Seven Network's RSPCA Animal Rescue is nothing more than a blatant public relations exercise to maintain their image as a "caring" organisation seen to be doing good.
RSPCA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) Animal Rescue is a “factual programme” which is supposed to give viewers a close-up look at the RSPCA’s work and care towards animals. It claims to be an “observational documentary” but experienced farmers believe RSPCA Animal Rescue contains more fiction than fact.
Anthony Field, (best known as the Blue Wiggle from the childrens TV show The Wiggles) hosts RSPCA Animal Rescue.
A spokesperson for Seven Network said in September 2007 the RSPCA does not have much money - so the programme is funded by the network and the production company. (Actually, RSPCA-NSW’s Annual Report stated a surplus of over A$2 million for June 2008).
RSPCA Animal Rescue uses kittens and puppies in their sickly sweet ads to attract viewers.
Victorian Bushfires
RSPCA Animal Rescue recently used the Victorian Bushfires to boost publicity and attract more donations. Whole towns were destroyed and many people lost homes and loved ones. Many farmers also lost their livestock.
The RSPCA said they were helping injured wildlife and reuniting pets with owners. Some inspectors even checked for animals at the wrong address!
Actually, it was the local vets tended to most of the injured animals.
In another episode, Field told viewers that a bull only had “weeks to live” as its horn is growing into its head. The inspectors used tranquilizer darts to saw the horn off while the bull was unconscious. Most farmers remove horns from cattle or sheep before they touch the animal’s skin—without tranquilizers.
The bull was placid and obviously used to people, but the inspectors created unnecessary drama and claimed the bull lost an eye, suffered pain and brain damage!
RSPCA Animal Rescue also goes into overkill in the same episode regarding one tiny kitten trapped inside a wall. Viewers are informed it was “days since the kitten had food or water” and “can’t survive” so the RSPCA will do whatever it takes. The kitten is rescued after a hole is cut in the wall. That kitten and another, also rescued from the same predicament, is in good condition.
Later Field informs us one was “dehydrated” and didn’t make it so it was “put to sleep”. It’s a bid to play on gullible people’s sympathy as Field says the RSPCA “can’t do this without your help.”
Prosecuting Farmers
Inspectors go to great lengths to “save” a cow in poor condition after it “fell into the river” in the first episode.
Yet, in reality, the inspectors failed to show the same courtesy towards one Pilliga farmer, aged 72, when they shot 48 “starving cows” leaving the RSPCA to defend its actions.[i] An independent vet contradicted the RSPCA’s evidence in court saying these cows were not malnourished.[ii]
The RSPCA used Senior Council during a prosecution case in Narrabri District Court in 2008.[iii]
A magistrate recently slammed the RSPCA’s excessive legal costs in Tenterfield Local Court. One witness was flown in by private plane, costing $1,980![iv]
Not Seen On TV
RSPCA Animal Rescue does not show their inspectors bullying and intimidating farmers (particularly the elderly) whom they assume are unable to fight back, or have the means to do so.
The show does not mention NSW Chairman Andrew Wozniak is one of the prosecuting lawyers. Barrister Paul O’Donnell is also on the Board of Directors. Dr Peter Wright, Vice-President of the NSW-RSPCA, also gave evidence in court as an “expert witness”.
Member for Barwon, Kevin Humphries, recently complained to New South Wales’ Independent Commission Against Corruption [ICAC] regarding RSPCA prosecutions towards one constituent.[v]
[iv] Fife-Yeomans, Janet, The Daily Telegraph, Gross Overcharging – RSPCA in the doghouse over fees, 24 January 2009
[v] Carty, Lisa, The Sydney Morning Herald, RSPCA investigated over legals, 23 January 2009
The copyright of the article TV Review: RSPCA Animal Rescue in British/Australian TV is owned by Carolyn M Cash. Permission to republish TV Review: RSPCA Animal Rescue in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
Animal Rescue is a cynical marketing exercise designed to bring in
donations. It portrays what people want to believe about the RSPCA but
Channel 7 admits that the programme is scripted. It is obvious that trained
animals are frequently used, starring as dogs that will snarl or bark at
appropriate times. The scriptwriters are not very clued up on veterinary
matters. If a horse has laminitis then the frog in the hoof cannot ever be
normal again, yet normal hoofs were shown after treatment by the RSPCA. In
a more startling way an old worn out horse turned into a young one after
help from the wonderful RSPCA. I have no time for the hypocrisy of an
organisation that is supposed to care for animals but will shoot cows and
leave the calves without food or shelter as the wonderful RSPCA has done on
at least 2 occasions. I can no longer watch their hypocritical programme,
but, yes, I used to think they cared about animals. And I am an animal
lover. Those who want to help animals should donate to private shelters
dedicated to care and rehoming, not killing over half the cats and dogs
they receive.
Mar 26, 2009 4:39 AM
Carolyn M Cash :
Thank you for your comment, especially the programme being scripted and
using trained animals. I heard rumours some of the "rescues" were
staged.
Yes, "RSPCA Animal Rescue" is nothing more
than a public relations exercise - that was the point I was making in this
article! I was writing from a rural perspective as the inspectors have no
idea about livestock management, especially during drought. Read "The
Ruth Downey Inquisition" (if you haven't already). She was left to
hand-feed 13 calves after the RSPCA shot her cattle in 2007. The inspectors
didn't care about those little calves (newborn up to seven weeks old). Ruth
Downey is also an animal lover so she would never deliberately harm any
animals in her care. Some relatives (with farming backgrounds) refuse to
watch it because it is such crap.
Mar 31, 2009 10:53 PM
Guest :
We would not have believed any organisation could be so ruthless in killing
animals - until it happened to us. We had Border Collies, 3 of them 17
years old, and still spry. Do you know any other large dog living so
long? Yet our dogs were taken and destroyed as 'anti-social' and badly
cared for, yet from birth those dogs had never been penned nor tethered,
nor did they wander though we had no fences. Dogs were caught on
catching poles, half strangled by strangers, then pushed against a
chainwire fence, pushed so that their pelt was dishevelled, and then
photgraphed as 'evidence' for the Animal Reasue shown on channel 7 last
night. After the 'evidence' was created, the terrified animals who had only
ever been handled with love, were taken and slaughtered unceremoniously,
without any further advice to us, which in itself is totally illegal. Who
can afford to fight such a wealthy business (Charity - be
damned!)organisation? And that would not bring the dogs back to life.
Apr 21, 2009 5:25 AM
Guest :
I really feel for the poor owners of those dogs that were butchered without
reason by the RSPCA. My sister had a very similar experience with her
cattle. Until that incident I had always believed they WERE there to
PROTECT animals, not destroy well cared for ones!
May 25, 2009 4:52 PM
Guest :
Supporting RSPCA is supportng Corruption. RSPCA have 5 cases in the
Supreme Court Brisbane so they campaign outside the Courts (wed 27 May
2009) intimidating Judges with an abuse of their power and using supporters
to demonstrate their power. How could a Judge make a decision against them?
It would be asking for heaps of trouble from RSPCA - lots of abusive
letters, emails etc. For more read www.petmafia.cm.au RSPCA Corrupts
the Courts.
May 29, 2009 6:24 PM
Guest :
The Stanford Prison Experiment shows how a small group with unsupervised
power gos rogue (google it). Animal Rescue, Animal Acts of Parliament that
RSPCA administer and the enormous public support RSPCA once enjoyed made
them very powerful. Google "rspca corruption" and see how RSPCA
have gone rougue and the resentment that is building in the communiy
against them. Governments made the mistake of oiling the RSPCA squeeky
wheel by giving them Policing powers over animals and now that wheel is
rusting bring RSPCA down in public esteeme and support. $donations are down
and dropping fast, RSPCA i facing financial ruin. The Stanford prison
experiment has worked on RSPCA. their end is near.
Oct 22, 2009 3:20 AM
Guest :
I think that the whole show should be bannned!! I've been in a few
situations where I have found injured animals and the RSPCA could not help.
Another critical topic that everyone should be aware of is that I also had
a kitten stuck in my wall, I called the RSPCA, they told me to call my
local city council-the local city council did not help me. I believe that
it is up to the RSPCA to solve problems like that, as it could have been a
life or death situation for the young kitten.
