RSPCA asked to re-consider association with Seven's Animal Rescue

The RSPCA was yesterday asked to review its agreement with Seven’s reality show RSPCA Animal Rescue.

The move comes after a New South Wales government inquiry decided on a recommendation that the RSPCA re-evaluate their choice to be associated with the Seven show after a raid on a Gunnedah wildlife park.

Back in February this year, a camera crew accompanied by RSPCA inspectors visited the Waterways Wildlife Park and found 8 koalas deemed to be stressed, dehydrated and malnourished.

One of the park’s co-owners has spoken out saying that the issue was made a lot more difficult having cameras there at the time.

“To me it was just setting up the whole scene for a TV program, just to get an expose for the film crew. And really on the day I just couldn’t understand the whole thing,” said Nancy Small.

Meanwhile Steve Coleman from the RSPCA agrees that sometimes the cameras may be a hindrance: “…..the involvement of Animal Rescue in some quarters has been considered salt in the wound. That is a risk that any organisation takes when they involve shows such asAnimal Rescue and it clearly escalated on this occasion.”

The inquiry recommended that the RSPCA makes sure that all camera crews for Animal Rescue gains written consent from any park it may visit for filming of the show.

Source: ABC Online