ellz Posted September 7, 2010 Share Posted September 7, 2010 http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2010/...mania-news.html RSPCA board row deepens HELEN KEMPTON | September 07, 2010 08.49am INFIGHTING continues to plague RSPCA Tasmania with another former board member being ousted for what she says is her criticism of how the animal welfare organisation is run and its lack of "teeth" in the courts. Animal advocate Suzanne Cass has been told her membership of the RSPCA is "being reviewed" because her recent media criticism had "negatively impacted on the society's ability to meet its objectives". "I am still in the dark with regard to these obscure allegations," Ms Cass said yesterday. As part of her criticism of RSPCA Tasmania's legal performance, Ms Cass released national figures which showed that while the number of complaints to the state branch had risen significantly since 2005-2006, the number of prosecutions had dropped by more than a third. Ms Cass said the enforcement of animal cruelty legislation should be a core RSPCA objective and the reason the society received government and community support. New acting RSPCA Tasmania chief executive Michael Linke has already raised concerns about "radical outside agitators" trying to destabilise the Tasmanian branch. Several hours after Ms Cass put out a media alert about her ousting, Mr Linke released positive adoption and euthanasia data which, he said, showed the society was moving in a new direction. Ms Cass was elected as part of a new RSPCA board in September last year as internal conflict resulted in the removal of the society's CEO and then its president. Ms Cass and State Government whistleblower Nigel Burch promised to shake up the society. However, both have left after less than a year of service. Ms Cass is the third board member to have her membership reviewed after raising concerns in the public sphere. Earlier in 2009, John Bates was told he was no longer welcome to volunteer at the Hobart animal shelter and Pat Gillespie's membership was revoked after she publicly criticised how RSPCA Tasmania was being managed. RSPCA Tasmania appointed a new CEO in July this year. But Karen Vanderpols fell seriously ill and was hospitalised just a few weeks into the job. She is still in hospital receiving rehabilitation treatment and it will be at least six months before the RSPCA knows if she can return to the role. RSPCA ACT chief Michael Linke is flying between Tasmania and Canberra in the interim. Mr Linke did not want to comment on the expulsion of Ms Cass yesterday, saying he wanted to concentrate on animal welfare, not human distractions. Mr Linke said RSPCA Tasmania was on the cusp of a new era. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WreckitWhippet Posted September 7, 2010 Share Posted September 7, 2010 Ms Cass said the enforcement of animal cruelty legislation should be a core RSPCA objective and the reason the society received government and community support. Ummm hello, whatever happened to prevention of cruelty and education ? They may well have had more complaints but just maybe some of them were dealt with in a manner that didn;t involve going in with the steel capped boots on. Or maybe I'm just dreaming Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellz Posted September 7, 2010 Author Share Posted September 7, 2010 They may well have had more complaints but just maybe some of them were dealt with in a manner that didn;t involve going in with the steel capped boots on. Or maybe I'm just dreaming Unfortunately, you're just dreaming. I know of a couple of people who have had what can only be termed as "harrassment" aimed at them by the RSPCA over the most trivial things and to be honest, the money spent and time taken could have been better invested on more chronic cases that have been identified and are apparently being ignored. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WreckitWhippet Posted September 7, 2010 Share Posted September 7, 2010 Let them battle it out , expose the RSPCA for what they really are and hopefully the organisation with fall apart from within Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellz Posted September 7, 2010 Author Share Posted September 7, 2010 We can only hope that will happen, but they keep on coming back. :rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maddy Posted September 7, 2010 Share Posted September 7, 2010 One moment.. let me just find my surprised face... (it really needs an Orly owl but.. meh) Perhaps if the RSPCA focused more on actually addressing welfare issues and less time worrying about making more money, they wouldn't have these embarassing little squabbles coming up so often Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poodlefan Posted September 7, 2010 Share Posted September 7, 2010 Michael Linke has done wonders for the RSPCA here in the ACT (or at least has been at the helm while his team has) I hope he can produce the same results down there in Tassie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mita Posted September 7, 2010 Share Posted September 7, 2010 RSPCA ACT chief Michael Linke is flying between Tasmania and Canberra in the interim. Mr Linke did not want to comment on the expulsion of Ms Cass yesterday, saying he wanted to concentrate on animal welfare, not human distractions. Mr Linke said RSPCA Tasmania was on the cusp of a new era. Couldn't be a better person to help put the Tasmanian RSPCA on a true welfare path. I think it also needs good people, with the right attitudes, working as a team behind a CEO. And good leadership can inspire good people to step up to the plate & put in the hard yards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spottychick Posted September 7, 2010 Share Posted September 7, 2010 I bloody hope it's on the "cusp of a new era". But it will take a lot to convince me and many others I suspect. Unimpressed as always. Thank Dog we have the Tassie Dogs Home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WreckitWhippet Posted September 7, 2010 Share Posted September 7, 2010 Michael Linke has done wonders for the RSPCA here in the ACT (or at least has been at the helm while his team has)I hope he can produce the same results down there in Tassie. You mean they don't go around in the ACT wasting $$ and preying on the soft targets ? Maybe he could come and teach those in NSW and VIC how to do their job Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poodlefan Posted September 7, 2010 Share Posted September 7, 2010 (edited) Michael Linke has done wonders for the RSPCA here in the ACT (or at least has been at the helm while his team has)I hope he can produce the same results down there in Tassie. You mean they don't go around in the ACT wasting $$ and preying on the soft targets ? Maybe he could come and teach those in NSW and VIC how to do their job They don't support BSL, they want to see pet shop puppies banned and they even meet with the Canine Control to discuss issues of mutal interest! Edited September 7, 2010 by poodlefan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WreckitWhippet Posted September 7, 2010 Share Posted September 7, 2010 Heavens above Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poodlefan Posted September 7, 2010 Share Posted September 7, 2010 Heavens above They even forward some of their proposed policy to the CC for comment! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maddy Posted September 7, 2010 Share Posted September 7, 2010 Unimpressed as always. Thank Dog we have the Tassie Dogs Home. This. On their far smaller budget, they're doing amazing work. It's a pity the LCC area ended up with the RSPCA operating the area pound, the Dogs' Home of Tas seem to do a far better job of returning or rehoming animals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sebastion 2 Posted September 7, 2010 Share Posted September 7, 2010 Michael Linke has done wonders for the RSPCA here in the ACT (or at least has been at the helm while his team has)I hope he can produce the same results down there in Tassie. You mean they don't go around in the ACT wasting $$ and preying on the soft targets ? Maybe he could come and teach those in NSW and VIC how to do their job They don't support BSL, they want to see pet shop puppies banned and they even meet with the Canine Control to discuss issues of mutal interest! Excuse my ignorance but what is BSL? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Her Majesty Dogmad Posted September 7, 2010 Share Posted September 7, 2010 BSL = Breed Specific Legislation, bans/restricts certain breeds such as pitbulls. In NSW it's illegal to breed or sell pitbulls. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sebastion 2 Posted September 7, 2010 Share Posted September 7, 2010 Thankyou Dog mad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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