I REALISE that the RSPCA is having a hard time at the moment with many pro-hunt MPs wanting to take away the charity’s right to prosecute and many hunts willing to find any loophole in a popular and enforceable law.

However, the RSPCA does not help itself when even ardent supporters of the charity, such as myself, are driven to raise questions in the local media.

In January of this year, a woman was given a suspended prison sentence for breaching a ban on keeping animals. In May, that woman was filmed with a dog.

The police were contacted, but officers stated that it was a matter for the RSPCA.

The RSPCA promised an officer would be in touch and the charity asked if the film could be retained.

Three weeks later, the RSPCA was contacted again, but the inspector was on holiday that week and was back during the first week in June.

No phone call has been received.

Recently, Ryedale District Council dog warden received a letter of congratulations and thanks for helping the RSPCA obtain a conviction and a ban on keeping dogs regarding a defendant.

Which raises the question, what is the point of the RSPCA requesting such bans from the courts, when they show no interest in enforcing such bans?

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