The RSPCA is calling for a new animal welfare law that will give animals involved in legal proceedings in the South the chance to be rehomed much more quickly.
Currently, some neglected and abused pets which are rescued by the RSPCA as part of an investigation cannot be rehomed until the case itself has completed, which sadly means some animals can wait months and even years before finding their second chance.
As part of its Second Chances campaign, the charity is calling for a change in the law which would mean an animal’s future is no longer dependent on court proceedings. A new animal welfare law allowing the charity to rehome an animal following a 2-month appeal process would mean the RSPCA can give those pets the forever home they deserve much more quickly rather than waiting for lengthy court cases to conclude.
In 2019, the RSPCA rehomed over 100 animals a day (39,000) – 7,024 in the South West – and around a quarter of these animals were in care as a result of an investigation. The charity also spent £4.9million in costs for animals involved in prosecutions in 2019.
On the Isle of Wight, 65 chihuahua dogs were rescued by the RSPCA in July 2019 but the case was later dropped by the rescue charity. In the same day, 73 dogs, 132 cats, 40 rabbits and 76 other animals were rehomed.
Shelley Phillips, Senior Campaigns Manager at the RSPCA, said:
“Our animal care staff go to great lengths to make sure all the animals in our rescue centres get the care and attention they need and are treated as if they were their own pets but a rescue centre can never substitute the comfort and security of a permanent home with loving owners.
“We know that spending extended periods of time in kennels and temporary accommodation can impact an animal’s psychological welfare. This is particularly true for puppies which are at a critical stage of their development and we are seeing increasing numbers of puppies coming into our care as part of our investigation work.
Article continues below this advertisement “This is why we are urging the Governments in England and Wales to make a change in the law which would allow us to rehome a pet after two-months, similar to what has also been proposed in Scotland with the SSPCA.”
Dr Sam Gaines, dog welfare expert at the RSPCA, said:
“Sadly, our welfare teams are frequently required to deal with behavioural problems in dogs due to spending long periods in kennels. Some dogs may show their frustration by barking or whining while others will hide away and despite the best efforts of our animal care staff this can have a long-term impact on their wellbeing. Some may even display repetitive or compulsive behaviours which require medication and behavioural treatment.
“The RSPCA goes to great lengths to provide a stable environment for all the pets in our care and work hard to rehabilitate those dogs who struggle with kennel life but we feel that these issues could often be avoided if the animals were rehomed much more quickly.”
It would be a good idea to check out our local buy and sell sight as many puppies are always for sale.
Fine if they are genuine sales but concerned that in the past there was something not right about the amount of puppies for sale. It is not just the puppies that are the issue but the poor mother which gets over bread.
I have signed the petition on Facebook asking the Government to change the law on rehoming animals before a court case concludes. Yes, this is a good thing And I hope it happens.