Dear all, my name is Vanessa and here is my story of the injustice and disregard that I have experienced from an organisation that is supposed to advance the welfare of animals.

On Tuesday 9th of May, I went to be with my 20 year old dog shortly before she was euthanised. I picked up her frozen body on Friday morning. I was accused of maltreatment of my animal because I refused to have her euthanised. You simply don’t get to live above 20 (140 years human years) if you were not loved and cared for.

Now, I am facing charges and accusations, and here is what happened

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In late February, I wanted my dog treated as she had had a heat stroke episode. She had been vomiting and had diahrea, lost hair and wasn't eating for two days, but with scringing her water and chicken soup, she came good and was eating normally on the third day, on the fourth day she was eating and drinking well, walking around and quite lucid, but abit weak.

Apart from being concerned about why the heat reaction happened, it is illegal not treat your animal if they have an illness, so I was eager to get her looked at. I took my dog in to the RSPCA and asked to have her blood analysed and to apply for their low income program where they deduct payments from one's Centrepay account. They agreed and they did her bloodwork. Upon learning of my dog's advanced age, even before any diagnosis was made, they proposed to have her euthanised! Why would I? She had been happily running around the backyard a day before the heat stroke, being her usual self and totally overjoyed!

The vet called me later and said that she had Level 2 Renal failure and possibly cancer. I wasn’t phased as I know of successful treatments for renal failure and the cancer was not defined. The vet then in thinly veiled language had again pressed for euthanasia.

I responded that euthanasia was not an option as she had been her jolly self just prior to the heat stroke.

She said I would need to pay $650 for the re-hydration, so I made a tentative appointment for the next day and applied for a loan due to my low income and just starting a new job. Since my strong objection to having my "lovely girl" euthanised, there was a very noticeable change of tone in the staff from the RSPCA, one which was annoyed, and blatantly aggressive. I felt humiliated and demeaned. 

 I tried to re-schedule my appointment as I was waiting for loan approval, but I got a call back after cancelling it, promising a repayment plan, so we returned to the RSPCA, I was expecting to have my old dog taken off to be re-hydrated, instead, I was taken into a consulting room and once again pressured to agree to have my dog euthanised.

This time, they stressed how euthanasia was necessary for my dog for her “future well-being”, because she was old and had a few issues. (This is their world view, not mine.) I said I was prepared to treat her over time and had just started work, so I was confident I would be able to do this.

Next, my other dog that I requested have blood analysis done, was seen and I was told “a physical” would do. (This was sheer incompetence or not wanting to help him, because of the cost.) I was given probiotics and told he had a gastric problem.

When I was having a conversation with the vet pressing for euthanasia, an Inspector, that I was familiar with, arrived and listened to our conversation. When I disagreed with euthanizing my dog, she put a form in front of me, already prepared and asked me to sign it.  

I realized this was the wrong place to be, so I tried to leave, one dog under one arm, the other dog on a leash and my bag over my shoulder, on the other arm. I am quite fit, but was unable to open the door. The Inspector blocked our way and locked the door and continued to bully me, warning me I could be charged with assault.!!!

I’m still traumatised by this whole incident. I felt bullied and it was a scary experience. 

Unfortunately, my little dog jumped out of my arms after the scuffle and was picked up by the Inspector and taken away. I was in shock! I called my neighbour, and he came to pick me up. He offered to pay the $650 that they were asking, but the Inspector refused.

With a lot of argument from my neighbour outside the surgery, where he called them “fascists,” we left. I was heartbroken.
I gave my other dog the medication and the next day his condition worsened, and he was lame. I had been asked to return in 7 days for a follow up but given the trauma of my dog being seized and the totally inadequate diagnosis, I didn't go back. Would you?

17 days later my partner rang me at my new job, saying that our house was being raided by the RSPCA. The warrant said that I hadn’t returned with a sick dog and that they suspected that there were other sick animals that needed treatment. (When is it illegal to not return for a follow up appointment? They could have called me.) I contacted the Officer from the local council, I had been working with (to rehome abandoned cats) and told her of this, she immediately rushed to my house and later called me and said that it was indeed, “a sting” and she felt "totally responsible."

Actually, I realized later, my dog was the “sacrificial lamb” for this "sting."

Fast forward, on the 27th March I went into a meeting after all my animals had been seized. I enquired about my dog they had seized, and I was told she was alive! (I had been grieving for 2 weeks. This is such cruel psychological punishment!) They couldn’t destroy her under the law…but that was their intention, no doubt. They didn't tell me, when I still technically owned her. (So cruel and manipulative, abuse of power.)

Taking my dog meant she (an old dog) was out of her environment and wouldn’t feel secure. Would not be getting her walks, cuddles, and the foods she liked.

She was given too high dosages of pain killer (100g Gabapentin for a 6.7kg dog), not exercised and put on a totally crap diet.
She is a very smart dog, feisty and gives you her opinion.
When the dosage of the mind-numbing pain killer was reduced, she certainly told them what she thought. She was not happy – she was trashing her cage and pooing on her blanket, not responding to them.

The problem with conventional veterinary science, they don’t believe that the body can heal and so block this with pain killers/drugs, no exercise or real food and of course decline happens quickly.

The reason all my animals are all so long lived is because I have followed a holistic, natural approach in their care, loved them and regularly exercised them.

My lovely old girl came back to me mostly “white” when she went in an “amber gold.”

I am so sad that her last two months were so awful and that I was powerless to prevent this.
We need to stop these insensitive, draconian decisions that the RSPCA make without any background knowledge.
I would warn people against taking them up on their low-income program, because the same thing might happen to you.

Have you been treated badly by the RSPCA with your rights stripped?
Have they insisted on euthanasia because your dog is old?
Have they tricked you and not communicated important things to you, until it’s too late?

Please let me know your story and Sign the petition that challenges their ABUSE OF POWER.

I must go to court soon to answer “assault charges, not taking my dog back to the vet etc!!!) I contacted Legal Aide, and they said that if I pleaded “guilty” they could represent me, but if I pleaded “Not guilty” I would have to find my own legal representation.

I URGENTLY ask for donations to get legal representation, as I have been quoted $25 - $40k, which I don't have. Your help would really be appreciated! Alternatively, you can tell me your story and simply sign this petition and forward it to your friends, we need to spread the story to other animal lovers. It is never okay to coerce someone to have their companion euthanised. 

You can donate here:
https://www.mycause.com.au/p/314137/fight-the-heavy-hand-of-an-animal-charity

I also intend to start a not-for-profit that will provide for the prohibitively expensive animal treatment for low income earners….with your generous support. Thank you for your time reading this and your anticipated support!