RSPCA introduces double standards

The Self Help Group for Farmers, Pet Owners and Others Experiencing Difficulties with the RSPCA (The SHG)

Press Release
For Immediate Release
26th January 2008

RSPCA introduces double standards for animal welfare

The RSPCA has finally apologised “unreservedly” to the Hindu community for killing a Temple’s sacred cow over a year ago.

The charity says that it now plans to "reassess its protocol" when dealing with the welfare of animals at "organisations which have a non-violent ethos".

No such protocol is in the public domain.

The RSPCA raid on the Temple was led by Superintendent Tim Wass who was immediately promoted to Chief Officer of the Inspectorate.

On issuing the apology to Bhatkivedanta Manor Temple, the RSPCA claimed that it now recognised the hurt caused to the sentiments of these communities, and wished to build a progressive relationship.

Stewart Coyle, the farm manger of New Gukol, a Hindu cow protection programme said: "The RSPCA's resolution will now help to protect all our cows. I believe the temple and RSPCA can now work together for animal welfare".

Anne Kasica, of the SHG, asked: “Does this ‘resolution’ now mean that everyone is safe from the RSPCA? I don’t know of any farm that does not have a ‘non violent ethos’, but I think that farmers will continue to live in fear of an ‘unannounced visit’ from the RSPCA, commanded by someone like Mr Wass.”

Ernest Vine, also of the SHG, said: “Is there perhaps a danger here that the RSPCA will start to apply their double-standards to those with a ‘non-violent ethos’ on the one hand, and ‘violent’ farmers and pet owners on the other?”

“Could we see scenes reminiscent of the Middle Ages where ordinary people are forced to flee to Hindu Temples in order to save the lives of their elderly or ill pets from the RSPCA?”

ENDS

The SHG was officially formed in June 1990 and has been helping people to defend themselves and their animals from the RSPCA ever since

The national help line number is 0844 700 66 90

A copy of this and previous press releases from The SHG are online at
http://www.the-shg.org/SHGPressReleases.htm

Background information on the Self Help Group for Farmers Pet Owners and Other Experiencing Difficulties with the RSPCA can be found at http://www.the-shg.org

Details of further criticisms of the RSPCA can be found at the RSPCA-Animadversion website:
http://cheetah.webtribe.net/~animadversion

References:

Charity Finance | RSPCA finally apologises for sacred cow slaughter
21 Jan 2009 ... grounds and plans to reassess its protocol when dealing with the welfare of animals at organisations which have a non-violent ethos. ...
www.charityfinanceco.uk/home/content.php?id=2467&pg=15&cat=58 –

Victims of RSPCA bite back - Telegraph
2 Mar 2008 ... the demonstration in London widened into a general protest against what many people, including specialist lawyers and vets, regard as ...
www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/mainjhtml?xml=/opinion/2008/03/02/do0202.xml

BBC NEWS | UK | MP attacks RSPCA prosecutions
23 Sep 2008 ... Frank Field, MP for Birkenhead, is furious at the recent prosecution of Pat Seager, a 71 year old pensioner who ran a voluntary animal shelter ... Concerns over RSPCA prosecutions 22 Sep 08 | File on 4 ...
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/news/7631635.stm

Hounded — DisabilityNow
The home of pensioner Betty McDiarmid, a 75-year-old wheelchair-user with diabetes, was raided twice by the RSPCA. The first raid resulted in a local vet ...
www.disabilitynow.org.uk/living/features/hounded - 45k

BBC - Inside Out - South East - RSPCA - Kind to animals, cruel to humans?
... but cruel to humans in its treatment of animal welfare? Inside Out's Glenn Campbell investigates. ... Critical of the current system - Roger Gale MP. ...
www.bbc.co.uk/insideout/content/articles/2008/11/07/south_east_rspca_s14_w9_feature.shtml

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