RSPCA News

Badgers snared just outside their front door

2013-05-22 10:00:00

22.05.13

We are appealing for information after one badger was killed and another seriously injured by snares set up at the entrance to their sett.

The two badgers caught were found entangled in a field in Moorends, near Doncaster in the illegally set free-running snares. It is thought they had been trapped for more than 24 hours.

One, a female, was taken to our Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre in Cheshire for treatment, care and rehabilitation three weeks ago, and is now due to be released back to the wild in the next couple of days. Sadly the other, a male, had suffered such bad injuries and infections that he had to be put to sleep to avoid any more suffering.

It took two RSPCA officers - Inspector Sandra Dransfield and animal collection officer Ben Shaw - to cut both badgers free. They were so badly entwined that they had to be taken to a vet and sedated to be completely set free.

They didn't stand a chance

Inspector Dransfield said:

I couldn’t believe it when I saw not one but two badgers caught in snares just 20 yards apart from each other - literally just outside the entrance to their home.

They didn’t stand a chance. These snares had been clearly placed directly onto an obvious badger sett and the poor animals would have had no choice but to walk straight into them.

I have no doubt it was deliberate. Badger crime is unfortunately pretty rife in this area.

It is also incredibly cruel. These badgers would have been struggling against these snares for quite some time and been in quite some pain - the wounds were deep and nasty.

The free-running snares are not illegal in themselves, but were set up in a way that was. They had not been checked for over 24 hours as is legally required and had been purposefully placed by a badger’s sett - a protected species under law.

A happy ending for one of these poor badgers

One of the snares had got caught up around the groin of the male badger so that his whole body, including head and front legs, was stuck. The resulting wounds were so deep and caused such a bad infection that the vet said the kindest thing was to put the badger to sleep.

The female had less long-term damage, so with a bit of treatment and care will be able to be released back to the wild.

Inspector Dransfield added:

At least there was a happy ending for one of these poor badgers – it is going to be fabulous to see her trotting off back to the wild.

We will be continuing to monitor the area to ensure no new snares are put in place, and would welcome anyone with information about who could have put these horrible snares here to come forward and call us on 0300 123 8018.

We can't do it without you

We can only carry out rescues like this with your help. Please donate online or text HELP to 78866 to give £3 (Text costs £3 + one standard network rate message).

Nominations for RSPCA Council 2013

2013-05-22 06:00:00

22.05.13

Members of the RSPCA are now invited to vote in the 2013 RSPCA Council election.

Our Council comprises up to 25 volunteers elected to serve as the charity trustees of the RSPCA.

Fifteen Council members are elected by the votes of RSPCA members and serve for three years, retiring on a rotational basis.

List of nominees

This year, there are five vacancies for Council members to be filled and nominations have been received as follows, in alphabetical order:

Ms Karen Harley
Mr Raymond Ings
Mr Kenneth Instone
Mr David Mawson
Mr Joseph Piccioni
Ms Linda Rimington
Dr Richard Ryder

How you can vote

RSPCA members have the option to register their votes online or by post.

Instructions on how members can register their votes are included in the election material sent to them.

Voting closes at 3pm on Tuesday, 18 June 2013.

Annual General Meeting

The results will be announced at our Annual General Meeting (AGM), which is to be held at The Royal Geographical Society, 1 Kensington Gore, London SW7 2AR from 11.00am on Saturday, 29 June 2013.

Find out more about our AGM and the work of the RSPCA Council.

Come and join Brian May and help save the badgers

2013-05-21 15:00:00

21.05.13

Rock star and RSPCA vice-president Dr Brian May is to speak at a public meeting in Dorchester this Friday to oppose plans to kill thousands of badgers in England.

The Government today confirmed that it still plans to go ahead with a cull of badgers and this could start in less than two weeks. As a result, those campaigning against these plans are gathering to discuss the potentially devastating impact they would have.

At the moment the pilot culls are earmarked for parts of West Somerset and Tewkesbury. Dorset has been made a ‘reserve cull area’ which means if either area pulls out the plans could be moved here. This event, at the Dorchester Corn Exchange at 7pm, is intended to mobilise support and prepare local campaign groups in case this happens.

The public, leading scientists and MPs are against this cull

Speakers joining RSPCA vice-president Brian May, are RSPCA chief executive Gavin Grant, Mark Jones, MD of the Humane Society International and Steve Jones, a retired dairy farmer and lead in the 'Not in this farmer’s name' campaign.

Gavin Grant said:

It seems more than likely that Dorset could be the next backdrop for this senseless slaughter, so it’s important that we do all we can to help the people of the area prepare for this.

We urge anyone who agrees that killing badgers is not the answer to bovine TB in cattle to join us at this meeting.

So many people are against these devastating plans – the public, leading scientists and MPs who voted in resounding numbers last autumn against this cull. Just last week Gloucestershire County Council, the leading authority in one of the two cull areas, voted against the plans.

But the Government is just not listening and time is running out to make the politicians see sense. We need to put our heads together and do all that we can to stop this happening.

Gloucestershire County Council voted against the cull

Last week Gloucestershire County Council voted to object to the cull, and agreed to voice these objections in a letter to Defra.

We have long campaigned against plans for a widespread badger cull for both scientific and welfare reasons.

We sympathise with farmers dealing with the problems of the devastating disease. We care just as much about cattle as we do about badgers, but know a cull would be of little help in eradicating bovine TB in cattle, and could even make it worse in some areas. We stand ready to work with the farming community to deliver more effective alternatives including the vaccination of both badgers and cattle and improved biosecurity.

Instead more than 70 per cent of the badger population in large areas of the countryside, many of them healthy, would be wiped out by these culls.

Stop the badger cull!

The government in Westminster continue to ignore scientific, public and political opinion and it's badgers who will pay the price!

Sign the Number 10 petition calling for a stop to the planned badger cull.

For the latest news about the badger cull visit our badger campaign page.

We can't do it without you

To help support the RSPCA, please donate online or text HELP to 78866 to give £3. Text costs £3 plus one standard network rate message.

Abandoned new-born foal rescued in South Wales

2013-05-20 09:00:00

20.05.13

Valour the new-born foal is recovering after being abandoned on Coity Common near Bridgend on Monday 13 May.

When RSPCA Inspector Nick de Celis was called out to check on a new-born foal, he fully expected to be looking for a mare and its new foal.

Inspector de Celis said:

When I arrived around 4.30pm there was no sign of the mare, only the foal which was so young it was still attached to the afterbirth.

The council horse wardens were looking for the mare on the common but had no success.

Inspector de Celis added:

The early hours and days of a foal’s life are crucial to building their immunity from the mother’s first milk - so this poor little animal had missed out and was clearly in a bad way, so we called local Maes Glas Vets for help and got the little foal to them as quickly as we could.

Maes Glas Vets wasted no time naming the new-born animal Valour and giving him the vital hourly colostrum replacement, which he was missing from the missing mare. Vet staff stayed with Valour overnight to ensure he had regular feeds and the best chance of survival.

Sarah Head, one of the partners at the Maes Glas Veterinary Group said:

We were all thrilled that Valour made it through the night. He had such a poor start to life and desperately needed hydration when he came in. Valour’s not out of the woods yet and he won’t start building his own immunity for two to three months so he’s still at risk, but we’re hopeful that he will make it.

Valour has now been moved to an equine specialist near Swansea, where he is being hand-reared but he may be moved to a foster mare if one can be found.

Can you help?

If you can help with further information on the abandoned foal or a foster mare - one that has recently lost a foal and with a suitable temperament - please call the RSPCA inspector appeal line on 0300 123 8018 and leave a message for Inspector de Celis.

We are only able to help rescue animals and investigate thanks to generous donations from the public.

If you would like to help the RSPCA, you can give £3 now by texting HELP to 78866.
(texts cost £3 + one standard network rate message)

Orphaned baby badgers rescued and weaned back to health

2013-05-18 06:00:00

18.05.13

One of our centres is looking after four orphaned badger cubs too little to survive without help.

The baby badgers have been brought to our Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre in Nantwich, Cheshire over the past few weeks. Two are just a few weeks old and the size of small puppies, all have lost their mums and need to be fed and cared for until they are old enough to look after themselves in the wild.

Lee Stewart, manager at Stapeley, said:

These poor little things were not coping where they were but are doing well now. They are just too young to cope without their mothers in the wild.

A series of unfortunate events

One of the cubs, male and as small as a newborn puppy, was found by a member of the public walking his dog near his home in the Welsh mountains near Prestatyn, Clwyd on 29 April. The cub was believed to be orphaned and clearly lost. He emerged from a bush to follow the walker – so the member of the public felt he had no choice but to take him home and keep him in a dog kennel in his garden with a towel for warmth until we could come to the rescue.

Another was spotted a week before running frantically along the grass verge by the side of a road in Stafford, in very thin state. It is thought the three-month-old male has lost his mother and so was struggling to cope on his own. If the passing member of the public had not spotted and caught him, he would likely have run into the road and been run over.

Another female cub was found orphaned next to her dead mother by the side of a road in Stocksfield, Northumberland. She was just weeks old and too young to care for herself, so was taken into our care to be weaned until she is strong enough. A fourth cub, male and thought to be around 12 weeks old was discovered by a local badger group near Sandbach, Cheshire in an extremely thin and stressed state. He was above ground in daylight, and frantically trying to burrow.

Lee added:

All four badgers are now doing well and are on the road to recovery. With a bit of care and attention they should be ready to be returned to the wild where they can fend for themselves.

With plans for a cull of badgers looming, the wild animals need all the help they can get at the moment. It is more important than ever that we do all we can to save those that we can.

It seems crazy that in a few short weeks it is going to be fair game to kill these beautiful animals. For the time being, it is important for us to save as many as we can.

The cubs will be released around September

The four cubs will be weaned and brought up at Stapeley until September time, when it's hoped they will be big and fit enough to survive in the wild. Their rehabilitation will be very ‘hands-off’ to ensure they do not become to tame and are able to survive back in the wild.

Badgers live in ‘family’ groups so these four cubs have been grouped together in the same pen and will be returned to the wild together.

All the rehabilitated badgers will be TB tested and vaccinated before release.

Find out more about our wildlife centres and read more about our wildlife rehabilitation work and what to do with orphaned wild animals.

Stop the badger cull!

The Government in Westminster continue to ignore scientific, public and poitical opinion and it's badgers who will pay the price!

Sign the Number 10 petition calling for a stop to the planned badger cull.

For the latest news about the badger cull visit our badger campaign page.

We can't do it without you

To help the RSPCA rehabilitate more animals like this, please text HELP to 78866 to give £3. Text costs £3 plus one standard network rate message.

Gloucestershire County Council vote against the cull

2013-05-17 14:50:00

17.05.2013

We are pleased to hear that Gloucestershire County Council voted against the badger cull due to take place from next month.

The cull is due to begin after 1 June in two earmarked pilot areas in Gloucestershire and Somerset.

At a full council meeting on Wednesday, politicians voted to object to the cull, and agreed to voice these objections in a letter to Defra.

RSPCA senior scientist Colin Booty said:

We are pleased to hear that Gloucestershire councillors have publicly objected to this cull. This may raise serious questions about whether the cull can go ahead in this area.

It also shows once again the swelling of opposition to the cull. People just do not want it – it simply is not the answer to bovine TB in cattle. Vaccination of wildlife and better biosecurity on farms is the way forward.

The public have made their feelings clear many times, as have many leading scientists and MPs in large numbers voted against the cull at a debate last autumn.

It is time for the government to sit up and listen.

Large numbers of healthy badgers will be wiped out

If the pilot cull in Gloucestershire does not go ahead then Dorset, the reserve cull zone, may now be brought into play.

We have long campaigned against plans for a widespread badger cull for both scientific and welfare reasons. We sympathise with farmers dealing with the problems of the devastating disease, but believe a cull would be of little help in eradicating bovine TB in cattle, and could even make it worse in some areas. We stand ready to work with the farming community to deliver more effective alternatives including the vaccination of both badgers and cows and improved biosecurity.

Instead more than 70 per cent of the badger population in large areas of the countryside, many of them healthy, would be wiped out by these culls.

Stop the badger cull!

The government in Westminster continue to ignore scientific, public and poitical opinion and it's badgers who will pay the price!

Sign the Number 10 petition calling for a stop to the planned badger cull.

For the latest news about the badger cull visit our badger campaign page.

We can't do it without you

To help support the RSPCA, please text HELP to 78866 to give £3. Text costs £3 plus one standard network rate message.

RSPCA backs Commons Committee report on dog control

2013-05-17 06:00:00

We share support for consolidated law and control notices

17.05.13

The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Committee yesterday (Thursday, 16 May) released a report on dog control and welfare.

The report suggests dog legislation should be consolidated and tougher limitsshould be introduced on dog breeding.

David Bowles, the RSPCA’s head of public affairs, said:

The RSPCA has tirelessly lobbied successive governments to introduce a consolidated Act to legislate on dog control and dog breeding, and are delighted to see that MPs in the EFRA Select Committee share our view.

We are thrilled to see that today’s EFRA Committee report also back RSPCA calls for the introduction of targeted Dog Control Notices. The RSPCA has consistently called on ministers to introduce Dog Control Notices as only these will give law enforcers a realistic chance to prevent attacks and improve dog welfare. At present the government has proposed only general measures on anti-social behaviour.

We desperately hope the government will now listen to what their fellow politicians are telling them and agree that a single, effective piece of law will make real progress to improve animal welfare and protect public safety.

Improving dog ownership

Current dog laws urgently need updating to protect the public and animals.

Sign our petition calling on the Westminster Governement to tackle the spiraling problem of irresponsible dog ownership.

Take action now!

We appeal for information after lamb has ears cut off

2013-05-15 08:00:00

15.05.13

We are appealing for information after a three-week-old lamb was the victim of a horrendous act of animal cruelty in which her ears were cut clean off.

The shocking incident took place overnight between May 5 and 6, in Gotham, Nottinghamshire.

RSPCA Inspector Susan Hammond was called to attend the incident and said that the lamb’s ears had been cut off cleanly close to her head.

She said:

This is absolutely horrific and I cannot believe that someone would deliberately cause such an awful injury to an innocent animal.

There were no other wounds on the lamb’s body and the injuries are not consistent with a dog attack.

Sadly as a result of the injury the mother abandoned the lamb and the lamb was found on Monday 6 May by the farmer.

The ears have not been found.

She said the area is quite remote and is not accessible by vehicle – but there is no public right of way on this land.

Inspector Hammond added:

The lamb is recovering but this is a horrific attack on a defenceless young animal and it must have been incredibly painful and frightening.

The land where the lamb was located is behind British Gypsum works between Gotham and East Leake.

Can you help?

Anyone who knows anything about this horrific attack can contact the RSPCA inspector appeal line by calling 0300 123 8018 and leaving a message for Inspector Susan Hammond.

We are only able to help rescue animals and investigate thanks to generous donations from the public.

If you would like to help the RSPCA, you can give £3 now by texting HELP to 78866.
(texts cost £3 + one standard network rate message)

We are seeking new homes for cats in our care

2013-05-13 09:00:00

13.05.13

Our Stapeley Grange Cattery is desperately trying to find new homes for an array of cats and kittens currently in their care.

The cattery like many of our branches and animal centres across the country, is finding it is dealing with a high number of felines.

Staff and volunteers at the cattery say they are dealing with high numbers because owners are struggling to afford to keep them, and many cats are falling pregnant and having large numbers of kittens because owners failed to neuter them.

There are currently 52 cats and kittens at the Stapeley Grange Cattery looking for new ‘forever homes’, with a further six in foster homes.

Lee Stewart centre manager said:

The problem just seems to be growing and growing, it is simply that more injured and abandoned cats are coming into RSPCA care than are going out.

It is really sad because these problems could be avoided if owners just acted responsibly.

The RSPCA like other charities, needs help from the public – so please if anyone is thinking about taking on a cat, come to the RSPCA first – we have literally scores looking for new homes and a second chance. For a small donation you can take home a fit, healthy, vaccinated and neutered cat / kitten. As well as getting a great new addition to your family you will also be helping Stapeley by freeing up space within the cattery, allowing us to help more cats and kittens in need of temporary refuge.

There has been a drop in the number of people adopting

Last year the centre took in 350 cats and rehomed around 320. So far this year the centre has taken in 84 cats and rehomed 86.

But in recent weeks the centre has seen a marked drop in the number of people coming forward to adopt cats, and still more and more are coming in to the centre after being found injured or abandoned.

To find out more about the cats at the centre visit the Stapley Grange Cattery web page

Stapley Grange open day

The centre is also holding an Open Day on 23 June from 10.30am until 4pm at the centre in London Road, Stapeley.

There will be a host of activities during the day including a chance to visit the cats and kittens and the education centre where there will be a chance to see the work of the wildlife team, there will also be an agility dog show from 1pm, stalls, kids’ activities, bouncy castle and archery as well as refreshments.

There will be a dog competition where you can register on the day and there will also be a discount micro-chipping service for dogs and ferrets, as well as a ferret welfare workshop.

Entry is £1.50 and £1 for OAPs and children under five go free.

We can't do it without you

We can only rescue and rehome animals like this with your help.

To help the RSPCA rehabilitate more animals like this, please donate online or text HELP to 78866 to give £3. Text costs £3 plus one standard network rate message.
Find out more about our rehoming process and the benefits of adopting an adult cat.

Our pioneering youth scheme wins award

2013-05-10 06:00:00

10.05.13

Our pioneering scheme which uses wildlife and the great outdoors to improve the lives of disadvantaged young parents has won an award.

The ‘Hastings Wild Things’ project, under serious funding threat, is based at our Mallydams Wood Wildlife Centre and aims to boost the prospects of local families through a range of activities at its woodland nature reserve.

Last week the scheme won the Junior Section Environmental Achievement award at the SPARK awards, run by East Sussex Council for Voluntary Youth Services.

But the lottery funding it won in 2010 is due to run out this summer and without extra funding it will be hard for the project to continue. We are asking for help to continue the project. We are also calling for more children’s wellies to help the groups stomp through the woodland trails.

RSPCA head of education Dave Allen said:

This project is just so unique as reflected in the recent award. Not only is it invaluable for the young groups who go to Mallydams, but it could help create a generation of families and youngsters in the town committed to animal welfare.

What is a worry is that the existing funding comes to end this summer which means the project will need further sponsorship and financial support if it is to continue.

The project teaches people to enjoy and respect wildlife

‘Hastings Wild Things’ was made possible by a Big Lottery Grant and benefits some of the most deprived young people of Hastings, ranked by the Government as being in the 10 per cent most deprived local authority areas in the country.

It organises activities and games for groups of young parents and their pre-school children and hopes to inspire them through the natural world and boost their self-esteem through practical outdoor activities and education.

Our staff members spend time with the young disadvantaged groups and teach them to enjoy and respect wildlife.

Bel Deering, manager at Mallydams, said:

It has been wonderful to watching the positive effects this project has had and we are delighted these benefits have been recognised with this award.

Some young parents came to us from quite difficult circumstances and have really transformed in their time with us. We have seen parents and children – blooming with confidence and developing a real passion for nature.

Many of them had not had much opportunity to get close to nature before and got so much out of exploring our woodland trails and learning about all the animals which live there.

Projects like this can only help people and animals. Not only do these young people enjoy getting out and about in the natural environment, but they are so often inspired what they see and become committed to animal welfare as a result.

We are only able to carry out projects like this with your help

If you would like to donate to the Wild Things project or any of our other projects please visit the RSPCA Choices site.

In particular Mallydams are in need of donations of children’s wellington boots in all sizes for the youngsters who visit the Wild Things project. Most of the disadvantaged families do not have boots of their own and need them for stomping through the woods. Anyone with any boots to spare should contact the centre on 0300 123 0750.

We can't do it without you

To help support the RSPCA, please donate online or text HELP to 78866 to give £3. Text costs £3 plus one standard network rate message.