will get his attention.

Along with a long list of animal welfare organisations including Born Free, Animal Aid, WSPA and PETA, the RSPCA has joined calls for animals like Anne the elephant to no longer live unhappy lives in travelling shows.

The Government launched its own consultation on the issue and 94% of respondants supported a ban being brought in. However, Friday 13th May proved to be unlucky as it was announced that a licensing scheme for circuses wishing to use wild animals would be brought in, instead of an outright ban.

Here's the letter in full, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the message gets through this time ...

Dear Prime Minister,

RE: Wild animals in circuses

We are writing to you on behalf of our hundreds of thousands of supporters urging you to ensure the coalition government reviews its recent decision not to prohibit the use of wild animals in circuses.

The reasons given by Defra Ministers for not introducing a ban – alleged legal proceedings against Austria’s ban and potential infringements of the Human Rights Act – have been shown to be inaccurate. More importantly, the focus on these issues is a complete red-herring. The European Commission has made clear on numerous occasions that Member States are best placed to legislate on animal welfare, including banning the use of wild animals in circuses, by the introduction of national rules. Furthermore, the risk assessment carried out for the public consultation on this matter made it very clear that "there are no human rights issues raised by these proposals".

Anne the elephant and Monty the camel were recently rehomed from Bobby Roberts' Super Circus, leaving only three circuses in the UK which continue to resist public pressure. Between them they keep an estimated 36 wild animals. The UK’s continued failure to ban the outdated practice of using wild animals in circuses, whilst many other countries have already done so, undermines the UK’s international reputation on animal welfare.

There has been much confusion in statements from Ministers on this matter leading to accusations that Defra ministers have misled Parliament and the public. We believe that in order to ensure the government has the confidence of the public, circus owners and animal welfare charities, it should put its plans on hold whilst it reviews this decision.

We, along with 94 per cent of the public who responded to the public consultation on this matter, believe that the only way to ensure high animal welfare standards is to ban the use of wild animals in circuses. This is clearly both the most proportionate and effective means of protecting animals.

We believe that the majority of the public would join us in asking the government to urgently reconsider this decision and bring forward a ban.

Yours sincerely,
Animal Aid
Animal Defenders International (ADI)
British Veterinary Association (BVA)
Born Free Foundation (BFF)
Captive Animals Protection Society (CAPS)
Care for the Wild International (CWI)
Four Paws
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) UK
Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA)
World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA)

Our mission to create a nation of happy bunnies

Did you know that despite being one of the country’s most popular pets, rabbits are also one of the most neglected?

Sadly, RSPCA staff are looking after reams of rabbits who have been rescued from spending their lives cramped in cages, deprived of food and water and desperately lacking care and attention.

We’re inundated with thousands of neglected rabbits every year who are collected, rescued or seized by our inspectors.

In addition, more than 8,000 rabbits have been reported abandoned to the RSPCA since 2007 and a further 3,300 rabbits have been signed over to the charity by owners who can no longer look after them.

When I was growing up, I had a lovely pet rabbit who I called Cotton (my sister had already nabbed the name Cotton Tail!) He was a favourite member of the family and we regularly got him out of his huge hutch which my dad had lovingly made and let him hop around our garden and munch on the grass. If only all rabbits were treated in this way. Too many spend their lives living alone in cramped hutches with little opportunities to express their natural behaviour.

For example, rabbits need regular exercise. In the wild, rabbits could cover the space of 30 tennis courts in one day alone. Being stuck in a hutch doesn’t provide much opportunity for all this hopping around.

This week (May 23^rd-29^th) has seen Rabbit Awareness Week hop into action with RSPCA branches and clinics throughout England and Wales getting involved.

It is the first year that the RSPCA has been an official partner of the initiative and we’re calling on the public to get involved too.

There are lots of rabbit-related events taking place, including free health checks and educational events. And if you are lucky, you may catch a glimpse of the large inflatable bunny which is currently touring the UK where you can add your pledge to improve rabbit behavioural wellbeing.

To find out how to make your pet rabbits happy bunnies, log onto www.rabbitawarenessweek.co.uk or for rabbit care advice go to www.rspca.org.uk/rabbits

First the good news ...

Last week brought some good news and some bad news for animal welfare.

I was delighted to hear that a new EU ruling will mean that clothing and textiles made from real fur will have to be clearly labelled. The new law follows widespread confusion over whether fur on the High Street was real or fake. An RSPCA poll found that 93 per cent of people think products should be clearly labelled as real or fake fur, and more than half said it would stop them buying the item if it wasn’t labelled. A further 95 per cent said that they would refuse to wear real fur.

Having worked in fashion retail in the past, I know that price is not always a clue as to whether an item is made from real fur. It is a common misconception that cheaper items are going to be fake fur. In fact in the poll, 77 % of people asked thought price would be a big indication about whether an item was real or fake fur.
This is exactly how some items made from real fur have snuck onto the High Street. Consumers deserve to be able to make an informed choice about the items they choose to buy – I just hope there’s enough people out there who would refuse to wear real fur and therefore demand for such items may diminish.

However, the bad news is that the Government has decided not to bring in an outright ban on wild animals in circuses. Instead, a new licensing scheme will be introduced. Needless to say, this simply does not go far enough. We desperately need an outright ban and the RSPCA is furious that the Government has not brought one in – especially given that its own consultation found that 94% of people wanted a ban.

The RSPCA has been campaigning to make the use of wild animals in circuses illegal for many years and thinks that animals such as elephants, tigers and lions should not be subjected to the confinement, constant transportation and abnormal social groups associated with circus life simply in the name of entertainment.

The recent plight of Anne the elephant, who was the last touring elephant in the UK, illustrated the problem perfectly. After being rescued by groups including the RSPCA, she is now recovering and rehabilitating at Longleat safari park.  But, without a ban, animals like Anne could continue to suffer.

There’s no doubt about whether a ban should be brought in - the days when it was acceptable to haul wild animals around to be gawped at and to entertain with unnatural tricks are long gone.

 The Independent newspaper has launched its own campaign to encourage the Government to change its mind and the petition is being handed into Downing St tomorrow – please do lend your support by adding your name to the petition today. The Government needs to listen to public opinion and there’s a huge strength in numbers. Log onto http://www.petitionbuzz.com/petitions/circusanimals to help. Thank you xxx

Finally, as you tuck into your lunch today, you may want to think about what is filling your sandwich. This week is British Sandwich Week and we’re asking people to consider higher welfare choices for their sarnies. A YouGov poll found only one in ten people considered animal welfare when buying their lunch – despite more than half the people polled saying they did consider higher welfare items when doing their weekly food shop. More info at www.rspca.org.uk/fairerfillings

It's RSPCA Week!

RSPCA Week 2011 runs from 2 to 8 May we are releasing our annual animal welfare figures as a way of showing our valued supporters how they have helped us help animals over the last year.

We investigated almost 160,000 complaints of alleged cruelty in 2010 (159,686), which is more than a 10% increase compared to 2009 (141,280).

During 2010, the RSPCA:

·         Answered 1,163,240 calls

·         Investigated 159,686 complaints of alleged animal cruelty

·         Issued 86,354 animal owners with welfare improvement advice

·         Rescued and collected130,033 animals

·         Rehomed 64,086 animals

·         Treated and helped 210,970 animals in our hospitals and clinics

·         Spent almost £4m on veterinary care

·         Microchipped 67,388 animals, helping them to stay safe

·         Admitted 16,429 wildlife casualties into our four wildlife centres

The RSPCA had to rescue fewer animals in 2010, which could be good news in that people took our advice on board and were able to keep their pets rather than having to give them up. 

One of the animals collected by the RSPCA was Winter the cat.  Winter was found lodged halfway through a cat flap in Coventry with a broken leg.  The white cat was nursed back to health and was found a new home by the charity’s Coventry animal centre.

The four RSPCA wildlife centres admitted more than 16,000 casualties last year.  The RSPCA Mallydams Wood wildlife centre in East Sussex had almost 3,000 admissions – its highest in 50 years.

The RSPCA West Hatch wildlife centre in Somerset had a very rare visitor last year:  an extremely weak juvenile Leisler’s bat had to be rehabilitated for more than a month before he could be released.

Another wildlife rescue involved a fallow stag which had become entangled in a swing in Hook, Hampshire.  The deer was freed by two RSPCA inspectors who had joined forces with the fire and rescue service.  He was dazed but unharmed and wandered off into the woodland on his release.

To find out more about the work of the RSPCA please visit www.rspca.org.uk.  To find out how to support your local independent RSPCA branch during RSPCA Week and all year round, and for a list of your local events, please visit www.rspcaweek.org.uk Also, look out for RSPCA fundraisers at your local Tesco all this week too!

You can also Stand Up For Your Favourite Animal here - http://donations.rspca.org.uk/RSPCAWeek/Online.aspx (FYI rabbits got my vote, don't tell my cat Maverick!)

Follow RSPCA Frontline on Twitter (@RSPCA_frontline) for a live one-day tweet-a-thon today (Thursday 5 May).  RSPCA inspector Tony Woodley will be tweeting updates of animal rescues and cruelty complaints received throughout the day.

Hot hot hot!

We're all loving the gorgeous sunshine the country is currently basking in. But the RSPCA urging pet owners to make sure their four-legged friends do not frazzle in the heat after it has seen a huge rise in the numbers of calls about animals left in hot environments.

Between 1 and 26 April, the RSPCA received calls about 968 dogs and 281 other animals trapped in either hot cars, buildings or even gardens without shade.  This compared to 610 dogs and 81 other animals in 2010.

With the record temperatures over the Easter weekend and forecasts of more sunny weather to come, we're reminding dog owners not to leave their pets in cars, conservatories or caravans while they enjoy the sunshine.

All too often, owners make the mistake of thinking that it is sufficient to leave a bowl of water or a window open for their pet but this is not enough to protect your pet from heatstroke, which can have fatal consequences. 

Our message is: ‘Dogs die in hot cars. Don’t leave your dog alone in a car.’

As an example, the temperature inside a vehicle can soar to 47 degrees within 60 minutes when the outside temperature is 22 degrees.  Even in lower temperatures, if it is sunny or slightly warm outside, a vehicle can become hot very quickly.

Other dangers are:

Cloud cover can disappear quickly.

All dogs will suffer, but some dogs are more prone to heatstroke. For example, dogs that are old, young, short nosed, long-haired, overweight or heavily muscled are more at risk, as well as dogs with certain diseases.

Temperatures in air conditioned cars can reach the same temperature as outside within just five minutes of the air conditioning being turned off.

The most obvious sign of heat stroke in dogs is excessive panting and profuse salivation. Other signs include:

Overly red or purple gums

A rapid pulse

Lack of co-ordination, reluctance or inability to rise after collapsing, seizures, vomiting or diarrhoea

Coma or death in extreme instances

Owners who fear their dog may be suffering from heat stroke should act with great urgency. Pets should be moved to a cooler spot straight away before ringing your vet for advice immediately.

Douse your dog with cool (not cold) water. You could put your dog in a shower and run cool water over him/her, spray your dog with cool water and place him/her in the breeze of a fan. Never cool your dog so much that he/she begins to shiver

Let your dog drink small amounts of cool water

Continue to douse your dog with cool water until his/her breathing starts to settle and then take him/her straight to the veterinary surgery

And don't forget your sun cream too!

Helping the silent sufferers of domestic abuse

After five months of planning, preparing and planning some more, the day had arrived! Yesterday saw the launch of the PetRetreat nationwide appeal for fosterers.

RSPCA PetRetreat fosters animals belonging to people fleeing domestic violence.

All too often, women and men find themselves trapped in abusive relationships and feel unable to leave through fear of what may happen to their pets if they are left behind. Quite understandably, temporary accommodation and refuges tend to not allow pets.

PetRetreat looks after these special animals, who may have been victims of abuse themselves, until they can be reunited with their owners in a new safe and secure home.

Over the years since PetRetreat was launched in 2002, dedicated staff at PetRetreat have heard some harrowing tales. Take Petra, the loyal family dog, who had to have her leg amputated when it was left so badly damaged after being repeatedly abused by someone’s partner. Another lady who asked for our help said her dog used to put himself between her violent partner and their children to try and protect them.

This year has seen a record number of people asking for PetRetreat’s help with more than 100 calls being handled every week. On lots of occasions, people would like us to care for more than one animal so we have to try and find foster homes for hundreds of cats and dogs every month. But, this has become an almost impossible feat with a network of only 80 fosterers throughout England and Wales – only one being over the Welsh border.

So, after all the preparation, the media appeal for fosterers was launched on BBC Breakfast yesterday morning. The scheme was given wonderful publicity and it got our phone lines ringing. By Midday, nearly 400 people had applied which was an overwhelming response.

I can only say thank you to everyone who came forward wanting to make a difference to lives of people suffering domestic violence. With your help, we can help to stop them from living in fear and provide a new lease of life for their pets who are the silent sufferers of such tragic situations.

If you think you could open your heart and home and foster an animal through PetRetreat, call 0300 123 8000 or log onto www.rspca.org.uk/petretreat

Elephants Never Forget

The press has been awash with stories of Anne the elephant this week after covert filming by Animal Defenders International captured footage of her being badly treated by staff at the circus she has called home for several years. The shocking footage touched the hearts of many and I choked back tears when viewing it myself.

Organisations such as the RSPCA sprung into action to do anything that they could to help. We are thrilled that Anne's owner has now agreed that she can be rehomed to a place where she can spend her retirement feeling safe and secure. The team at Longleat Safari Park have agreed to welcome Anne to their venue so she can recieve the veterinary treatment she so desperately needs and her condition can be properly
assessed.

The team involved are going to be moving Anne as soon as it is possible to do so whilst minimising any stress and protecting her welfare and safety. I can't wait to see her happy and healthy in a new home.

The RSPCA has been campaigning for a ban on the use of wild animals in circuses for the past ten years under the Animal Welfare Act.

Wild elephants lead dynamic, socially-complex lives governed by their relationships with family members and the demands of finding and eating huge quantities of vegetation. By contrast, circus elephants’ emotional lives are sterile and their activity restricted by chains and pens except for when required to perform tricks which place unnatural strains on their joints and bodies.
The government is due to make an announcement in the next month or so and we hope this evidence will show that only a ban on wild animals can prevent such acts from happening again. If you feel as strongly about this as we do, you can also play a part by lobbying your MP to ask Defra to bring in a ban. For further information log onto http://www.politicalanimal.org.uk/area/westminster/wild-animals-in-circuses

Looking forward to Shrove Tuesday!

Ohhh this is my favourite time of the year! The mornings are getting lighter, the sun is shining (at the moment it is anyway!) and the daffodils are just starting to poke through the ground.

So with Spring just around the corner, that can mean only one thing – Pancake Day!

Here at the RSPCA, we’re urging people not to forget about animals when they are mixing up the batter.

The unpalatable truth is that many of the eggs available to make our pancakes come from hens that have lived out their lives in wire cages.

The good news is that latest figures from Defra show more people than ever are choosing higher welfare eggs. In fact, for the first time the UK is producing 50 per cent of eggs from cage-free systems!

However, this does mean that half of all UK eggs still come from hens kept in cruel battery cages, where the usable space for each bird (in barren as well as so-called ‘enriched’ battery cages) is less than the size of a piece of A4 paper.

That’s about 17 million hens kept in cages, unable to move around or move away from each other freely or express other natural behaviour properly.
Whether you decide to have yours with lemon and sugar, chocolate spread or syrup, please think about the hens too and make your pancake a higher welfare one.

Oh, and check out some great recipe ideas for Pancake Day and beyond here - http://bit.ly/dTULRp

Or to find out more about laying hens, log onto http://bit.ly/aCuyqu

Bon Appétit!! xx

RSPCA Needs You!

RSPCA centres throughout England and Wales are searching for its volunteer stars of the future to help out with a surprising array of tasks.

RSPCA branches in towns from Kingston to Kidderminster are looking for people to help keep the shops, branches and rehoming centres running smoothly.

It’s not all dog walking and cat cuddling as the positions available include fundraising, website design, customer service and having a say in key decisions as a branch trustee.

As millions of people struggle to find work as the impact of the economic crisis continues, volunteering could help to increase skills and boost the chances of securing paid employment.

It could also benefit school leavers or recent graduates when applying for jobs by giving them that all-important work experience.

RSPCA head of branch and animal centre support Rhoda Hatton said:  “The RSPCA relies on good-natured members of the public to devote their free time to helping us out. We would love to hear from anyone who thinks they can lend a helping hand – you may be surprised at just what you could get involved with.”

You can dedicate as little or as much time as you like to helping out a local branch.

Experience is not necessary for many of the tasks on offer, so whatever your forte in life, there should be something for you.

These are just some of the branches would love to hear from new volunteers for the following roles:

·         RSPCA Darlington & district branch – branch trustees, a website designer and fundraisers.

·         RSPCA Cambridgeshire Mid East branch – fundraisers.

·         RSPCA Lincolnshire North East branch – fundraisers, shop staff, co-ordinators for fundraising, volunteering and publicity.

·         RSPCA Brecknock & District branch - trustees, fundraisers and home visitors.

·         RSPCA Montgomeryshire & Radnor branch – trustees.

·         RSPCA Richmond, Twickenham & Barnes branch – fundraisers, co-ordinators for events and fundraising.

·         RSPCA Plymouth & South West Devon branch – Shop volunteers, fundraisers and home visitors.

·         RSPCA Hillingdon, Slough, Windsor, Kingston & District branch – Shop volunteers, fosterers and fundraisers especially for RSPCA week which runs from 2-8 May.

·         RSPCA Newbury & District branch – Fundraisers, Home visitors, fosterers and shop volunteers.

·         Kidderminster and District branch – fundraisers and shop assistants.

·         Peterborough and District branch – Fundraisers and committee members.

If you think you could dedicate some time to helping the RSPCA, please call our enquiries team on 0300 1234 555, log onto www.rspca.org.uk or contact your local branch to find out if you can help.

Gorgeous Gonsal

After a week out and about meeting and greeting some new faces, I am back in the office. And what a week it was. On Thursday, I had a wonderful time at Gonsal Farm in Shropshire. I caught up with our horse rehoming officer and we came up with some new and exciting plans (watch this space!).

The equine facilities at the centre are amazing – lovely stables, plenty of outside space to train and rehabilitate the horses and, most importantly of all, staff who really are dedicated to the welfare of the animals in their care.

I managed to spend some time with the centre’s current residents.  One particular favourite was a one-year Gelent who first came to the centre last May when he was only a matter of hours old. Staff think he was deserted by other horses. He was hand-reared at the centre and despite growing into a lovely young pony, he’s still waiting for a new home. I had heard about Gelent’s story within my first few weeks at the RSPCA press office so I was sad to hear that he is still without a forever home. But hopefully, his new owners are just around the corner.

It’s no secret that I am a huge cat lover so I just had to pay a visit to Gonsal’s cattery.

It was packed with gorgeous cats waiting for loving new homes while playing in their lovely indoor and outdoor runs. One particular kitten caught my eye – he was around 7 months old and had come into RSPCA care through a cruelty case. The poor little mite had been kicked so hard that his back right leg was severely damaged and needed amputating. In addition, he had been born with six toes on each paw. Despite suffering such abuse at a young age, this little black kitten was surprisingly fond of people and spend a good while happily sitting in my arms. If it wasn’t for Maverick (the RSPCA rescue cat currently residing at my house) then I would have taken him home. I hope someone else falls for him just like I did and finds a place in their home for him.

I feel immensely proud to be part of the RSPCA and whenever I visit a centre, I find it really emotional to see all the animals that have come into our care because they have been neglected or abused. There’s never any excuse to treat an animal with anything other than kindness and compassion and it saddens me that so many people do not hold that belief. But, the RSPCA is working hard to drive the rates of cruelty down and make sure people who do abuse animals are suitably punished and making sure that they never own animals again. We can only hope that through education and awareness, all animals will be treated with the respect that they deserve.

If you would like to rehome an animal from Gonsal Farm, call 0300 123 0753 or email GonsalFarm@rspca.org.uk

Out and about!

I love spending time out of the office and getting to see the RSPCA in action. This week, I am travelling to Shrewsbury to meet the staff and four-legged residents of Gonsal Farm in the stunning Shropshire countryside.

The centre looks after dogs, cats, rabbits, birds and horses to name just a few and can have up to 150 animals in its care at any one time.

Most of the animals that come into the centre have been rescued from the horrors of neglect and bad treatment by their previous owners. The dedicated staff spend weeks – sometimes even months – preparing them for a new life and a second chance by rebuilding their trust and confidence around people.

Gonsal Farm was one of the RSPCA centres which looked after and helped to rehome horses rescued from Spindle Farm in Amersham. This was one of the biggest cases the RSPCA has ever been involved in when more than 100 horses, ponies and donkeys were rescued from horrific conditions. More information on this case is on our website - http://www.rspca.org.uk/allaboutanimals/horses/amershamappeal

The animals at Gonsal Farm are looking for someone to give them a new home. If you think you can help call 0300 123 0753 or email GonsalFarm@rspca.org.uk

It costs the RSPCA over £2,400 a day to run Gonsal Farm Animal Centre which is funded purely through donations by members of the public. If you think you can help, log onto http://www.rspca.org.uk/donate

Catch up with my blog next week to see how I got on at Gonsal!

My year with Maverick

Twelve months ago, when I first took home my elderly rescue cat Maverick, I didn’t know how long he would be with us.

The wonderful team at RSPCA Putney Animal Hospital thought he was more than 10 years old and although cats can live up to 20 years, this old tabby had already had a tough life. He had been rescued by RSPCA inspectors who found him in an abandoned house with his leg trapped in a sash window.

A year on, and he’s still going strong – and what a year it has been. I have been lucky enough to see his confidence, personality and happiness grow while he has been a member of my family.

I rehomed Maverick through the hospital’s Putney Pensioners scheme which aims to find homes for older animals who may be overlooked by potential owners who fear expensive vet bills. However, all age related treatment and medicine is provided at the hospital free of charge through the scheme.

Being an elderly cat, Maverick does need some special care and attention. He is on a special diet and daily medication to regulate his digestion but this medicine is provided free of charge by the hospital.

I knew Maverick was special as soon as I brought him home. He loves company and is constantly by my side when I am at home. He has fitted himself in nicely with the routine at home, waiting patiently for me to finish dinner before hopping up on my lap, jumping on the bed as soon as soon as it’s night time and greeting me at the front door when I come home from work.

He does need help once in a while, he suffers pains in his back leg so need a bit of a lift to get him onto laps or beds but he always says thank you with a gentle nudge and a purr.

Elderly animals do deserve a second chance. Often they have had the hardest lives and just want a safe and happy home where they can spend their twilight years. Maverick is one of the most loving and affectionate pets you could imagine and I wouldn’t change him for the world.

To find out more about Putney Pensioners, call the animal hospital on 0300 123 0716.

Maverick having a cat nap on the sofa

Mav and me

Cuddle time with my husband

Get Puppy Smart!

Thinking of getting a puppy? Read on! Did you know that 19%* of people who bought a puppy in the last two years no longer have their dog??

Figures, released by the RSPCA today (Tuesday) show that too many people are following their heart rather than their head when it comes to buying a puppy.

People are falling into the trap of basing their decision on a dog’s appearance rather than how it will fit with their lifestyle. They often risk ending up with a dog that’s not right for them or suffers health problems because it has come from an unscrupulous breeder or trader.

We want to help people to avoid this heartache and we have made a great little animation at www.getpuppysmart.com which has all the info you could need to make a properly informed choice when buying a new puppy.

The survey also found that a shocking 40% of people spent one week or less doing research before making their puppy purchase. A healthy puppy is a much better buy than a pretty one so potential new owners should always do their homework first.

A full list of advice for potential puppy owners, and what to look out for when looking for a new pet dog, is also available at the www.getpuppysmart.com website. Tips include:

·         Match the right dog with your home, family and lifestyle and make sure that you can afford the long-term costs.

·         Phone ahead before visiting any puppies and know the right questions to ask.

·         Don’t buy a puppy straight away – go home and take time to consider your choice and visit it at least twice.

·         Always choose a puppy based on its likely health and temperament and not just its looks – a healthy puppy is much better than a pretty one.

·         Never be tempted to buy a puppy because you feel sorry for it – another will only be bred to replace it.

* The research was conducted by TNS via OnlineBus, an Internet survey. A sample of 7272 GB adults aged 16-64 were interviewed. Of these, 848 people had acquired a puppy in the past two years. Interviewing was conducted by online self-completion from 23 November 2010 – 20 January 2011.