CLAIM: The JSPCA doesn’t remove animals from people quickly enough.
We’re a charity, not a law enforcer, so we don’t have the right to remove an animal. The police, along with the States Vet, need to assess whether the Animal Welfare Act has been broken. We always do what we can, but our power is limited.
CLAIM: The JSPCA never rehomes cats and dogs to families with children.
We have rehomed many cats and dogs to homes with children, but they often don’t make it on to our website or Facebook page as we have a waiting list of people with children who we contact first.
CLAIM: The JSPCA only rehomes cats that need outdoor space.
We do like cats to have outdoor space as they are naturally roaming creatures. However, we also rehome many cats with medical / behavioural problems that would not be safe going outside, such as those that need medication at certain times, those with severe allergies or those with FIV or Feline Coronavirus.
MYTH: The JSPCA doesn’t care about dogs being kept outside.
It’s not illegal to keep dogs outside if they have food, water and shelter, but this doesn’t mean we don’t care about them. We can only take action if the Animal Welfare Act is broken.
MYTH: The JSPCA ‘just puts all wildlife to sleep’.
Animals in our care are only euthanised on veterinary advice, or where we are legally obliged to do so. Prolonged periods of time in captivity will negatively affect the welfare of most wildlife and releasing an animal that cannot fend for itself will cause suffering, so the challenge we face on a daily basis is that of making timely decisions as to whether an animal can be successfully rehabilitated and released.
CLAIM: The JSPCA always takes ages to arrive.
We operate a 24/7 animal ambulance service, but there is only one driver at a time. Sometimes when you call the out of hours driver they may be on the road, dealing with a casualty, or across the other side of the Island to where you are, so please be patient and we will get to you as soon as we can. Day and night, our driver has to prioritise journeys.
CLAIM: I’ve called the JSPCA and no one answers.
Our Reception is the hub of the Shelter, and therefore is a very busy place, with people coming to disclaim animals, adopt animals, pets having Vet appointments, members of the public dropping off injured wildlife, and an average of 1,500 calls a month. Sometimes it’s necessary to leave a message and someone will call you back.
CLAIM: The JSPCA go around picking up cats just so they can make money.
Our fundraising team has lots of other ideas for making money that we don’t need to drive around looking for cats! We receive calls from concerned members of the public about a cat they have found. We respond by going to find the cat. If the cat is microchipped and details are up-to-date, the cat will be returned home or a call will be made to the owner with no charge. Charges will only apply if the cat is brought back to the Shelter.
CLAIM: I called the JSPCA about a healthy baby bird I found but they won’t come to collect it.
Many wild animals, such as birds, rabbits and rodents, leave their young for extended periods of time between feeds. This is so that they don’t attract the attention of predators. Just because they’re alone doesn’t mean they’re in danger. Please seek advice before handling them, as each situation is different. It’s always best to watch from afar and check if a parent comes back. If it is clearly abandoned we will assist where we can.
