Interview with an RSPCA Inspector – Part 2 – RSPCA South London

Continuing our interview with RSPCA Inspector Harriet Daliday. Please click on Part One to see the previous post.

Harriet Daliday, RSPCA inspector, with a cat found alone after her owner had sadly passed away a week earlier RSPCA South London — **Harriet with a cat found alone after her owner had sadly passed away a week earlier**

What part of your job gives you the most satisfaction and apart from seeing animals in distress, what do you dislike?

What I enjoy the most are the jobs where you can remove an animal from an environment where it has been leading a miserable life and see it thrive both in our animal centres and in their new homes.

What I dislike is the amount of city driving we have to do!

What notable changes have you seen in the past year or two?

The biggest change I have seen relates to the Animal Welfare Act and the new tougher sentencing for animal cruelty cases rising from 6 months to a potential 5 years prison time for offenders!

I was absolutely thrilled when this came in during April 2021.

Covid has seen the increase of more animals becoming abandoned or the owners not being able to cope with their new pets now they are going back to work.

Sadly the pattern has tended to be that when lockdown was introduced, people went out and purchased dogs and cats or other pets and now find they can’t care for them or pay for them correctly now life is returning to normal.

It is very sad to see. Our centres are packed and we strive every day to fit more and more animals in for their second chance at a forever home.

What should people do if they need to report anything related to animal welfare?

If members of the public spot wildlife in distress or have concerns for the welfare of any pet animals they should contact our emergency number on 0300 1234 999 to report it so it can be attended to or investigated by a field officer.

How else can people help?

RSPCA volunteers and donors are absolutely essential for the smooth running of the field, there can never be enough help, support or donations towards rescuing and caring for these animals.

A lively Shetland Pony that had escaped its enclosure to wander the streets, captured by the RSPCA and brought back to its safe haven RSPCA South London — **A lively Shetland Pony that had escaped its enclosure to wander the streets, captured and brought back to its safe haven**

Do you have any other messages for anyone reading?

It is an honour and privilege to be part of this team in changing animals’ lives.

No one person can do it and every single person committed to making a difference is a cog in part of the bigger machine to make this work.

Every branch member, every private boarding establishment, every inspector, animal centre staff and those donating items or buying from a charity shop is making this happen.

So from me, to every one of you, thank you.

We should be thanking you Harriett. Without the devotion to duty and willingness to go the extra mile (or hundred) of you and your fellow inspectors, many animals in danger or suffering in some way would not receive the assistance they need.

You are an absolute lifeline for countless domestic and wild animals in the UK.

If you are able to help us with animal welfare in our area, please click on this LINK to make a donation.

There will be more from our inspectors in the future so make sure you subscribe to the website to stay in touch.