RSPCA

[Urban Fox Control London 8]

I have no hard evidence though I believe on a recent fox trapping job, an RSPCA Inspector let themselves into a private back garden and may have released 3 foxes awaiting dispatching.

 

All I found was a 'calling card' from the Inspector when I attended at 07.00Hrs on my morning inspection.

 

The trap's had new plastic plates placed the preveious afternoon within the traps were found shredded and licked clean, indicating that foxes had been present.

 

The traps were all closed down.

 

When I called, the Inspector has a 'no comment' attitude, denied entering the property and said she did not know if it was a professional contractor carrying out the pest control.

 

When I said "do you know any member of the public who would approach a professional fox trap containing live foxes and release them?"

 

She said "I can't comment on that".

 

The work was being carried out by myself with the full permission of the Managing Agents.

 

I was inspecting the traps twice a day (07.00Hrs & 16.00Hrs) every day. More that the requirement of every 24Hrs.

 

The traps contained plenty of food which I watered down to increase the moisture content.

 

The Animal Welfare Act 2006 was being observed as were the Code and Conducts stipulated by BASC.

 

Is their a Law in place with regards to tampering with a legally positioned trap being used to control pests?

 

I know about Abandonment & The Animal Welfare Act 2006.

 

Due to the bad publicity foxes are getting at the moment, I feel that the RSPCA are desparately looking for a pest controller to prosecute and use as an example.

 

I always ensure that my work is 100% legal with documentation signed by the client if they are checking the traps.

 

This is the second job I have recently attended where the RSPCA are hanging around...............

 

They are not a Government Agency or Police Force, they are a charity what usually do good work.

 

Watch you backs.

Edited July 6, 2010 by Urban Fox Control London

[TOMO 26,231]

if you can be bothered get in touch with your local press, as you say with the way foxes are being viewed in london at the moment.

[Lab 10,979]

How can he say he wasn't there when you were left a calling card?

I'd try and set the twat up and see if you could get some video evidence of him releasing the foxes. Might take a bit of cunning planning but wouldn't it be worth it?

[toby1066 413]

with all this in the news about urban foxes youd think they would wise up their a pest that needs controlled

[albert64 1,882]

thats the rspca all over mate they'd put a fox before the safety of a child, report the trespass to the police and go to the press it wont look good in the current climate of things and think of the advertising for your bussiness.....bingo....as long as your doing everything by the book you should have nothing to worry about

[nod 285]

thats the rspca all over mate they'd put a fox before the safety of a child, report the trespass to the police and go to the press it wont look good in the current climate of things and think of the advertising for your bussiness.....bingo....as long as your doing everything by the book you should have nothing to worry about

if he put his company name in the paper and people found out who and where he lived, knowing that he controls foxes for a living, they would make short work of his tyres and paint work. even though it is totally legal the way he conducts his business the antis wont see it that way,

[Terryorr 27]

i think it is a disgrace after what we have heard on the news lately about those little girls being mauled that when someone successfully traps these urban parasites someone from the RSPCA has the adaucity to releases them again, God forbid that anyone else is the victim of these now released pests.

[albert64 1,882]

thats the rspca all over mate they'd put a fox before the safety of a child, report the trespass to the police and go to the press it wont look good in the current climate of things and think of the advertising for your bussiness.....bingo....as long as your doing everything by the book you should have nothing to worry about

if he put his company name in the paper and people found out who and where he lived, knowing that he controls foxes for a living, they would make short work of his tyres and paint work. even though it is totally legal the way he conducts his business the antis wont see it that way,

if they wanted to find him they would as he was doing pest control for a client, dont give them idea's there bad enough as it is

[fireman 10,919]

I think a hidden camera might help your case mate .

[moxy 617]

Firstly i would not accept the denial of trespass from the inspector, get back on the phone and demand a plausable explanation as to why he/she trespassed. I am assuming that the calling card was left within the boundry of the property you were working? ie card on trap = trespass.

Your client can only make this complaint. If they have trespassed and deactivated your traps you can make a complaint for tampering with your cages.

 

A complaint on both counts is all it will ever ammount to.

 

Secondly although the inspector left a card and alegedly trespassed somebody must have alerted them to your activitys in the first place. Could a neighbour have deactivated your gear?

 

Without any clear evidence its all hearsay.

 

Personally i would file a complaint and get your log number. Get a sign put on your cages warning of not tampering and if it happens again go covert and get some video evidence. If you were to do this it would make the person caught in the act accountable for their actions. It probably would still not go far in the eyes of the law but if it was the rspca the second time around armed with your first log number you may be able to open a diferent can of worms.

 

You are fighting a losing battle, well we all are who use traps. Ignorance is one of societys biggest downfalls.

 

 

IMHO

[Urban Fox Control London 8]

Thanks for the comments, relly appreciated.

 

My client is making a direct complaint as the whole situation stinks.

 

My treatment was totally ruined and the foxes that were released will now be 'trap-shy' and will never in their life go near a trap again. The treatment only had one more day to run.

 

The traps are professional grade traps and as I said, I don't think a member of the public would approach and try to release foxes from a trap when they would probably of been running up and down and being unprediactable.

 

Someone such as a Pest Controller would know how to approach the traps and release the contents, though they ought to know better.

 

An RSPCA Inspector who has been in the job for a while and used to 'releasing' various species from a variety of traps would have no fear.

 

The calling card was attached to the side gate of the property. This was the only access into the back garden by putting your arm over the gate and sliding a bolt across.

 

My question which still remains un-answered, Is it a criminal / civil offence to tamper with legally placed traps being used for public health issues on private property ?

Edited July 7, 2010 by Urban Fox Control London