Many Tears Animal Rescue

     The number of people who are in  disbelief that the RSPCA would use this method to kill an animal is still  huge.  Even when shown the RSPCA's own correspondence admitting they shot the 10 dogs, people are  having  a hard time believing it or accepting it.  Please help spread the word.  Print copies of the petition page and get people to sign if they also feel this practice should stop. 
     If you feel as strongly as we do then please write to as many people as you can.   We are not asking people to do anything we would not do ourselves. Verify the facts for yourself and then let them know how you feel.  The link below is a letter that Bill has written to Mr. Watts RSPCA, CEO.  We will let you know if he answers and what he says.   If you find someone who does not believe the RSPCA is capable of doing this- then tell them to ask the RSPCA for themselves. TOGETHER WE CAN STOP THIS !!!!

BILL'S LETTER TO THE RSPCA

Please sign our online petition and send it to everyone you know or print off a hard copy and collect signatures from anyone who feels the practice of killing dogs with a captive bolt is inhumane and wrong. We need as many signatures as possible to be taken seriously and be heard. In a months time I would like to formally present our petition to the RSPCA.
Thank you all.
Sylvia

• Although potentially and theoretically an acceptable method this is not recommended for routine use due to practical difficulties including:
  • Requires skill and knowledge of anatomical variation in dog breeds e.g. dolichocephalic, brachycephalic, mesaticephalic skull types
  • Animal’s head needs to remain steady to ensure accurate shot (this may be particularly difficult with cats)
  • The bolt must be placed directly on to the animals skull
  • Requires the animal to be restrained (this may be particularly difficult with cats)
  • Requires further procedure (pithing* or bleeding)
  • Risk of transmission of zoonotic disease (e.g. rabies) if exposed to blood/ brain matter
  • May cause panic in waiting animals
  • Not recommended for euthanasia as other methods are more practicable and humane

Captive bolt
     Although widely used and accepted as a stunning procedure for the slaughter of large livestock species, this method is generally considered inappropriate for dogs and cats (European Food Safety Authority, 2005). The penetrative captive bolt pistol must be placed in contact with the animal’s skull and precise positioning is essential so that the bolt penetrates the correct area of the brain first time. Animals must be adequately restrained so that the head remains steady (Carding, 1977; Dennis et al., 1988; Beaver et al., 2001), which makes this method particularly difficult with fearful and aggressive dogs and cats (Carding, 1977). Furthermore, the conformational differences between the skulls of individuals and breeds of dogs increase the risk of a mis-stun. The principle skull types are dolichocephalic (long, narrow head), brachycephalic (short, wide heads) and mesaticephalic (medium proportions).
     Use of a captive bolt may be aesthetically unpleasant to the operator, especially as further measures are necessary (e.g. pithing or exsanguination) to ensure death (Beaver et al., 2001). The bleeding that occurs after penetration of the skull and after further pithing* creates a hazard for the operator, due to the risk of coming into contact with blood and brain matter. This risk may be of particular concern in rabies-endemic areas. As there is a high risk of mis-stunning through inadequate use of the penetrating captive bolt, and hence causing pain and distress, WSPA considers this an unacceptable method for the euthanasia of dogs and cats.

* Definition of pithing = A wire or polypropylene rod is inserted through the hole in the head made by gunshot or penetrating captive bolt. The rod is pushed into the brain and slid back and forth and rotated to cause maximum damage to the brain and upper spinal cord.

Policy Statement on Euthanasia of Dogs and Cats:
The BSAVA believes that euthanasia, the act of producing painless death, is best performed by the injection of an overdose of a barbiturate solution, under the direction of a veterinary surgeon. When dealing with a frightened or vicious animal, a pre-medicant may be used before injecting the barbiturate. Other methods are not recommended except in emergency situations where mercy killing is necessary.  Approval: BSAVA Council as Policy Statement No. 11 (Euthanasia of dogs and cats) 1999. Recent update: May 2006.

Please sign our online petition and send it to everyone you know or print off a hard copy and collect signatures from anyone who feels the practice of killing dogs with a captive bolt is inhumane and wrong. We need as many signatures as possible to be taken seriously and be heard. In a months time I would like to formally present our petition to the RSPCA.
Thank you all.
Sylvia

03-09-09
Sylvia's blog . “They shoot dogs don’t they?”

The last month has caused me sleepless nights and misery. I want to explain why to all and then give anyone permission to use my story wherever they want to.

Some years back I moved to a small town called Rockingham in North Carolina. Whilst there the person we bought our property through begged me to look at the huge refurbished building which was the Humane Society. An amazing women having seen the local dog pound had agonized what to do to change things. The day she had gone up to look the pound ( which was not manned and had 15 or so dogs in a compound and no shade and a bucket of water in which was a small pup who had drowned.  This pup was so desperate for water she had climbed up and in to the bucket and could not get out.

She witnessed the purpose dug hole the dogs, at the end of their 3 day stay, were dropped into so that one of the two dog catchers “Bonk” or “Coon” could shoot them.  She had heard some would scramble out so then were shot on the run. She also knew the tiny kittens or pups had their necks rung and others went into the gas chambers where you could hear them screaming clawing then their lungs popping.

This lady raised the money with other animal lovers and built the dogs and cats a comfortable shelter. Sadly to do this the place was partially funded by the town, so that meant all the animals no longer went to the pound but Coon and Bonk delivered them there. But the numbers were huge, so at three days they were carted off to the same fate.

In a year no director had been found to run the place and the poor animals still suffered as no one adopted them. I looked and knew I could change things but I would have to learn to euthanize. This word means painless death!!!! As a vegan this was the most terrible thing to do. Vets were keen to teach me on poor dogs just to show me but I resisted until I could not ignore the way these animals were handled and of course their terrible fate. I took the job and ALWAYS remember vividly the first poor dog I killed and ffter her the hundreds. I would walk up the corridor picking my friends as they trustingly wagged their tails. Beautiful dogs, pups, cats and kittens.  In one day there were over 100.

Wherever possible we transported them to safety but it was rare as no space could be found. To shoot a dog is such a chance thing, one move and the poor animal suffers terribly.  It's totally inhumane and barbaric.

Well I did change it and in turn it changed me. I am a dog murderer and always will have that on my conscience.  Worse still, once I had the place running well, I left and fled to Wales as I could not go on.

So here I am doing my best to help when I first hand came across this incident.  I was told by a dog breeder that the RSPCA told her that they prefer to shoot dogs to kill them.  I could not believe I had moved away from that to come to this!!! So I called and asked RSPCA inspector Richard Abbot and was told "yes that’s right". I was gob smacked so called the local RSPCA who said there was no way this was true.  They also said they were the local branch and had nothing to do with the inspectors? Although the inspectors do work out of their buildings.

I actually know our local branch do a great job, but am confused as both inspectors and the branch have the same name. I told a friend who told others and one wrote to the RSPCA and asked.  Below are the replies. Before you read them can I point out if a dead bolt is used it would have to be put up to a dogs head - actually touching it.  Could this be done to aggressive un-socialized dog?  In the first RSPCA letter they say they advised the owners to call other rescues and yet in the next they say the dogs skin was too bad and they were too aggressive to home. The officer I spoke to said they had not asked any other rescue for help and that as officers went round on their own that was the easiest method and most humane (in his mind). He also said that that if it had been a large number of dogs they maybe could have done something.  I'm not sure what he meant by that - did he mean. get press and TV and general public to cough up and save them?  I wonder if the general public like paying for the dead bolt?

I moved to get away from the unbearable and here I am back where I started - it haunts me. You have all seen the skin problems that some dogs who come to us have and the we get right as well as the unsocialized terrified dogs that we turn around and get homes. Can you imagine the poor dogs below where somehow restrained with a dead bolt to their heads!!!!!

Where is my God to watch over these poor dogs? I thought “We are the voice of the voiceless, and through us the dumb can speak”.   Night after night this haunts me so now I write it for you all to read.

Your local RSPCA centres are run independently and do a great job but let’s, as dog loves, put a halt to this barbaric practice.  I and many others would be glad to deal with these dogs that the RSPCA officers are not trained well enough to handle. A head bolt needs to be held up to a dogs head.  Did they not say these dogs were too aggressive to home?  The RSPCA felt only the week before that the owners should try to find a rescue to take them.  Were they not aggressive then? Was their skin good then? Are the RSPCA not able to help dogs with bad skin?

 Ask questions PLEASE!!!!!

This is the first letter from the RSPCA

So another letter was sent asking them again - did they shoot the dogs?  This is the reply: 

If you are still in doubt about this method of euthanasia click the link below and go to 'Methods for the euthanasia of dogs and cats- English.pdf'.  Once in the document go to pages 11 and 20.

     I have been totally amazed at the fact that although we have in excess of 5000 on line signatures, the RSPCA have yet to contact us or answer our questions. I now believe they think they are beyond question and if they just give it time, this will blow over. I thought they would see the negative comments and hear the public outcry and change their policy of killing domestic animals with a captive bolt. I had so hoped that I would not have had to go further as I support the work of their centres throughout the country, and all their hard working staff and volunteers, but I do not support the inspectors, and those above them that condone the use of the captive bolt. I guess I was wrong and the publicity and petition has not had any impact. It would seem that they truly do not feel the need to answer for their actions- Not to us and not even to the public donating money to them.
     Even though they will not address this issue, we have tried to get answers to our questions and I have found out that:

1. The inspectors did not even call their own centres for help or space.
2. The dogs had sarcoptic mange, (yes catchable - i.e. from foxes) but the easiest of the mange’s to clear up.
3. The dogs were dragged one by one to the front garden (as there were no neighbours to see), and shot one at a time.
4. No RSPCA employee who wants to keep their job can discuss these poor 10 GSDs or make any sort of statement about this incident.

     I will not let this rest! The RSPCA has been caught out before for killing dogs this way and they are still doing it now years later. These will not be the last dogs to suffer if the RSPCA is not answerable to anyone. Stand by me and others. We are now keeping this petition active until a meeting promised by the RSPCA in December with GSD Rescue.
    In addition to the online signatures, we have well over a thousand printed and signed ones that have been posted to us. Please continue to spread the word and collect signatures from those without computers and forward them to us.
    These words of wisdom were found on the internet by Bill.....

“It is always worth looking at the spending pattern of any charity, to which one is considering making a contribution. If a charity spends your money on an activity, you are effectively funding that activity. It is prudent to be sure that you agree with the actual use of the money, rather than the stated objectives of the charity.”

     I do not think people giving to the RSPCA realise that their donated money can be used to shoot dogs under the guise of “put to sleep” or “had to euthanize “ For those of you who are RSPCA members, and I know many of those saddened by the RSPCA are actual members, please read the info below. For those who are not still read this and contact the charity commission, as it is apparent the RSPCA are not following their own mission statement.,if there are 500 members of the RSPCA on the petition there could be called an 'extraordinary general meeting of the society.

XiX Summoning of extraordinary general meeting:

1. In accordance with Rule IV.12. the Council may summon an extraordinary general meeting of the Society on any occasion when the Council may deem it necessary.
2. An extraordinary general meeting shall also be called on a requisition signed by not less than five hundred members of the Society. The requisition shall specify the purpose for which the meeting is demanded and it shall be the duty of the Council to summon an extraordinary general meeting of the members without unnecessary delay. No business other than that specified in the requisition shall be transacted.

Mission Statement
The RSPCA's vision is to work for a world in which all humans respect and live in harmony with all other members of the animal kingdom.

RSPCA mission statement
The RSPCA as a charity will, by all lawful means, prevent cruelty, promote kindness to and alleviate suffering of animals.

The RSPCA intends to achieve its mission by:

• effecting strong branch, regional, national and international organizations dedicated to providing a public service, delivering effective relief of animal suffering and enforcing the law
• working tirelessly to reduce the harmful impact of human activities on animals through education, campaigning and the application of ethics, science and law
• striving for the highest levels of efficiency, effectiveness and integrity
• urging that, save where the public benefit requires, humankind should not intentionally cause suffering to any animal when it is not for its own benefit, or cause suffering by neglect. This applies whatever the animal, or the situation in which it finds itself.

BLOG update 16-11-09
     We have been asked to attend a meeting with GSD Rescue and the RSPCA to discuss the shooting of the 10 dogs by an inspector last June. This meeting, on December 4th, will be an excellent opportunity to present our petition to representatives of the RSPCA. In addition, it will give us a chance to ask a number of questions about this incident as well as clarify their official position on the use of the captive bolt.
    The facts to date:

• An RSPCA inspector did shoot 10 dogs with a captive bolt gun.

• The RSPCA initially tried to deny it, but then finally admitted it.

• The RSPCA has suppressed questions and criticism about this incident on their face book site.

• The RSPCA still has not answered our questions

• The WSPA clearly states that the Captive bolt is unacceptable for euthanasia, but now after many weeks of being questioned about a clear conflict between this claim and the RSPCA’s use of the CBG- they have now put forth a joint statement claiming that RSPCA inspectors are such specialists that they should be allowed to kill with this method if they deem it necessary

• The humane slaughter association clearly states that after stunning with a captive bolt gun an animal must be bled or pithed to ensure death occurs.
  It should always be remembered that captive-bolt devices are percussion stunners, not humane killers, and stunning should always be followed by immediate bleeding or pithing to ensure death. ( HSA website )

The RSPCA has been criticised for shooting dogs before.

The RSPCA clearly feels that killing domestic animals by using a captive bolt is acceptable. They train inspectors to become specialists at it. They do it themselves.

They did not attempt to prosecute the man accused of slaughtering over 10,000 dogs with his bolt gun. David Smith, nicknamed the 'Seaham Slaughterer', was fined £2,000. He had faced up to five years in jail. The 57-year-old, of Seaham in Co Durham, was also ordered to pay £2,000 costs by a judge at Durham Crown Court for burying greyhounds on his land without a permit. Judge Peter Armstrong said he would have jailed the father-of-three had this been an animal cruelty case, but he accepted Smith's activities had been investigated by the police and RSPCA. (SKY news march 2007).

When pushed enough, the RSPCA will officially admit that sometimes their inspectors have to make the very hard decision to put an animal to sleep and that it is done reluctantly and in a humane manner to avoid further stress and suffering for the animal.

SO, they feel that dragging a dog outside by a pole, putting a captive bolt gun to its head and shooting it, followed by sticking a rod through the hole and pushing the rod into the brain and sliding it back and forth and rotating it to cause maximum damage to the brain and upper spinal cord is humane.
WE DO NOT AGREE!

The RSPCA has tried to ignore the subject and let it be forgotten.
WE WILL NOT LET IT BE FORGOTTEN!

     The RSPCA is a huge charity. Their mission statement is: The RSPCA as a charity will, by all lawful means, prevent cruelty, promote kindness to and alleviate suffering of animals. The queen is their patron and they are arguably one of the most respected organizations we all know of. They have an annual income of almost £120m and they are funded by voluntary donations.
     Many people still refuse to believe that such a large and respected organization can have such a policy. The only way to put a stop to this barbaric act is to continue to spread the word - and maybe if enough of us let them know that we do not want our donations spent like this, they will have to stop!
     Sylvia and I would like to say THANK YOU to all those who are still spreading the word and collecting signatures. Please post your signature sheets to us by Nov 30th so that we can let the RSPCA know how many people are against the killing of dog with the captive bolt.
Bill

The RSPCA has now dropped out of the December 4th meeting where they were going to discuss their killing of the 10 GSD's and their continued support and use of the captive bolt gun. Personally, I am not surprised by their latest action. The initial bad press is over- It is now old news and so further publicity is less likely, perhaps they are now hoping they can ignore the whole thing and this bad dream will just go away.

OFFICIAL NOTICE TO THE RSPCA- WE WILL NOT GO AWAY !!!!

     We have well over 7500 signatures supporting our belief that you should not be shooting dogs with a captive bolt gun. We now also know the whole bloody and awful truth that you do not want your donating public to know. It has been verified by the Humane Slaughter Association and DEFRA that the captive bolt gun is not a humane killer, but only a stunner. By law, after shooting the dogs your inspector pithed them to kill them. In order to " stop further suffering " Your inspector dragged each dog out on a pole, shot it in the head and then rammed a screwdriver into the hole and into the brain to kill the dog. He then did it again and again and again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and again.
     Until he did this to all ten dogs to " stop their suffering " You call this humane euthanasia - we categorically disagree. Your inspectors are such specialists at killing in this fashion that they can be considered experts. If you still feel it is humane to kill a dog in this manner, try showing it on your next television series and let the viewers decide if they want to keep funding your expert killers. Ask any vet to put your old sick dog to sleep and not one would consider doing it with a captive bolt gun and screwdriver.
     As the RSPCA has decided to back out of the meeting to discuss this- we will continue to spread the word and collect signatures.
Bill

     When we first heard that the RSPCA was killing dogs with this slaughters weapon we could not believe it so we questioned them. Others then questioned them and like us could not believe that this organisation was capable of doing such a thing. In the end, they finally admitted that they do use captive bolt guns. Yes it has given them some bad press, they had to admit to killing animals but as it is not their fault  we should understand they "had to do it" . They clearly state that "euthanasia is a last resort and is only used to stop further suffering".  Also they say their inspectors are so skilled they can be considered experts with captive bolt guns and they do use them humanely.  Although it does not paint a pretty picture  if it is quick and necessary  we can kind of accept their arguments - right?

    WRONG !!!     Now we know the facts and the picture this paints is even worse then we all thought. What are the facts they never told us?

These dogs were not just dragged outside on a pole and shot but they were also pithed!   This is something the RSPCA has never officially admitted and  something they do not  want you to know!!! 

 We have been sent a link to a video that shows animals being shot by captive bolt guns and then pithed. It truly is not a pretty picture and many may find it too horrific to watch. But this is what the RSPCA inspector did to each of the dogs he shot!!!

PLEASE BE WARNED THIS VIDEO DOES GRAPHICALLY SHOW ANIMALS BEING SHOT WITH A CAPTIVE BOLT GUN AND THEN PITHED.
CLICK HERE to watch the video. 

Now - imagine your family pet being handed over to one of their expert inspectors....

 MORE RSPCA CENSORHIP AND STILL HIDING THE TRUTH FROM THEIR UNKNOWING SUPPORTERS

I finally got a reply for my letter  to Mark Watts the other day.  Basically - the same things they have been saying all along and no answers to my specific questions.  I was annoyed but not really surprised as I now know how they operate and respond to bad press. 

Back when the story of the  killing 10 dogs by the RSPCA became public knowledge, I became a fan of  their facebook site so that I could see how they officially responded to questions about this incident.  There were many people outraged and they kept updating the site with anti RSPCA posts.  Needless to say the RSPCA began to censor postings and we saw all people questioning them barred from posting and  negative posts removed. They then suddenly came up with a set of facebook moderation rules and have been keeping anyone who questions them from posting on their forum.  After being flogged off by Mr. Watts, I gave  it alot of careful thought and decided I would try to post something on their site for the first time.  I looked over their rules which are clearly posted as:

We welcome your comments and want to encourage debate. Please note that you are individually responsible for the content of your comments.

We want all our users to be able to express their opinions freely and enter into informed debate and discussion. Whilst we want this to be an open and honest forum we also want posts to be courteous and to not cause offence, therefore we reserve the right to delete any of the following:

• violent, obscene, profane, hateful, or racist posts, links or images
• comments that threaten or defame any person or organisation
• solicitations, advertisements, or endorsements of any financial, commercial or not-for-profit organisations.
• comments that suggest or encourage illegal activity
• multiple successive off-topic posts by a single user
• repetitive posts copied and pasted or duplicated by single or multiple users

Then I posted the following- not on their wall section, but in the discussion section and only under  under the "Answers to recent questions about 10 german shepherd dogs" posting.  Note- I did this under my own name,  I did not try to pretend to be someone else.

REMEMBER WHEN THE RSPCA SAID THE FOLLOWING TO THE TELEGRAPH:

"It was an absolutely extreme case. The bolt gun is certainly not used routinely by our officers."

 LIARS !!!!!

It has taken months of questioning them,  and the RSPCA has been very ellusive, but today one of the people questioning them has received the following reply.

Thank you for your enquiry. 

Please accept our apologies for the delay in response; this is due to an exceptionally high number of enquiries received over recent months and it is taking some time to reply to them all. 

Not all the figures you have requested are available and we would normally require greater background and context so that we can understand the purposes for which the statistics will be used. However, we hope you find the following information helpful. 

On average the Society rehomes over 60,000 animals every year. It has been necessary for our inspectorate to euthanase 576 dogs so far this year, 65 by captive bolt. The use of the captive bolt is the quickest and kindest approach under certain circumstances, but the Society recognises that it may be perceived as a controversial method of euthanasia for companion animals. 

Sadly, the RSPCA is often seen as the charity of last resort and so that an animal's welfare is not compromised further, euthanasia is often the kindest option. No one working for the Society finds this aspect of their role at all easy. Until there is greater recognition of the issues surrounding indiscriminate breeding and irresponsible pet ownership it is likely to remain an aspect of our work. 

We have new campaigns and education programmes planned for 2010 that will highlight and address these fundamental concerns. 

Other animal welfare charities claim they do not put animals to sleep but say they are unable to assist owners in many more challenging circumstances. The RSPCA does not believe this is an acceptable response as further animal suffering is often the result. 

Thank you again for contacting the Society, and we hope the above information has been of interest. 

Kind regards 
RSPCA HQ Advice Team

SO RSPCA, HAVE THESE OTHER  55 BEEN EXTREME  CASES AS WELL?????