rspca

[peta2couk]

I voluenteer for the RSPCA, and recently i have found out that they have to by law terminate pidgeons, foxes, squirrels and mujack deer, can anyone else back me up on this or is it just a rumor?

[MiniN]

I'm not sure, perhaos ask your supervisor?

although i did see a programme on telly a couple of months ago. it was about bad jobs. and it shown 2 people from the rspca killing hundreds of pigeons that had made a home in an empty apartment. they even brokoe the necks of the baby pigeons.

surely this is wrong to do?

[missjef]

this came up on a question on here where someone was asking what can they do to catch squirrels in there garden (humane ways) and numerous people said that it was illegal once you have caught a squirrel (as long as its grey) to release it something about it not being native to this country, and someone pointed out that even the RSPCA have to by law kill them. im not sure about the other animals though, personally i think its ridiculous.

http://www.squirrels.info/distress/index.htm this website gives a warning saying that if you find a distressed squirrel please dont contact the RSPCA.

i tried to find something about the other animals but havent managed to.

i hope this helps.

[kita1]

Grey squirrels are 'foreign' to this country and threatening the red squirrel therefore it is illegal to release one back into the wild.

It is illegal to release a fox anywhere other than where it was captured (I think), probably because you will be releasing it into anothers territory and they will fight to the death?

Mujack deer are also not a native species therefore classed as vermin, they are threatening our native species of deer.

Not sure about pidgeons. Probably just classed as a pest.

Mink are also destroyed, as again they are not a native species.

I applied for a job with the RSPCA at their animal centres as a Manager and I was appalled to discover that I would have been required to learn how to put dogs and cats (and any other animal) to sleep and it would have been my job to actually not only decide which animals to put to sleep (perfectly healthy but just could not find a home) but I would have to actually inject the animals myself.

I did not continue in my application.

Try and find an animal charity with a non destruction policy if this bothers you, there are plenty around that do not put any animal to sleep.

[Eric Git]

Hi,

The RSPCA is not allowed to release squirrels (gery) once they have been caught as they are not native to this country and are therefore classed as vermin. As for foxes they do have wildlfe centres and are in contact with other wildlife organisations, so if the animal recovers they will release it, if not and it would not be able to live wild, then they will destroy it. Pigoens I am not sure of, but they are also classed as vermin so probably, and mujack deer I have no idea, again they are not native to this country. I used to be an RSPCA volunteer, but I disagreed with some of their policies,albeit they do it for the greater good and without malice, but it made me resign. I now support the Dogs Trust., WWW, the dogs home battersay and PDSA and Blue Cross as their views are different.

[CrazyWolfman]

If we're on the subject of animals which aren't native to the UK then we may as well add Rabbits (which were introduced by the Romans), the Edible Dormouse, Red-Necked Wallabies, Chinese Water Deer, Sika Deer, Mink, Wild Goats, Canada Geese, Ring Necked Parakeets (Which I've recently seen in a London carpark) and Ruddy Ducks. There's even a type of foreign barnacle which I believe lives in Southampton. And these are only the ones I know about, with a bit of research I bet that there are hundreds more out there. Does the same silly law apply to all these as well?

[RATTER15]

The reason non indigenous species are not permitted to be released into the countryside is they can, and do upset the natural balance of our native species, this has been proved over and over, look and the decline in the red squirrel for instance due to the larger more aggressive grey squirrel.

[CrazyWolfman]

It's ironic really. We humans spend loads of our time killing off the native ones, introducing new ones and basically just messing it all up. Then when someone suggests bringing back the original lot, we all object. Idiots.
I suppose there's not much room left for wolves, bears and european lynx any more.