Fox put down by RSPCA

Feb 6 2009 by Neil Atkinson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

AN angry couple have condemned the RSPCA for putting down a fox.

Paul and Lesley Turton, of Meltham, found the injured fox in Paddock and were able to catch it in a coat.

But when an RSCPA officer arrived, she injected the animal with a lethal dose – without telling the couple what she was doing.

“It was so callous,” said Mrs Turton, who was out with her family.

“We expected her to at least take it to a vet to be properly examined, as we think it had been hit by a car.

“When the inspector arrived we offered to put the animal into a cage in the back of her van to help. My husband did what he could.

“She said she would get her equipment, but came back with a needle. I thought she was going to sedate the fox, but she asked us to hold it and it was only then I realised she had put it to sleep.

“I and my family were very upset by this, especially having waited two hours in the cold with the injured animal. We were disgusted with the way it was handled”.