RSPCA - I have lost a lot of respect (if it's true :D )
RSPCA - I have lost a lot of respect (if it's true :D )
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Martial Arts Man

Original Poster:

6,703 posts

215 months

Wednesday 14th January 2009
quotequote all
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1113962/Do...


Fist off, apologies for the origins of this story.....I only got there via AOL news; honest.....


So now the RSPCA have decided to prosecute those who "overdress" their dogs......

You'd have thought they would have had their work cut out dealing with all the physically abused dogs out there! If I were a pooch, I know which life I would rather choose given the choice of being beaten/made to fight etc and generally being a pampered pup but having to put up with a wooly jumper now and then.

My girlfriend has a Chihuahua; admittedly he only has one coat and is generally treated as a dog rather than a baby replacement but I genuinely feel he has a better quality of life than me!!

Call me a cynic, but do they issue fines by any chance, a percentage of which makes its way back into their coffers?

Or have they seen the police's success with "easy target" policing and decided to get in on the act?

Have they considered the possibility that if this story is in fact real, that there might be a few more unwanted dogs out there for someone to have to deal with?

Coupled with this, most of those I have encountered who clothe their dogs etc have been batty dog lovers whom I am sure will have at some point donated money to the RSPCA.


Why did they feel the need to "threaten prosecution"? A little heavy handed me thinks.



Even Mrs MAM's Chuey knows not to bite the hand that feeds it..........



Are the RSPCA nuts?


MAM


Plotloss

67,280 posts

299 months

Wednesday 14th January 2009
quotequote all
I'd say its fair.

Think of it as 'tt Tax'

Martial Arts Man

Original Poster:

6,703 posts

215 months

Wednesday 14th January 2009
quotequote all
Plotloss said:
I'd say its fair.

Think of it as 'tt Tax'
Shhhh.....Gordon and Ali may be peeking in.....

Simpo Two

92,694 posts

294 months

Wednesday 14th January 2009
quotequote all
If I was an RSPCA officer I'd feel happier prosecuting Lady Ponsonby for overdressing Tricky-Woo, rather than tackling Gary 'The Beast' fknuckle for abusing his 23 Rottweilers...

cazzer

8,883 posts

277 months

Wednesday 14th January 2009
quotequote all
The Article said:
Dorset RSPCA spokeswoman Jo Barr said: 'Dog owners should be aware that under the Animal Welfare Act that came into force in April 2007 they have a duty of care to ensure that all of their pets' needs are met.
'One of those needs is to express normal behaviour and it could mean that with restrictive clothing they are not able to do that properly.
That includes biting people or other dogs that scare them or threaten them (in their minds) I assume. Thats normal dog behaviour.


Although I have to agree with the tt tax.

funk odyssey

1,983 posts

258 months

Wednesday 14th January 2009
quotequote all
Plotloss said:
I'd say its fair.

Think of it as 'tt Tax'
i agree too --- no excuse for clothing on dogs -- tttish and cruel

BB-Q

1,697 posts

239 months

Wednesday 14th January 2009
quotequote all
Maybe the vast majority of dogs who have these overcoats fitted against their will don't actually need them? I saw a Springer wearing one that looked like a Barbour the other day- shocking that the owner (who had recently got the dog form the RSPCA, coincidentally) thought that the dog's own natural defences weren't enough to cope with the winter weather whilst it was running around like a loony.

Many people have no idea that dogs are unable to sweat to cool themselves down. All they can do is pant.

BigLepton

5,042 posts

230 months

Wednesday 14th January 2009
quotequote all
Plotloss said:
I'd say its fair.

Think of it as 'tt Tax'
Like the lottery?

Plotloss

67,280 posts

299 months

Wednesday 14th January 2009
quotequote all
BigLepton said:
Plotloss said:
I'd say its fair.

Think of it as 'tt Tax'
Like the lottery?
No thats Stupid Tax

Martial Arts Man

Original Poster:

6,703 posts

215 months

Wednesday 14th January 2009
quotequote all
funk odyssey said:
Plotloss said:
I'd say its fair.

Think of it as 'tt Tax'
i agree too --- no excuse for clothing on dogs -- tttish and cruel
In principal you are of course correct.

The problem here is that the RSPCA themselves recommend that small dogs wear coats when out in the cold. My OH's Chihuahua would die very quickly outside in the cold. When is a dog small enough? Who is to decide? I didn't see any strict guidelines mentioned. Will she now experience random abuse by the uninformed for popping a coat on her 2lb dog? I hope not.

My point really is about the nature of the RSPCA words. And the fact that they are always bleating about resources yet find the time to add more animal-criminals to the mix of things to investigate. Things not as serious as the problems they are under-resourced to deal with initially.

Reminds me of the Police/Government approach to lawmaking.


I have always had a great deal of respect for the RSPCA and, of course, support their goals 100%. What animal lover wouldn't?

I just feel that that they may have contracted the Power bug.


MAM


P.S. I have a 12 stone Bullmastif as well....he never wears a coat.....just to be clear about my stance here.....

BigLepton

5,042 posts

230 months

Wednesday 14th January 2009
quotequote all
funk odyssey said:
Plotloss said:
I'd say its fair.

Think of it as 'tt Tax'
i agree too --- no excuse for clothing on dogs -- tttish and cruel
You wouldn't like my labrador's life jacket he wears when he comes on the boat with me then.

Before you ask, yes he can swim, rather too well and has a tendancy to dive overboard at 25knts if he sees something he likes the look of. It's no problem for him to swim back to the boat, but lifting 40kilos of soaking wet dog onto the boat without something to grab hold of tends to focus the mind, especially in a wind over tide F6! biggrin

Dogwatch

6,381 posts

251 months

Wednesday 14th January 2009
quotequote all
BigLepton said:
You wouldn't like my labrador's life jacket he wears when he comes on the boat with me then.

Before you ask, yes he can swim, rather too well and has a tendancy to dive overboard at 25knts if he sees something he likes the look of. It's no problem for him to swim back to the boat, but lifting 40kilos of soaking wet dog onto the boat without something to grab hold of tends to focus the mind, especially in a wind over tide F6! biggrin
Completely mad breed. Show them a stretch of water and ..Yippeee! Can't think that heaving one out of the sea does a lot for your spine either!

Little Nicky

526 posts

265 months

Wednesday 14th January 2009
quotequote all
Martial Arts Man said:
Fist off...
Don't tell me to fist off nono

..anyway, tax all the nice-but-dim superficial fashion victims who think a dog is for a photo opportunity and not for life.!! soapbox

HTH

CoopR

957 posts

265 months

Wednesday 14th January 2009
quotequote all
My parents spent more on the dog than they did on both their kids this xmas...

RSPCA and NSPCC. FIGHT!

Edited by CoopR on Wednesday 14th January 22:38

Mojocvh

16,837 posts

291 months

Wednesday 14th January 2009
quotequote all
funk odyssey said:
Plotloss said:
I'd say its fair.

Think of it as 'tt Tax'
i agree too --- no excuse for clothing on dogs -- tttish and cruel
tt yourself, my Lab (black) wears neoprene dog coat (Advantage wetlands) when retrieving geese from the Tay.


cazzer

8,883 posts

277 months

Wednesday 14th January 2009
quotequote all
Yes but were not talking about neoprene jackets for working breeds, or lifebelts for that matter.
Were talking dotty bloody women with rat dogs in tutus.

BigLepton

5,042 posts

230 months

Wednesday 14th January 2009
quotequote all
Dogwatch said:
BigLepton said:
You wouldn't like my labrador's life jacket he wears when he comes on the boat with me then.

Before you ask, yes he can swim, rather too well and has a tendancy to dive overboard at 25knts if he sees something he likes the look of. It's no problem for him to swim back to the boat, but lifting 40kilos of soaking wet dog onto the boat without something to grab hold of tends to focus the mind, especially in a wind over tide F6! biggrin
Completely mad breed. Show them a stretch of water and ..Yippeee! Can't think that heaving one out of the sea does a lot for your spine either!
There's a big loop on the lifejacket, I put the boathook through it and lift with the knees. He thinks it's great game. . . . . . hehe

Martial Arts Man

Original Poster:

6,703 posts

215 months

Wednesday 14th January 2009
quotequote all
cazzer said:
Yes but were not talking about neoprene jackets for working breeds, or lifebelts for that matter.
Were talking dotty bloody women with rat dogs in tutus.
Nope.....article said small dogs were ok to wear coats due to their size.....

This is the type of confusion I was referring to earlier.


MAM




Martial Arts Man

Original Poster:

6,703 posts

215 months

Wednesday 14th January 2009
quotequote all
Little Nicky said:
Martial Arts Man said:
Fist off...
Don't tell me to fist off nono

..anyway, tax all the nice-but-dim superficial fashion victims who think a dog is for a photo opportunity and not for life.!! soapbox

HTH
eh?

Who are you?

MAM

cazzer

8,883 posts

277 months

Wednesday 14th January 2009
quotequote all
Martial Arts Man said:
cazzer said:
Yes but were not talking about neoprene jackets for working breeds, or lifebelts for that matter.
Were talking dotty bloody women with rat dogs in tutus.
Nope.....article said small dogs were ok to wear coats due to their size.....

This is the type of confusion I was referring to earlier.
But thats not "overdressed" is it...they were talking about little boots and st.