A day in the life of an RSPCA worker

Lancashire Telegraph reporter Ciaran Duggan spent ‘a day in the life of an RSPCA worker’ to find out what happens to these unwanted pets.

RSPCA Lancashire East Branch is one of over 170 independent self-funding charities within the RSPCA network, and has a rehoming centre at Altham, near Accrington.

Hundreds of abandoned animals in East Lancashire and West Yorkshire are found and cared for each year at Altham’s Animal Rescue Centre, near Holker House Farm, on Enfield Road.

When I entered the 45-year-old site I was surprised at how small-scale the centre’s operation was. It included just just three small cabins, a reception area, a stable and an outdoor play area.

Upon my arrival I was greeted by Gail Platt, an RSPCA animal welfare officer, who I spent the day with during my visit.

Gail, who has worked at the centre for over 10 years, is just one of 14 people who work at the animal rescue centre.

The team work together to find abandoned animals across the whole of East Lancashire and West Yorkshire.

After arriving at the Enfield Road centre I was given a tour of the place and was shocked to see the range of animals the officers cared for.

The employees were working tirelessly to care for abandoned and unwanted dogs, cats, rabbits, ferrets and horses, to name but a few.

I was guided to the reception area where I caught sight of a white playful Pomeranian resting behind the reception desk.

Mildred, who had been taken in by the RSPCA last September, was the victim of an ex-cruelty case but was due to be given a home in the next couple of weeks.

The sound of a cat’s purring hinted at where I would be taken to next, where I met a lively kitten called Porsche.

The young cat had been rescued by the RSPCA after she was found injured from being stuck in a car engine.

Porsche struggles to walk on one leg but the weeks’ old cat didn’t show it as she was full of energy and never wanted to stand still - even when I was posing with her for a photograph.

It was then time to get my walking boots on as the officer and I walked outside with one of the centre’s unwanted dogs on a lead.

Max, a Staffordshire bull terrier, was animated and I struggled to get him under control holding the lead. The owner could no longer keep the dog because of reasons of violence and I found out he was a victim of domestic abuse.

It showed that it takes a lot of training to control a pet and it was clear the previous owners had neglected to provide this.

I then travelled to the stables, outside the centre, where I fed the horse, Supreme Fortune, with an apple.

Supreme Fortune was born in Ireland and came to England when he was four. He went on to win lots a number of races, including Aintree and Haydock.

When Supreme turned nine he was injured and would never race again. Fortune would have it that the RSPCA rescued the veteran racer before he would be put down.

After feeding Supreme Fortune I was shown around the rabbits den where five rabbits perked up, sensing opportunities to be fed.

Zipie, a young male rabbit, had only just been neutered and was looking for love. While I was never going to be his love match he let me cuddle him in my arms at least.

The tour of the place had come to a close and I was eager to found out how many of these pets would be rehomed over the Christmas period.

Thirty-seven-year-old animal officer Gail, from Chorley, revealed to me that pets can be bought as gifts at Christmas time but it doesn’t mean they are well looked after.

She said: “You get more abandoned animals in the Christmas period than any other time.

“The animal centre is often reluctant to rehome animals during this time because a lot of people think about getting a cute puppy or kitten for Christmas but not everyone understands the responsibilities of looking after a pet even after people pay thousands of pounds for them.

“People don’t understand how time-consuming it is to look after a pet particularly if you don’t put in the proper training.”

For the final part of my visit I was sent out out on a mission with officer Platt to recover a stray pig who had found himself lost in a residential area in Great Harwood.

While talking with Gail on the journey I found out she has had to deal with all sorts of cases in the past 12 years, including reptiles, stray snakes and stowaway venomous spiders, and now stray pigs.

Sadly, for me at least, we were not needed as the neighbour told us the pig had been returned to his owner.

Notwithstanding, it did inform me that a day in the life of an RSPCA officer isn’t easy and can be ruff.