08.02.12 Paul James Deakin of Llanmartin, Newport received a £250 fine after pleading guilty to a Section 8 offence of the Protection of Animals Act 1911, that is to knowingly place on land edible matter which has been rendered poisonous.
The decision was made following the trial on Tuesday, 31 January 2012 at Caerphilly Magistrates Court. Deakin was also ordered to pay £300 costs plus a £15 victim surcharge.

Antifreeze poisoning suspected in neighbour's cat

The court case followed an incident last April in which a tabby cat belonging to Deakin’s neighbour was found collapsed in a garden, with probable antifreeze poisoning strongly suspected by the vet. The cat was euthanased.
A week later, the cat's owners noticed bowls of food covered in a blue substance on Deakin's drive and called the RSPCA to investigate. The bowls were found to contain chicken covered in antifreeze.

 

Disappointed by lack of evidence

Although pleading guilty to laying down the substance, Deakin was found not guilty of two other offences - causing a poisonous substance to be taken by an animal and causing unnecessary suffering. This was due to lack of proof that the cat had fallen ill and died due to the particular poisonous substance laid out by Deakin.
RSPCA Inspector Simon Evans said:
 

I fully understand the reasons behind the Magistrates Court's decision, but am disappointed we could not establish a cause or link between the defendant putting the poison down and the condition in which the cat was found.

Keep pets safe

Unfortunately many animals find the taste of antifreeze very attractive, and ingesting even the smallest amount can lead to kidney failure and death, especially in cats.

We’re supporting Bluedeath’s campaign calling for a bittering agent to be added to antifreeze products to make them unpalatable to pets.

Please take a moment to sign the petition.  
Thank you.
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This sweet girl needs lots of TLC so she can gain in confidence

 
07.02.12 
We're appealing for a quiet country home for Heidi where she will have the company of at least one other dog. But somewhere a little closer to Devon than the Swiss Alps!



Heidi is a small black-and-white collie who is approximately five years old and has the sweetest nature.

She came into our care due to concerns over her welfare. Her previous elderly owner could no longer provide the care she needed and Heidi had a severe skin condition that had not been treated.

Heidi has led quite a sheltered life so far

Having spent her early years living quite a sheltered life, Heidi is not used to lots of people, noises or a busy life, so she finds kennel life quite stressful.

Now staff at our Little Valley Animal Shelter in Bakers Hill, Exeter, are desperate to find her a quiet rural retreat where she can gain confidence with owners who are able to continue the ongoing treatment of her dermatitis.

A home with an 'established confident dog' would be ideal

Shelter supervisor, Louise Rowe, said:

Heidi is a very sweet dog, but she has lived outside in a very rural area so she has not been walked on a lead before or heard normal household noises.

And she is very nervous so she will need things to be introduced to her slowly.

It is vital that she can go to a home with another established confident dog so that she can learn from them and gain confidence.

But she also needs a rural home so she will not be overwhelmed with lots of hustle and bustle.

We're looking for passionate committed owners

Please don't be put off by Heidi's skin condition. Dermatitis is very common in dogs but easily treatable.

Heidi's skin condition is now under control and her new owners would need to be committed to keeping it this way by continuing her treatment, which involves steroids and baths.

Louise added:

Heidi has not seen a lot of the world and she is incredibly nervous.

But she is such a sweet little dog who deserves a home that will give her love and confidence.

And in return she will become an excellent companion.

Are you a perfect match for Heidi?

If you think you're Heidi's perfect match and can offer her the extra special home she needs, please contact:

RSPCA Little Valley Animal Shelter in Baker's Hill, Exeter, Devon Telephone: 07748 629202 between 11am and 4pm every day except Wednesdays

You can find out about our rehoming process in our rehoming and adoption pages.
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We're celebrating news that over 50 per cent of eggs are cage-free.

06.02.12 Latest figures released by Defra show that over half of Class A eggs were laid by hens which were not cooped-up in cruel cages.

In 1995 about 86 per cent of eggs were laid by caged hens and only about 14 per cent were from barn, free-range and organic systems.
In contrast in 2011 49 per cent of eggs were laid by hens kept in cages and 51 per cent were produced in cage-free systems.
Alice Clark a senior scientist from our farm animals team said:

It is really great news that for the first time more than half the eggs produced in the UK were laid by hens kept in barn, free-range or organic systems.

Every time a shopper buys a box of Freedom Food, barn, free-range or organic eggs, they are sending a strong message that they care about animal welfare and don’t want hens kept in cages.

Better news for laying hens

We believe that the growth in non-cage production is due to:

• Compulsory egg labelling introduced in 2004 so boxes of whole eggs have to be labelled with the method of production such as ‘eggs from caged hens’ or ‘free-range’.
   
• Increased public awareness and concern about the suffering of hens kept in cages.
   
• Some major supermarkets no longer stocking cage eggs and using cage-free eggs as ingredients in their own-brand products.
   
• Some major food manufacturers and restaurant chains switching to cage-free eggs in their products.

Alice Clark added:

Things are certainly getting better and hopefully one day cages will be a thing of the past altogether.

Shoppers who buy cage-free eggs deserve a heartfelt thank you. And if they want to do more they can make sure food they buy such as ready-meals, cakes and ice-cream also contains cage-free eggs.

  Get Your guide to choosing cage-free eggs (2.81MB PDF) and products that contain eggs.  

How do you like your eggs?

We do not believe hens should be kept in cages – even newer style so-called ‘enriched’ battery cages which are replacing the conventional barren battery cages.

Recent research commissioned by us revealed 61 per cent of people in England and Wales agreed that cages should be banned.   Visit our laying hens campaign and tell us how you like your eggs.
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Rescue dog in need of new home is flourishing at agility

03.02.12 An RSPCA rescue dog who is learning agility to relieve the boredom of an eight-month spell in kennels is hoping his new found skills will help him weave his way into someone's heart.

Kai is a two-year-old American bulldog cross-breed and has taken to agility like a duck to water.
 
He is completing the weaves and jumps with ease at our Gonsal Farm Animal Centre in Dorrington, Shropshire.

And despite only having a few lessons, Kai is said to have great potential.

   

Watch Kai practising  the weaves:

Kai 'has such a desire to please and learn'

Anthony Turner works at Gonsal Farm, as well as being a dog trainer with School For Paws - a Victoria Stilwell Positively approved dog training establishment based in Shropshire.

He said:

Kai has a lovely, friendly nature and loves nothing more than to play.

He really enjoys human company and has such a desire to please and learn, so I thought I would give him some agility training.

He has taken to it so well that we hope any new owner might continue taking him to classes as he really is a natural.

Kai a hit with TV dog trainer Victoria Stilwell!

And Kai definitely impressed TV dog trainer Victoria Stilwell who visited our Gonsal Farm Animal Centre just before Christmas.

Following her visit, Victoria spoke very highly about the staff at Gonsal Farm and the fantastic work they do in rehabilitating animals so that they're ready for rehoming.

So why is he being overlooked?

Anthony continued: "Kai has been in kennels since June 2011 and we have no idea why he is still with us.

"He is only young and obviously is a lively lad, but he gets on with other dogs and can be rehomed to a family with older children.

"We are hoping someone will see Kai basking in the limelight at his agility classes and offer him a 'forever' home."  

Are you Kai's perfect match?

If you think you're a perfect match for Kai and can offer him a loving new home and continue the agility training that he loves so much, please contact:

RSPCA Gonsal Farm Animal Centre Telephone: 0300 123 0753 Email: gonsalfarm@rspca.org.uk

You can find out more about adopting an RSPCA rescue animal in our rehoming and adoption pages.
 

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Related news article

Victoria Stilwell sings the praises of Gonsal Farm - 02.01.12  

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Birds thought to have been abandoned

  03.02.12  Our Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre in Cheshire is caring for nine birds of prey which have been bred and raised as pets and then thought to have been dumped.

The birds were each taken to the wildlife centre near Nantwich after being found individually in an injured, sick or lethargic condition.
  The nine birds include: 

• three barn owls
• two Harris hawks
• two buzzards
• a lanner falcon
• and an eagle owl.

They have all been bred as domestic pets and either been abandoned by their owners or escaped.

This means they cannot be released back into the wild. Had they not been rescued, it's very likely they would have died.

The birds have very specialist needs which makes finding suitable new homes very difficult.

Birds so lucky to have been rescued

Lee Stewart, centre manager, said:

All the birds were struggling to survive.

One of the buzzards had lost all balance and kept falling on its face.

One of the barn owls had flown straight into a car.

And the eagle owl was discovered in the middle of a path with its wing hanging down.

Keeping birds of prey as pets 

We are urging people to do their research before taking on these types of birds as pets.

All too often animals end up abandoned when people realise the care required is more than they can manage.

Animals that have been bred in captivity can struggle to adapt if they suddenly find themselves having to fend for themselves in the wild.

Birds of prey can have a large wing span and flying is a fundamental natural behaviour. So aviaries should be built with enough space for the bird in its adult size to fly.
  They also need: 

• free flying time out of the enclosure
• suitable food
• to be taken to a specialist avian vet.

Legally, they can only be kept as pets if they are captive-bred. Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, it is an offence to take any wild bird and put it into captivity.

Some birds of prey also need to be registered if kept in captivity.

And we recommend that anyone owning a bird of prey get their bird ringed so that should the bird escape, it can be traced back to the owner.

Taking on any animal is a lifetime commitment

Sophie Adwick, RSPCA exotics and trade officer, said:

It is vital that anyone taking on an animal thinks very carefully about whether they will be able to care for the animal properly for all of its life.

Too many people buy on a whim without really doing any research into what the animal eats, how big it will grow, and how difficult it might be to keep it in a home.

This can lead to a raft of welfare problems, as well as abandonments.

 

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Exotic pets - what to consider

When unusual animals, like birds of prey, are kept as pets they are known as exotics or non-domestic animals.

Get more advice about meeting the needs of exotic pets.
 

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02.02.11 With temperatures set to remain low this weekend, we're urging people to help care for pets and wildlife.
With snow predicted for some parts of the country we're urging the public to do their bit to help keep animals of all kinds happy and healthy. RSPCA Inspector Tony Woodley said: 
 

Winter weather can spell trouble for some animals as they struggle to cope with the conditions as much as we do.

We can all take simple steps to help animals at this time however our inspectors are on-call around the clock so they can help if the worst should happen.

Our tips on how to help animals in the cold weather:

Pets

• Dogs with thin or sparse coats may benefit from a coat when being exercised outdoors. Two or three shorter walks may be a better option to avoid being out in the cold for a long period of time.
  
  It's also important to keep dogs away from lakes or ponds which may have iced over to prevent them from falling in.
   
• Horses and ponies will also need constant access to shelter and water as well as extra food and blankets if necessary.
   
• Cats should not be shut out of the house for long periods of time and must always be able to find suitable warmth and shelter.
   
• Pets such as rabbits and guinea pigs may need extra shelter away from the weather and could need moving inside into a shed or garage.

Farm animals

• Farm animals will need access to drinking water at all times and possibly extra food during the colder weather.
  
  If it's not possible to bring animals inside, it's important to be extra vigilant to ensure they are not suffering in snow or ice and that they stay away from frozen water which could be a hazard to them.

Wildlife

• Birds may have difficulty finding natural foods such as berries, insects, seeds, worms and fruit. Any alternative food you put out during these cold months will help such as crumbled bread, stale cake and biscuits, cheese and cooked rice.
   
• Badgers do not hibernate but they do sleep through much of the severe weather. However, when the ground is frozen they have a tough time finding food. Nibbles such as lightly cooked meats, cheese, unsalted and unsweetened peanuts and fruit will be welcomed.
   
• Squirrels enjoy unsweetened and unsalted nuts including hazelnuts, walnuts, and almonds as well as chopped apple, carrots, spinach or green beans.
   
• Hedgehogs hibernate between November and mid to late March so you can help by raking up the leaves in your garden and providing them with nests to rest in.

 

Helping animals in small ways can make a big difference

RSPCA wildlife scientist Sophie Adwick said:

Winter can be hard for animals, particuarly wildlife, and every year the RSPCA rescues lots of animals which are dehydrated, hungry and cold.

Food and water can be scarce at this time of year anyhow and ground frosts make finding food even more difficult.

There may be many animals out there in need of our help and the more we can do to help them through this chilly period the better. The small things can make all the difference.

 
If you see an animal in distress, call our 24-hour cruelty line on: 0300 1234 999.

More seasonal advice

For more information on the small things you can do to help visit our seasonal winter advice page.
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01.02.12 We came to the rescue of an exhausted fallow deer that was fighting for his life after becoming tangled in electric fence tape in Worcestershire.

The stunning animal was found thrashing about in a field last week in Dunley, Stourport-on-Severn.

Bid for freedom leaves deer exhausted

The buck's will to survive was so strong that he had used all his physical strength in a bid for freedom.
But instead the deer became further entangled and faced dying from exhaustion or being strangled by the tape.
Our animal welfare officer, Steve Davies, attended but the situation was too dangerous to attempt a rescue single-handedly.  

Fast teamwork saves deer

Vital back up came in the form of Bob Lawrence, director of wildlife at West Midlands Safari Park. Once the deer was sedated the pair worked fast to cut the tape which was attached to a fence post.
It was a wonderful moment to discover the buck wasn't injured. Had he not been found he would have suffered a very slow and agonising death.
Animal welfare officer, Steve said:

There couldn't have been a better outcome to this rescue. But on arrival I thought it really could have gone either way.

The deer was huffing and puffing due to physical exhaustion but the tape was so tightly wrapped around his antlers and more worryingly his neck.

  Believed to be around six years old, the deer was later released to a secure location with other wild deer.  

Our rescues

Every year we receive hundreds of thousands of calls about animals in need of rescue. Take a look at some of the predicaments we've rescued animals from recently.
If you witness an animal in distress call our national cruelty line on: 0300 1234 999.
 
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Frustration as mallard duck is caused unnecessary distress

31.01.12 Thank you to the many people in Worcester who have reported their concerns about a female mallard duck who has a plastic can holder stuck in her mouth and around the back of her neck.

Despite attempts by RSPCA officers and local swan rescue to capture the distressed bird, she has so far evaded capture as she is still mobile and able to fly.

We are continuing our attempts to try to catch the duck and are planning a boat rescue this week, but there is no guarantee of success.
  The duck is often seen on the river near Worcester City Football Club, St George's Lane.

The first reported call came in over a week ago on Thursday, 19 January.
 

'It is likely she will be having great difficulty in feeding'

RSPCA Chief Inspector Lee Hopgood who has been involved with the rescue attempts so far said:

We are concerned for the welfare of this duck, but from experience we know how difficult she is going to be to catch.

She is very wary of humans and the more attempts are made to catch her, the more wary she becomes.

It looks like she can still drink, but it is likely she will be having great difficulty in feeding.

Sadly it may not be until she starts to deteriorate in condition and strength before we have any real chance of catching her.

 

Litter can be lethal for animals and yet is entirely preventable

We are extremely frustrated that an act of sheer laziness has resulted in this mallard duck’s unnecessary suffering.

Lee continued:

The most frustrating thing about this whole situation and other similar incidents we have dealt with in the past is that this bird's suffering was entirely preventable.

This poor duck is in this distressing position because someone couldn't be bothered to put their litter in a bin.

A casually dropped piece of litter can have devastating consequences for our wildlife.

We are so fortunate in this country to have so many fascinating species of birds and other wild animals that live in our parks and countryside.

It is a well known pastime for families to take children to feed the ducks and birds in parks, and yet people are so thoughtless and careless about dropping litter which can injure, kill and maim wildlife.

I hope people will learn from this incident and dispose of their rubbish properly.

 

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Litter costs lives

Did you know?

• We receive over 7,000 calls each year about litter-related incidents.
   
• We regularly rescue all kinds of animals trapped or injured by litter.

How you can help 

Little things such as cutting the loops of plastic can holders before putting into a rubbish or recycling bin can help to prevent incidents like this and save an animal's life.

Find out more ways you can help in our advice page - litter costs lives.
 

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Could you give a Putney Pensioner cat the retirement they deserve?

30.01.12 Staff at Putney Animal Hospital in London are looking for potential adopters to consider giving an older cat a home.
Veterinary nurse Marianne Segev said:
 

The older animals unfortunately seem to get overlooked. Anyone wanting to rehome a cat usually just looks at the kittens that we have and rarely stop to think about an older cat.

Putney Pensioners scheme

Putney Pensioners was set up by Putney Animal Hospital to quickly find homes for pensioner cats. The scheme also supports adopters by paying for any age-related treatment required throughout their pet’s lifetime.
All our hospital asks for in return is that you provide a loving home and routine treatment including vaccinations, flea and worm treatments and any special dietary requirements.

Pensioner cats make wonderful pets

Two years ago 10-year-old Maverick was found with his leg caught in a sash window. He wasn’t microchipped and despite efforts to track down his owners, no-one came forward to claim him.

Thanks to the Putney Pensioner scheme, Maverick was rehomed within weeks.
Take a look at what his new owner, Jude Peppis posted on Putney Animal Hospital’s Facebook page recently:
 

I rehomed my gorgeous tabby Maverick through the Putney Pensioner scheme - it's brill!! Putney are a wonderful support making sure Maverick has any medical care he needs throughout his twilight years.

I've had him for nearly two years now - rehoming that little ball of fluff is one of the best things I've ever done!

Claudia Gough is an experienced cat owner who has also adopted a pensioner cat from us before. And from the look of her recent post on Facebook, she’s ready to do it again!

I rehomed a pensioner cat in 2001. His name was Caesar. He was the most amazing cat, ever! He was 10 when I rescued him and 20 when he died. I had 10 beautiful years with him. Miss him every day.

I still have two cats and would be interested in rehoming another 'pensioner' cat who will enjoy life with two other cats.

Adopt a Putney Pensioner

If you live in London and think you could give a Putney Pensioner a rested retirement please call:
RSPCA Putney Animal Hospital

Tel: 0300 123 0716

Or contact them on the Putney Animal Hospital Facebook page.

Not in London?

Many of our centres and branches operate a similar service. Find out more about our Elderly Animal Rehoming Scheme (EARS).

Alternatively search for older animals using our pet search.

Thank you from the pensioners!
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Could you sponsor a seal's rehabilitation?

27.01.12 With over 50 seals currently being cared for by our wildlife centre in Norfolk we’re appealing for supporters to sponsor a seal’s rehabilitation.
Staff at East Winch Wildlife Centre in King's Lynn, Norfolk are working hard, and sometimes late into the night, to cope with the unusually high number of seals currently in their care.

High number of seal admissions

During the stormy weather at the beginning of the year 24 seal pups were admitted to our East Winch Wildlife Centre.
Even as the weather has become milder, seals are continuing to arrive at the already busy wildlife centre. Wildlife centre manager, Alison Charles said:
 

We’re seeing an unusually high number of quite sick common seals.

In previous years we wouldn’t see many of them at this time of year at all. Now it seems like we’re taking in common seal pups all year round!

Mostly the common seal pups arriving are around six-months old, emaciated and suffering with lung-worm.

This is in addition to the grey seal pups that we expect to come in during the winter months.

When the pups are really small and delicate, staff will often stay until 11 or 12 o’clock at night to give them a late feed.

Help us rehabilitate poorly seals

It takes approximately four to five months of continuous care for a seal pup to reach a healthy release weight.
With 52 seals already in the centre’s care and another two due to arrive later today the centre is fast reaching capacity. And, the high number of seals in the centre’s care is putting a very real strain on resources.
Alison continued: 

The public have been fantastic at bringing in towels and blankets. But what we really need now is for sponsors to help us pay for veterinary treatment and to feed all the hungry mouths.

You can help!

Sponsor a seal for just £20 a year and help get a seal back to the wild.
To sponsor a seal, or for more information, please contact:
RSPCA East Winch Wildlife Centre Telephone: 0300 123 0709 Email: eastwinch@rspca.org.uk

We can't do it without you. Thank you for your support.
 

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More about East Winch Wildlife Centre

East Winch Wildlife Centre is well known for its work with seals, but did you know the centre also cares for a wide range of other animals too?
Find out more about the centre’s work with orphaned and injured wild animals.
Catch up on the centre’s progress and achievements or watch some of the wildlife in their care caught on camera.
Visit: www.rspca.org.uk/eastwinch
 

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