GSPCA staff dogged by false and malicious calls
Staff at the GSPCA are being stretched by having to deal with false or even malicious calls which they believe are sparked by domestic and neighbourly disputes.
GSPCA manager Steve Byrne said the charity was getting these call-outs on a weekly basis, which were a drain on its resources.
‘Unfortunately we are getting an increasing number of calls from people trying to cause trouble for those they may not have a good relationship with,’ he said.
‘Fifteen years ago it was unusual to get a call of this type, but just like the police, we are increasingly seeing social and mental health issues in our work.’
Mr Byrne said it was important to look into all calls.
‘Our primary role is animal welfare and we will respond to any call we receive, but it does waste resources, and takes staff away from other areas,’ he said.
‘These can be difficult to deal with, but we try to be as professional as possible.’
He said that often these calls came from neighbours, with sometimes each reporting the other for some perceived offence.
‘99% of these require no action whatsoever, beyond perhaps passing on a little advice about how animals are kept,’ he said.
‘We will sometimes contact other States departments with concerns.
'It is such a complex world and there is a lot of our work going on behind the scenes here, such as caring for animals where someone is fleeing domestic violence, or caring for the pets of the sick and elderly.’
Mr Byrne asked members of the public to think carefully about whether a call was truly about animal welfare before contacting the centre.
‘Before calling we would ask islanders to ask themselves if a dispute can be solved amicably,’ he said.
‘It is a very complicated balance. We don’t want to put off anyone from calling about animal welfare issues, but like all charities we are stretched and only have finite resources.’
