Topic: Reporting to the RSPCA

[SamLouise]

Today, for the first time ever (and hopefully the last) I reported somebody to the RSPCA.  Even though I know I've done the right thing, why do I feel weird about it?

The person in question is a good friend's son.  She's been telling me bits and pieces over the past 4-6wks which have upset me.  I would have rung the RSPCA earlier but I only managed to get his address yesterday (and not from his mum!)

Anyway, to cut a long story short, he's been keeping his cat and her two kittens, six months old, living in the bathroom! :'(  The kittens have never been out of that one room which I find extremely unacceptable.  Then yesterday, which was really the icing on the cake, my friend told me that her son also shuts the two dogs in a cupboard when they're noisy.  Not in another room, but a cupboard >:(  He lives in an upstairs one bedroomed flat, with his partner, which apparently is quite small anyway.

I am worried that it's going to cause tension between my friend and I (even though I think she should have done something about it herself) and maybe that's what is playing on my mind.  He's doing something very wrong and I did something right.  Right??

[tomatoada]

The RSPCA do their best to withhold the identity of the person who contacts them.  Same with NSPCA.
Perhaps your friend told you in the hope you would do what you did because she could not face up to doing it.

[betula]

I think you have done the right thing.

Animals have the right to be well cared for and maybe these people do not think they are being cruel but they are.

I think the friendship may go down the pan as blood is thicker than water but you must know that anyway.

I would not have any guilt feelings at all . :)

[qahtan]

  On behalf of the pusscats and the dogs thanks for trying to help.

 He wants shooting.  qahtan

[Flighty]

I agree with all Betula says!

[shaun01]

some times you are dammed if you do and dammed if you don't , but you have done what any decent person  would have done.

[cocopops]

Hi I had a rescued dog with an ex who was 'unkind' to me.  He would not let me take the dog, or give it to my brother, when I finally got out.  One of his friends told me that the dog was kept in a garage all weekend with no runs or natural light.  I phoned the RSPCA who said that unless I had witnessed the dogs suffering they would not investigate.

Eventually the rescue kennels phoned me to say that the dog had been handed into police station (by him saying it was lost), the dog was tagged and I was their contact  (at my work).  I had to pay for him to be re-homed and declare that he was mine.  It was awful.  The rescue centre said I should have contacated them, even having fleed for my life (literally) I still feel bad.  I did contact them later and he found a new home on a small holding.

I should have done more in retrospect, please do not feel bad about what you have done.  A friendship or an animals suffering, no contest.

Bon courage - Cocopos

[Hyacinth]

Anyway, to cut a long story short, he's been keeping his cat and her two kittens, six months old, living in the bathroom!   The kittens have never been out of that one room which I find extremely unacceptable.

Having spent a delightful hour yesterday with a 3-month old kitten who decided to climb my (thankfully jeaned) leg to sit on my lap (ouch! her claws are like little needles) I'm wondering how he gets on when he undresses for the shower in that tiny bathroom? Those enticing dangly bits....hmmmm :o ;D

Sam, I think you did completely the right thing according to what your friend has been telling you, but I can't help wondering if what she's been saying is the strict truth? I can't see how 2 six month old kittens, deprived of human contact except when the bathroom needs to be used, can be anything other than semi-wild by now - certainly won't have had the contact with humans to have become socialised. Could it not be that the bathroom is the room they put the kittens in at night and when they're at work only?