Scottish SPCA: The RSPCA Won't Save Me

The Scottish SPCA poster shows an emaciated dog, cowed and barely able to stand. The full-caps caption next to her reads: "THE RSPCA WON'T SAVE ME". The poster is part of an unprecedented campaign launched today by the Scottish SPCA calling for the RSPCA to: "admit it can't save a single animal in Scotland." The Scottish charity wants the RSPCA to stop "stealing food from the mouths of Scotland's defenceless animals" and to stop fundraising in Scotland.

Scottish SPCA Chief Executive Stuart Earley said:

"Many people do not know that the RSPCA does not rescue or rehome any animals in Scotland and by advertising here it has been intentionally adding to the confusion to make money.

"The RSPCA is in breach of Institute of Fundraising guidelines it helped draw up which require charities to be explicitly clear about where they work.

After six months, talks between the Scottish SPCA and RSPCA have broken down.

Mr Earley went on:

"This has been increasing the huge pressure on our resources for many years and enough is enough. It's time the RSPCA told the truth."

The charity cites research which it says shows that 70% of the Scottish public believe the RSPCA saves animals in Scotland. High profile RSPCA campaigns in Scotland last year included a membership drive in Scottish supermarkets and adverts on Scottish radio stations.

"The RSPCA seems determined to portray itself as a UK charity, even if it is at the expense of animal welfare in Scotland," said Mr Earley.

The Scottish Society is calling for the RSPCA to be explicitly clear in its advertising that it does not rescue or rehome animals in Scotland. It even suggests the RSPCA rename itself as the 'RSPCA for England and Wales'.

Mr Earley said it is not possible for the two societies to merge because of the differences in law between Scotland and England & Wales. He also pointed out that animal welfare is a devolved issue in Scotland. The Scottish SPCA is in effect a legally recognised defender of animal welfare on behalf of the Scottish Government. This is a status the RSPCA does not have in England and Wales.

Mr Earley:

"The Scottish public have their own animal welfare charity in the Scottish SPCA and it is essential they are aware of this fact."