I joined an RSPCA inspector on calls in the constituency to see first-hand the work the charity undertakes to protect animals.
I met with inspector Adam Bailey from RSPCA’s 18-strong West Midlands team on Friday to shadow him as he made two visits.
The first house call was about an underweight cat. Adam spoke to the household but unfortunately, they would not let him in to see the cat.
The next call-out was to see a horse that an anonymous caller reported as being abandoned in a field. This one turned out to be a malicious caller, as there were multiple horses in the field and they were healthy.
Adam said the RSPCA does receive malicious calls. They all have to be investigated but often do not result in anything and are a waste of inspectors' time.
Unlike the police, the charity does not have special powers to gather evidence but it keeps case files for each animal and gathers photos, witness statements and other expert advice that could be used in court.
In the West Midlands, the RSPCA has a backlog of cases it is working through now. The inspector told me he goes out on 10-15 house calls a day.
The RSPCA is a national institution and it is important I was shown first-hand experience of the work it does to protect animals in Stourbridge.
It is a tough job and it requires great diplomacy and people skills and I was very impressed with how Adam spoke to people he called on. He stayed calm and professional despite not being able to get access to the cat on this occasion.
The RSPCA has no legal powers to go into a home if the owner doesn’t allow access, but its work is important and it saves animals all over the UK from cruelty and ill treatment every year. It will also consider a prosecution in some cases too.
Thank you to Adam for allowing me to shadow him and I look forward to meeting up with him again.
