Fact, Fiction & Figures
The RSPCA microchipped 72,883 animals in 2009 - FACT!
The RSPCA is closing its doors to animals by not allowing the public to re-home animals at their centres FICTION!
The RSPCA is fully committed to the prevention of cruelty to animals and to ensure no animal suffers unnecessary harm. Part of our work sadly involves criminal prosecutions against those who abuse or neglect their animals. During this process (which can take up to two years) the animals in question are required to be kept safely until the court process is completed and this is what our centres are doing.
The average age of a dog coming into foster care is 3 - FACT!
Dogs that need new homes are aggressive FICTION!
Aggression is a very common behavioural issue and part of dog's repertoire of communication. All dogs are assessed before being brought into our care and placed into foster care based on experience and personal circumstances. We will not rehome a dog that has a clearly defined history of aggression.
The busiest month for dog adoptions during 2010 was September - FACT!
In 2010 the Reading branch re-homed 32 dogs, 45 cats, 34 rabbits & 10 guinea pigs - FACT!
Animals that don't find homes are put to sleep - FICTION!
Our guidelines are to try and rehome an animal within 3 months of receiving it into care. On occasion this is not possible due to illness, medical reasons, legal proceedings, the dog may have some behaviour that needs careful assessment and so on. If we find we are not getting a lot of response for a particular animal in the area we are able to use our regional network to reach a wider audience to help find a new home. Animals are NOT put to sleep because no one has come forward to adopt them.
In 2009 the charity as a whole took 11,574 calls from the public about abandoned dogs - FACT!
Every 20 seconds, someone phones the RSPCA for help - FACT!
It costs an average of £300 to bring a dog into foster care and give it the treatment and care it requires before being ready for a new home - FACT!