The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) is the world's oldest and largest animal welfare organisation, a perfect organisation for a nation famed for its love of animals. It was founded in 1824 by, amongst others, William Wilberforce, whose efforts also ensured Britain became the first country in the world to ban slavery.
And phone calls to it from members of the public also reveal just what an eccentric lot the British are.
The RSPCA was stunned when a member of the public called their emergency line to say a seagull was looking sad because it was sitting in the rain. And an arachnophobic woman also called the charity to help remove a spider from her bath.
These calls were among more than a MILLION fielded by the RSPCA so far in 2009 - one every 29 seconds.
RSPCA staff stunned after person calls emergency line to say 'seagull looks sad because it's sitting in the rain'
By Daily Mail Reporter
15th December 2009
Daily Mail
RSPCA staff were stunned when a member of the public called their emergency line to say a seagull was looking sad because it was sitting in the rain.
Another caller asked the animal welfare organisation to help get a spider out of her sink, while a man wanted them to remove ladybirds climbing up a wall.
The calls were among more than a million fielded by the RSPCA so far in 2009 - one every 29 seconds.
A sad seagull
One driver reported a 'slow-moving tortoise' on the hard shoulder of a motorway, only for Highways Agency officials to find a deflated football.
A 'bat' hanging from a bedroom ceiling was actually a patch of damp, while one woman called the emergency number to ask them to reserve a chair she saw in their charity shop window.
Another woman complained that the farm next door smelt, and a man wanted advice on why his cat did not purr.
A spokesman said: 'Although we have a little laugh at these stories, the RSPCA would like to remind everyone that the 24-hour advice line is for reporting serious cases or emergencies concerning animal welfare.'
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is the world's oldest animal welfare organisation, being founded in 1824. It's also the world's largest. It was originally known as the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) before the "Royal" was added in 1840 after being granted royal status by Queen Victoria. It was founded by a group of 22 reformers led by Richard Martin MP, William Wilberforce (the man who was also famous for abolishing slavery in the British Empire) and the Reverend Arthur Broome. The group assembled at the "Old Slaughters" Coffee House in London. In its first year of its existence it brought 63 offenders to court. In the 1830s, it introduced its Inspectors, which it is still famous for today, to make sure animals throughout the country are well treated. By 1841 there were five Inspectors, each paid a guinea a week, based in London, who travelled to various parts of the country bringing suspected offenders before the Courts. In 1835, the RSPCA helped bring forth the Cruelty to Animals Act which banned, amongst other things, cockfighting and bear-baiting, both "sports" which were very popular.
dailymail.co.uk
And phone calls to it from members of the public also reveal just what an eccentric lot the British are.
The RSPCA was stunned when a member of the public called their emergency line to say a seagull was looking sad because it was sitting in the rain. And an arachnophobic woman also called the charity to help remove a spider from her bath.
These calls were among more than a MILLION fielded by the RSPCA so far in 2009 - one every 29 seconds.
RSPCA staff stunned after person calls emergency line to say 'seagull looks sad because it's sitting in the rain'
By Daily Mail Reporter
15th December 2009
Daily Mail
RSPCA staff were stunned when a member of the public called their emergency line to say a seagull was looking sad because it was sitting in the rain.
Another caller asked the animal welfare organisation to help get a spider out of her sink, while a man wanted them to remove ladybirds climbing up a wall.
The calls were among more than a million fielded by the RSPCA so far in 2009 - one every 29 seconds.
A sad seagull
One driver reported a 'slow-moving tortoise' on the hard shoulder of a motorway, only for Highways Agency officials to find a deflated football.
A 'bat' hanging from a bedroom ceiling was actually a patch of damp, while one woman called the emergency number to ask them to reserve a chair she saw in their charity shop window.
Another woman complained that the farm next door smelt, and a man wanted advice on why his cat did not purr.
A spokesman said: 'Although we have a little laugh at these stories, the RSPCA would like to remind everyone that the 24-hour advice line is for reporting serious cases or emergencies concerning animal welfare.'
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is the world's oldest animal welfare organisation, being founded in 1824. It's also the world's largest. It was originally known as the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) before the "Royal" was added in 1840 after being granted royal status by Queen Victoria. It was founded by a group of 22 reformers led by Richard Martin MP, William Wilberforce (the man who was also famous for abolishing slavery in the British Empire) and the Reverend Arthur Broome. The group assembled at the "Old Slaughters" Coffee House in London. In its first year of its existence it brought 63 offenders to court. In the 1830s, it introduced its Inspectors, which it is still famous for today, to make sure animals throughout the country are well treated. By 1841 there were five Inspectors, each paid a guinea a week, based in London, who travelled to various parts of the country bringing suspected offenders before the Courts. In 1835, the RSPCA helped bring forth the Cruelty to Animals Act which banned, amongst other things, cockfighting and bear-baiting, both "sports" which were very popular.
dailymail.co.uk
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