Sat-Nav Units for The RSPCA - Possible PH Campaign?
Discussion
Hi,
Last Saturday I had the misfortune to discover that a family of birds were nesting in my kitchen extractor. Of course, being clueless on such matters, I immediately called the RSPCA for their advice. It was a good job too, as, when he arrived...the RSPCA officer proved just how clueless I was.
When the officer was 5 minutes down the road, he called me and said he thought he was about 30 minutes away... He described the landmarks and I guided him in via mobile telephone. I thought his lack of geographical awareness to be somewhat strange when you consider how cheap SatNav units are now...
Whilst dismantling half the kitchen (under his instruction – the RSPCA aren’t allowed to help you due to litigation culture...), we got chatting and I asked him where he lived. It transpired that he was based many miles away and worked on a 12hr+ shift.
“Surely, considering the price, you’ve got a SatNav?” - “You’re joking”, he replied.
Having saved me the bother, expense and guilty conscience of calling in the builders to extricate said family of birds, the officer bid his farewell and went back to the van... I watched as he sat in his van, map sprawled all over the dash, for at least 5 minutes...
Considering a) How affordable SatNav units now are – and – b) How incredibly vital the role of the RSPCA is in our society, I was incensed to know that RSPCA officers aren’t given SatNavs as standard...
Obviously, we would have to do more digging, but – if the situation is this bleak – how would the group feel about organising a campaign to obtain SatNav units for the RSPCA?
If a fund were set up, a nominated buyer (judging from the cars in profiles, there must be some successful business people around here...) could approach the manufacturer for the purpose of obtaining a bulk discount, using the undoubted positive press coverage that could come from such an action as an incentive.
I wonder if any PH members have connections within the SatNav OEMs?
Please forgive me if PH is involved in other charitable campaigns at the moment and doesn’t wish to dilute resources. We could do *something* purely based on lobbying the SatNav OEMs, without needing a fund perhaps? Either way, I’d like to see something done.
If you’ve ever hit a fox, this could be the time to clear your conscience...
What say you?
Last Saturday I had the misfortune to discover that a family of birds were nesting in my kitchen extractor. Of course, being clueless on such matters, I immediately called the RSPCA for their advice. It was a good job too, as, when he arrived...the RSPCA officer proved just how clueless I was.
When the officer was 5 minutes down the road, he called me and said he thought he was about 30 minutes away... He described the landmarks and I guided him in via mobile telephone. I thought his lack of geographical awareness to be somewhat strange when you consider how cheap SatNav units are now...
Whilst dismantling half the kitchen (under his instruction – the RSPCA aren’t allowed to help you due to litigation culture...), we got chatting and I asked him where he lived. It transpired that he was based many miles away and worked on a 12hr+ shift.
“Surely, considering the price, you’ve got a SatNav?” - “You’re joking”, he replied.
Having saved me the bother, expense and guilty conscience of calling in the builders to extricate said family of birds, the officer bid his farewell and went back to the van... I watched as he sat in his van, map sprawled all over the dash, for at least 5 minutes...
Considering a) How affordable SatNav units now are – and – b) How incredibly vital the role of the RSPCA is in our society, I was incensed to know that RSPCA officers aren’t given SatNavs as standard...
Obviously, we would have to do more digging, but – if the situation is this bleak – how would the group feel about organising a campaign to obtain SatNav units for the RSPCA?
If a fund were set up, a nominated buyer (judging from the cars in profiles, there must be some successful business people around here...) could approach the manufacturer for the purpose of obtaining a bulk discount, using the undoubted positive press coverage that could come from such an action as an incentive.
I wonder if any PH members have connections within the SatNav OEMs?
Please forgive me if PH is involved in other charitable campaigns at the moment and doesn’t wish to dilute resources. We could do *something* purely based on lobbying the SatNav OEMs, without needing a fund perhaps? Either way, I’d like to see something done.
If you’ve ever hit a fox, this could be the time to clear your conscience...
What say you?
flat16 said:
bermyandy said:
Are they really vital to our society?
If you care remotely about animals, they are.
If you don't, then I suppose they're not necessary...
I care greatly about animals, i just dont know what they do. The one time i have had time to call them, they couldnt do anything about a dog locked in cage in a broom cupboard in the middle of summer with no water
A laudable suggestion. However, a quick scan for accounts for the RSPCA shows 2005 "incoming resources" £99,959,000 and "resources expended" of £86,971,000. Soooo, I'd like to know where's the £13million less change gone? No doubt 2006 figures will be available soon, and no doubt they will also show a similar balance sheet. My point being I don't think the RSPCA are necessarily short of a few quid in the coffers.
Either way, satnavs can be got for much, 100quid? And maps still cost a fiver and work just as well. Much better value for the stakeholders.
Just my 2p (plus GiftAid)
Either way, satnavs can be got for much, 100quid? And maps still cost a fiver and work just as well. Much better value for the stakeholders.
Just my 2p (plus GiftAid)
The most annoying thing is that the RSPCA is actually a very well off charity. They are just very tight with their money.
I understand they have to be cautious not to waste money and they seem to be more generous in some areas of the country (look at some of the practices shown on tv.) Devon had 2 ambulance drivers for the area!
About 10 years ago I knew someone who was a big part of the local RSPCA. He was a good bloke, worked hard for them, voluntarily.
He wanted to upgrade their kennels, they were becoming run down. He knew there was 50k available so proposed his suggestion. He was turned down point blank, told it wasn't necessary.
He was so disgusted that he gave up workng for them. A big loss to them.
As you can probably tell, I am quite cynical about certain aspects of the runnings of the RSPCA (not so much the actual people on the street working very hard) and am very wary about giving them money. I tend to support the local animal charities more.
I'm sure if the RSPCA highlighted it they would be given sat navs by a company.
I understand they have to be cautious not to waste money and they seem to be more generous in some areas of the country (look at some of the practices shown on tv.) Devon had 2 ambulance drivers for the area!
About 10 years ago I knew someone who was a big part of the local RSPCA. He was a good bloke, worked hard for them, voluntarily.
He wanted to upgrade their kennels, they were becoming run down. He knew there was 50k available so proposed his suggestion. He was turned down point blank, told it wasn't necessary.
He was so disgusted that he gave up workng for them. A big loss to them.
As you can probably tell, I am quite cynical about certain aspects of the runnings of the RSPCA (not so much the actual people on the street working very hard) and am very wary about giving them money. I tend to support the local animal charities more.
I'm sure if the RSPCA highlighted it they would be given sat navs by a company.
becksW said:
The most annoying thing is that the RSPCA is actually a very well off charity. They are just very tight with their money.
they get about 40 million a year from the public, and about half of that goes towards animals in some way
anyway, they can buy maps
Edited by hugoagogo on Tuesday 15th May 21:45
hugoagogo said:
becksW said:
The most annoying thing is that the RSPCA is actually a very well off charity. They are just very tight with their money.
they get about 40 million a year from the public, and about half of that goes towards animals in some way
anyway, they can buy maps
Edited by hugoagogo on Tuesday 15th May 21:45
I agree that they can buy maps, however satnavs do make life a bit easier. Since I started repping I have discovered how hidden some veterinary places can be and I would have found it a lot more stressful without it. Until then I'd only ever used maps but sat navs do save time, usually anyway.
s, give the money to a proper animal charity (such as the NSPCC 
). If it's birds that you're interested in, try the RSPB...hugoagogo said:
becksW said:
The most annoying thing is that the RSPCA is actually a very well off charity. They are just very tight with their money.
they get about 40 million a year from the public, and about half of that goes towards animals in some way
anyway, they can buy maps
Edited by hugoagogo on Tuesday 15th May 21:45
If you're interested in their finances, their full annual report and financial statement are available on their website, it's actually quite interesting reading, they are a campaigning organisation, so as well as direct response to support animals in need their spend includes education, awareness campaigns and disaster relief to support animals such as those hit by the Tsunami.
parakitaMol said:
hugoagogo said:
becksW said:
The most annoying thing is that the RSPCA is actually a very well off charity. They are just very tight with their money.
they get about 40 million a year from the public, and about half of that goes towards animals in some way
anyway, they can buy maps
Edited by hugoagogo on Tuesday 15th May 21:45
If you're interested in their finances, their full annual report and financial statement are available on their website, it's actually quite interesting reading, they are a campaigning organisation, so as well as direct response to support animals in need their spend includes education, awareness campaigns and disaster relief to support animals such as those hit by the Tsunami.
Not very PC to talk about Sri Lankans like that.
Or do you mean they were seriously helping animals in a humanitarian crisis zone?
imbecile said:
Or do you mean they were seriously helping animals in a humanitarian crisis zone?
Yes of course they do, that is what they exist to do, they are a charity and their constitution is to help animals in need, (more accurately, it's to promote kindness and prevent cruelty), it is precisely a time of disaster crisis when they are in dire need, just as child charities help children and tree charities help trees!
have a read of their website if you're interested.
Edited by parakitaMol on Tuesday 15th May 22:28
parakitaMol said:
imbecile said:
Or do you mean they were seriously helping animals in a humanitarian crisis zone?
Yes of course they do, that is what they exist to do, they are a charity and their constitution is to help animals in need, (more accurately, it's to promote kindness and prevent cruelty), it is precisely a time of disaster crisis when they are in dire need, just as child charities help children and tree charities help trees!
have a read of their website if you're interested.
Doesn't it strike you as fundamentally wrong to be entering a disaster area and (presumably) getting in the way of people striving to improve things for the remaining people?
I suppose it could be argued that they're stimulating the local economy by being there, but I think that would be equivocating somewhat.
imbecile said:
parakitaMol said:
imbecile said:
Or do you mean they were seriously helping animals in a humanitarian crisis zone?
Yes of course they do, that is what they exist to do, they are a charity and their constitution is to help animals in need, (more accurately, it's to promote kindness and prevent cruelty), it is precisely a time of disaster crisis when they are in dire need, just as child charities help children and tree charities help trees!
have a read of their website if you're interested.
Doesn't it strike you as fundamentally wrong to be entering a disaster area and (presumably) getting in the way of people striving to improve things for the remaining people?
I suppose it could be argued that they're stimulating the local economy by being there, but I think that would be equivocating somewhat.
I don't mean to come down one way or the other, but supporting animals ensures that when the locals get back to some semblance of normality, they have got cows to milk and chickens to eat. Equally I can't see how money can be spent on animals over people in the immediate athermath of such a disaster.
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