Dilemma- RSPCA

Hi .ellehcoR, I think you bring up an interesting question.

One of the biggest gripes I hear from people about the RSPCA's Million Paws Walk is that one of the ways they raise money is through a sausage sizzle (i.e. serving dead animals to raise money to protect animals). Sounds a bit ... uh .. wierd to me.

One thing I know for sure is that Animals Australia and Unleashed would never ever do this to raise money! When our events are catered we only ever serve vegan food -- it's kind to animals, and serves as an example to everyone how filling and delicious cruelty-free food can be.

Whenever I see a sausage sizzle I make a point of approaching them and asking for a vegetarian sausage on my hot dog (whether or not I know they have them!). If they have veggie dogs, them I'm delighted, but sadly most of the time they've either run out (a sign of popularity!), or it's something they hadn't thought of. We need more people ask for veggie dogs at events like this, so that there's more likely to be vegetarian options available. And that will get more people thinking -- particularly at events that are supposed to be helping animals!

So maybe you should go and ask...?

Thanks for the suggestion. I was asking for opinions because I thought it would be an opportunity for our dog to socialise.

Do you reckon there'd be anyway of contacting a member of the RSPCA and explaining our opinion on this matter and how its sort of.. well hypercritical?, and suggesting an alternative method in fun raising?
I'm pretty sure if we had enough people to raise this issue with the RSPCA and let them know how many people who are backing them are in fact vegetarian, they'd be willing to reassess the situation. Does anyone have any suggestions on how we could do this?
perhaps we could do this as an action team alert?
I think it'd really get through to an organisation who are there for the protection of animals and we could really make a difference!

I guess from what i've read, the rspca has a very complex situation in regards to other organisations.
I think its because they are always in the public, who loves them because theyre not too radical. They also receive 8% government funding and probably dont want to "step too far" on certain issues as to upset this.

They've certainly saved many lives, but i guess there are some hyppocritical situations. It doesnt take much research to find that there have been double-standards in their history

I am doing a Veterinary Technology course in this at the minute and we learn about Animal Welfare (different to animal rights).

The RSPCA is all about Animal welfare, so as long as the cows etc that were killed for those sausages were raised and slaughtered in a way the complies to the Australian Animal Welfare standards for beef cattle then they would have no problem with it.

The RSPCA is not about liberating ALL animals and animal rights, they are only really about ANIMAL WELFARE. The unnecessary abuse of the animals etc.

So that is why they can have sausages at the BBQ events.

It is a little silly I think but that is how they are and at least they are doing something for the animals. And it is a little odd to see all the 'animal lovers' out and about chomping on Bessy the cow while cuddling Towser the dog.

good point i spose (:
i still think thats a pretty shitty way of funraising but!
nawww towsers a cute name

yeah there is a mass difference between animal rights and animal welfare.

Yes, a huge difference between rights and welfare.

Welfare allows 'codes of practice' ... pieces of legislation which give people the right to treat animals revoltingly for human profit. Those codes of practice are so lame, you could drive a Mac truck through them. That is why you rarely see a farmer being prosecuted for cruelty. In my book, it's cruel to cut off horns, beaks, flesh, tails and teeth without anasthetic. I've seen horns cut off, it's disgusting! Blood spurting everywhere, the poor cow thrashing about  

If anyone but the testicles off a dog without anasthetic, or hot iron branded a cat on the face, they would be prosecuted. Because there are no 'codes of practice' for dogs ... so they are covered by the 'Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act'. The codes cover farm animals eg. pigs, cattle, sheep and even rodeo animals (so people can thrash animals for entertainment and not be prosecuted!) It's wrong hey!

That's why I believe in rights, not welfare. Why does a dog or cat (or human) have more rights than a pig? It shouldn't. As humans, we are smart enough to know that's wrong. But unfortunately most humans are too selfish and just don't want to know about it because they like their beef and bacon burgers.