The RSPCA has also been renowned for never turning away animals, whether found on the street or brought in by their owners who can no longer care for them.
However, a funding crisis has brought about a change in this policy for the very first time. Instead they’ll be focusing on caring for animals which have been seized from owners who have treated them badly.
A spokesman for the RSPCA has denied that this goes against the charity’s core mission:
“Our highest priority is to look after the animals that most need help, the pets and other animals rescued by our inspectors from cruelty and neglect. That is the RSPCA’s core aim and that has not changed.”
The new rules come into force across 17 RSPCA centres, although a further 41 independently run centres will be able to choose themselves whether to follow the policy.
The decision has been blamed on two factors – falling donations because of the recession along with a growing trend for owners to discard unwanted pets, as a spokesman for RSPCA highlighted:
“We must look to the cause of the increasing number of unwanted dogs, cats and exotic animals. The recession perhaps has had some impact but there is a growing trend for people to buy animals as status symbols and indeed it is all too easy to take on a pet without realising the responsibilities for the care and welfare of that animal.”
The change in RSPCA’s stance is going to put increasing pressure on other animal charities, at a time when donations are low across the charity sector.
However, as of yet no other animal charities have changed their policy on stray animals. The Chief Executive of Blue Cross, Kim Hamilton, says:
“Many thousands of animals are given up every year by loving owners who simply can’t cope for a variety of reasons… the Blue Cross will always help people who make the responsible choice to give up their pet and will continue to do all that we can to help as many abandoned animals as possible find permanent, loving new homes.”
Hopfully as the economy picks up later on the year donations will increase and RSPCA may be able to reverse their decision.