Forum Topic

Petition To Save Putney RSPCA  Hospital

Fleur Anderson has started a petition to save this vital animal hospital, the only 24 hour facility in London that cares for not only domestic pets but injured wildlife too.  Please please sign Fleur's petition on the homepage. It must not be closed!  Thankyou.

Sue Hammond ● 2160d50 Comments

Sue, I love dogs, I love cats, I love all animals.  I always used to think that the RSPCA was for saving animals in danger, wild or abandoned, and I believe they have done a great job.Since I was a young girl, and yes had a dog and a cat, there has been such an upsurge in keeping animals, particularly in London which cannot cope with the increase.  Most commons and parks now STINK, especially at the entrances, because dog owner can't be bothered to go farther than where the dog needs to have crap and then go home.That's why I say all this, there are just far too many people in London (as we all say as we don't like the new high rise buildings) and FAR to many dogs.

Bunny Payne ● 2158d

@Lucille 14.57"Once again I agree with you Sue!"Blimey I think I need to lie down!

Sue Hammond ● 2158d

Once  again I agree with you Sue! Wonders will never cease lol. The mental health argument is an extremely strong one  whatever  your age but especially so if you are older and lonely.

Lucille Grant ● 2158d

Bunny, it's clear that you are either not a pet owner, or simply have no empathy and cannot relate to those who are.  I have been very surprised by your rather mean spirited, dog in the manger responses in this thread.  You may not need the services of this hospital but many people do. Btw not all shaved youths with tattoos are bad people and very few of them will own a so called 'attack dog'. The fact that that you have such a bigoted view is quite distasteful.

Sue Hammond ● 2158d

My understanding is that the Putney Hospital covers a huge swathe of London, not just the local area.  So people do travel a long way to get there.There is the sweet old lady with a Yorkshire terrier who can't afford it, there are also the shaved and tattooed youths with their attack dogs with studs round their collars.  Are they keeping these to stop being lonely?

Bunny Payne ● 2158d

Even when people retire they might not have as much money as when they worked and some vets charge thousands.

Barbara Stevens ● 2158d

Animals feel pain domestic or wild life. They need to be seen quickly. Or do you just stand there thinking it's only a bl--dy animal. Not everybody can travel a distance carrying animals on buses, or driving and paying the C.C charge to get to some far away place. The RSPCA has been there years. Just because Putney is a decent area, doesn't mean to say some people in the area are less fortunate.

Barbara Stevens ● 2158d

Bunny a cat or dog might be the only way a person has any contact with other people, sitting in the park talking with another dog owner. Animals do know what you say and go to bed when you do and are a comfort for lonely people, otherwise they might be talking to themselves.

Barbara Stevens ● 2158d

Adam, thanks for digging this out. Looks like RSPCA has had serious governance problems. In fact it makes the WPCC look like a model charity. A more recent report suggests they have slimmed down their board of trustees but they still haven’t addressed their cumbersome internal structure which must be expensive to maintain. They say 80% of donations go to front line services but I suspect that is not a reliable guide to how donors’ money gets spent.

Jonathan Callaway ● 2158d

https://www.civilsociety.co.uk/voices/kirsty-weakley-how-did-things-go-wrong-at-the-rspca-and-where-does-it-go-now.htmlhere is an article from June 2017, it's clear that the rspca's financial crisis has been brewing for years. Interestingly the rspca has registered about 200 charities in its name, including 'RSPCA Friends of Putney Animal Hospital Fund'

Adam Tripp ● 2158d

Am I right or wrong?  
If the RSPCA closes, then SW15 pets would be taken to the Blue Cross Wimbledon.  If so, the animals would get free treatment rather than low cost in Putney.  That would be better for SW15 residents as they wouldn’t have to pay anything. Currently SW15 is excluded from the list of postcodes seen at the Blue Cross, but presumably this would change if the RSPCA closes in Putney.  I assume donations would be expected at the Blue Cross, but in Putney RSPCA clients have to pay something?
Anyway I am not sure how it all works, so please correct me if I have misunderstood.

Martine Guy ● 2158d

Some observations: I think the issue is animal welfare - without the RSPCA hospital will animals suffer from inadequate treatment or being abandoned? Often people acquire pets when affluent and able to afford them and then fall on hard times.CHOOSING to have children may be defined as a human right by the UN. Accidentally having several children one can't support, possibly with different partners, might be considered irresponsible?I'd suggest that in some parts of the US having a car is such a necessity it verges on being a human right?One would like to think society has moved on so provision is made to stop animals suffering, make provision for children to be properly cared for even if their parents are irresponsible,  and ensure adequate, affordable transport is available so people can travel to work, school, college, etc.

Michael Ixer ● 2158d

If they need a pet, they should get a budgie or something if they can't afford a cat or dog. It's like saying owning a car is a human right.Choosing to have children is a basic human right - as declared by the UN - has been for decades. The state supports children when necessary - no-one in this country can not "afford" to have children - this is a Daily Mail type myth. Certainly being a parent can involve sacrifices - are you one? - if so you must know this.

Michael Winstanley ● 2158d

@BunnyUsing your own argument (again), is having kids you can't afford also sentimentality overruling common sense?  I would say that is also pretty irresponsible, wouldn't you?What has dog poo got to do with the hospital closing?Having a pet whilst living in a city does not equate with "chasing some kind of country lifestyle".  I don't know of anybody who keeps a pet cow or a pet goat in their back garden.  I really don't know what point you are trying to make?

Sue Hammond ● 2159d

Agreed. In those old days people also accepted that dogs and cats get old and/or die. They did not all attempt to extend their lives with expensive treatments. They simply got another one.The attempt at false equivalence between keeping a pet and having a child is beyond me. The first is an affectation, the second really is a human right.Getting back to the petition, I still don't understand the point. What people genuinely concerned should be doing is donating sufficient money to the RSPCA to keep their hospital open. Signing a petition won't solve their financial problem. Do people want them to close some other hospital, lay off some extra staff, or what exactly?

Michael Winstanley ● 2159d

Sue, my objection is that sentimentality should never override common sense.    Our society seems to be going in the direction that you can have whatever you want, without taking any responsibility.In the 'old days' you could have a dog, let it poop wherever it wanted to and there was not problem.City dwellers (including myself) are chasing some kind of country lifestyle, without really understanding that country life involves hard work and hard decisions.

Bunny Payne ● 2159d

So using your argument Bunny, it shouldn't be okay for people to have kids they can't afford?  Well, I'm all for that!  But it won't happen because the welfare system will support them and actually encourages people to breed.  Children are a luxury as far as I am concerned, not a human right!For a lot of people, especially the elderly, having a pet provides vital companionship and is very beneficial for their mental health. If they're living on a basic state pension and need affordable health care for said pets what is your objection to that?

Sue Hammond ● 2159d

I absolutely cannot believe what I'm reading.  Help required for pet owners who can't afford to keep their pets!!!  I have no words (except rude ones).  Having a pet is a luxury as far as I'm concerned and not a human right, has the world gone mad!!!  People are starving, children are being abused but having a dog or cat is OK if you can't afford it???

Bunny Payne ● 2159d

Could someone help me with this please, in case I am wrong?  Looking at the Blue Cross website, they provide ?free? treatment/care for pets of people who can’t afford vet fees whilst the RSPCA provides low cost care, ie they expect owners to pay something towards the cost?

Martine Guy ● 2159d

Me too. I also agree with you that the RSPCA should be there for people who can not afford veterinary bills which can be exorbitant. It can not be right that only well off people should have pets. I knew somebody who married a vet because that was the only way she could afford the bills!

Jane Carter ● 2159d

I seem to have overlooked the PDSA who have animal hospitals in Croydon, Bow and Hendon.

Martine Guy ● 2159d

Alan, the Eileen Lecky remains a health clinic (the nursery closed a while ago), so presumably it belongs to the Health Authority or the Council. The animal hospital is owned by the RSPCA, so it is private land.  

Martine Guy ● 2159d

I wonder if any of the schools will be able to take on the site.  Who is in the Eileen Lecky clinic site now?

Alan Sherman ● 2159d

Yay!! 😸

Sue Hammond ● 2159d

@Sue 12.20Agree with you. Have signed petition.

Lucille Grant ● 2159d

I agree Jonathan.

Sue Hammond ● 2159d

They still need to find the money from somewhere. If they are spending £29mn pa on fundraising that seems indicative of wider problems.

Jonathan Callaway ● 2159d

Somehow I can't see it going, it's the RSPCA flagship.  I hope my gut feeling proves to be correct.

Sue Hammond ● 2159d

Well we will see what happens to the site.  The RSPCA is a private organisation and they will be seeking the highest price, if they sell it.  I think I read they are looking for another animal organisation to take over the premises, who knows?  

Martine Guy ● 2159d

Your opinion is valid Martine.  In my opinion there are too many fat cats at the top of the RSPCA. These desk dwellers are financially draining the charity, much like the multi-layer NHS managers who are vastly overpaid too.If the hospital does eventually go I hope the site is purchased by a housing association and social housing is built on the site.  There are too many unaffordable flats in Putney and it's time for balance.

Sue Hammond ● 2159d

Sue, I think that is something you should take up with the RSPCA.  I have always thought that when the RSPCA was used for the animal hospital programme and there was so much goodwill towards it, they should have taken the opportunity to fund raise for new animal hospitals. I think South East London isn’t well served, nor West London, by that I mean out by Heathrow. You mention back in the day, and in my opinion that’s part of the problem, the RSPCA missed chances to move on, like the Blue Cross and Battersea.  Anyway that’s my opinion. 

Martine Guy ● 2159d

I don't use the hospital Martine because I've always had my pets insured and used 'normal' vets, apart from one occasion over 30 years ago when I was extremely grateful for this hospital being there and for saving my cat's life.  Back in the day vets didn't generally provide locum cover over the weekend and my 18 year old cat collapsed late one Saturday night, and I thought she was going to die.  I telephoned this hospital and to my enormous relief they took my details, including my car registration, and said I could take her in straight away, which I did.  She'd had a stroke, the vet medicated her and told me to take her back on Sunday for them to check how she was doing.  Obviously I didn't expect or want free treatment so I gave a donation which I thought would cover it. I will always be grateful for the care they gave to my cat and for the kindness they showed to me.  My beautiful girl lived a good life for another three years.I feel very strongly that this hospital should remain and their services be available for anybody who is not in the fortunate position to be able to pay private veterinary fees or take out insurance.

Sue Hammond ● 2159d

Evidently the Blue Cross also have a small animal hospital in Hammersmith.  You have to register and be seen by appointment.  Out of hours, they say go to Victoria.

Martine Guy ● 2159d

I must admit I signed the petition on the basis that there's a need for such a facility in the Putney are although I'm slightly skeptical about how effective such petitions are and, as I noted, funding is obviously an issue for retaining this facility. However, petitions are part of our tradition of government and if there's a sufficient strength of feeling perhaps the RSPCA will look at alternate options. I'll be honest that for various reasons the RSPCA isn't a charity I support financially. Michael W suggests setting up a charity to fund vets foot the poor (my paraphrasing) but isn't that part of what the RSPCA is supposed to be?!!! And it's also noted that their fund rasising isn't as effective as some. Perhaps if nonething else this petition might lead to a shake up in the operations and management of the RSPCA?

Michael Ixer ● 2159d

Sue, who knows what might happen next regards the site, I am not going to enter into speculation about it.
Lets get the facts straight on this, there is another animal hospital nearby and it is just outside Wimbledon town centre, you can get to it on the bus from Putney.  I understand The RSPCA chose Putney rather than the Harmsworth because they thought North London was not as well served for animal care as south London.  The Harmsworth is in Holloway.

Martine Guy ● 2159d

Hi Martine.  I would not have expected you to sign it.  If the hospital closes and the site is sold, most probably to developers, the chances are they will cram as many apartments as possible on the plot.  I know you have complained in the past about increased traffic and lack of parking space caused by people visiting the hospital, but that is just transient parking during clinic opening times.  If you get 30 posh flats built on that site you could potentially get 30 extra cars parking in the road as well.  Be careful what you wish for.

Sue Hammond ● 2159d

There is another animal hospital nearby and that is the Blue Cross in Merton, which is near the very large Sainsburys.  The only postcode that is noticeably missing from the areas it serves is SW15, presumably because there is no need whilst there is an animal hospital in Putney.  Out of hours their website says go to their animal hospital in Victoria. Up until a few years ago, Battersea Dogs Home took their sick animals to Putney, but now they have their own veterinary service/clinic on site for this.
I read the RSPCA are planning to make about one fifth of all their staff redundant and there has been a vote for strike action. I will not be signing Fleur Anderson’s petition.

Martine Guy ● 2159d

Hi Paul, here is an extract from the accounts. Here one can see they spent £29.3m to raise £41.2m, that seems like very poor value for money, especially compared to MSFMSF £1 raises £7.57,  rspca £1 raises £1.41"Fundraising costs for 2018 are £29.3m (2017: £23.5m). Income from fundraising, excluding legacies, decreased by £0.7m in 2018 to £41.2m (2017: £41.9m). This reflects new regulatory constraints and increasing costs of compliance."

Adam Tripp ● 2159d

My impression of the service the RSPCA Hospital provides isn't so much for injured wildlife but for those whom can't afford to pay Vet bills to have their animals seen by a Vet, whereas, without this facility there will be a lot of sick animals without access to veterinary assistance.As with all charities they will have to invest in fundraising to raise more funds, obviously the amount invested has to in proportion to the funds raised.See Médecins Sans Frontières for low administration costs just 2% on UK offices and 13% on fundraising and quote their own figures (2016) for every £1 spent on fundraising they receive £7.57 back. I am a long term supporter of their good works.

Paul Benton ● 2159d

Well I heard the Head Office of the RSPCA has plush everything. Perhaps it shouldn't be wasted at the Head Office and  more going to the RSPCA. Putney has had a lot of updating over the years, seems an awful shame to close Putney down.

Barbara Stevens ● 2159d

the last annual accounts make interesting reading, as of 31.12.18 the rspca had £99.7m in stock market investments (shares, bonds and unit trusts), it also spent £29m on fund raising in 2018, £29'000'000 on fund raising in one year!I wonder how much it costs to run Putney's rspca hospital?

Adam Tripp ● 2159d

I have to agree, I used to think the RSPCA was a lovely dream of saving little birds and hedgehogs and I'm sure they still do.  Also rescuing abandoned dogs and cats who may also have been abused.But, now I know it's only one of two RSPCA hospitals in London and surrounding counties, I see things differently.  Lots of tattoed young men turning up with their 'attack' dogs, stupid young men who can't either train their dogs or afford them.  Can't see why people who can't afford animals should be allowed to keep them.  They come to the RSPA because they can't afford to look after their dogs.Any animals who's owners can't look after them properly, well they have to be put down....

Bunny Payne ● 2159d

I don't see how this petition helps or what is to do with Fleur Anderson and the Labour Party. The RSPCA is an independent charity which has to choose what it does with its money - it's not a public body. Maybe people should think about this when they support charities.Why is this the only such facility? If you have an injured sparrow in Epping, what are you supposed to do? Maybe this example will provide a clue.If you have a sick animal, take it to a vet. Start a charity to pay vets' bills for random animals if you like. But surely there are more deserving causes.

Michael Winstanley ● 2160d

I am fully behind the sentiment but I won’t be signing the petition. The RSPCA is a charity with a huge funding deficit. They wouldn’t reduce one of their very core services unless they absolutely had to. If the petition is successful will the petitioners be helping them with their funding problem too?  Their deficit is over £20 million this year, all thanks to Covid of course.  Could they get some of the government money recently promised to the charity sector?  Quite probably. Will they get anything like enough?  Quite probably not.

Jonathan Callaway ● 2160d

Perhaps the poor bird was close to death Freddie.  The stress caused by human intervention often kills birds so maybe they thought it was kinder to let it die naturally without heaping more trauma onto the poor thing.

Sue Hammond ● 2160d

Took an abandoned baby Robin there once. They didn’t want to know. Said something to the effect of nature will take its natural course. So basically a death sentence for the bird.

Freddie Francis ● 2160d

Signed it too. Took a poorly hedgehog there last year and they were fantastic.

Carl Broadley ● 2160d

Signed yesterday, it was doing the rounds on Facebook. Not too sure where they're going to get the funding from though. 

Michael Ixer ● 2160d

Me too.  Such a necessary place

Barbara Shillabeer ● 2160d

I've signed.

Barbara Stevens ● 2160d