Stranded swan sparks complaints against the RSPCA

AN ANIMAL-lover is lodging a complaint against the RSPCA after the charity refused to come to the rescue of a confused cygnet.

Michaela Fixter, 45, of The Elms, Colwick, watched in horror as the baby swan mistook an icy and busy road for a lake, and refused to move from the highway.

Fearing for the bird's life, Mrs Fixter left her house and together with a group of neighbours began to slow and then redirect traffic.

In desperation she phoned the RSPCA 24-hour animal welfare helpline to ask for someone to attend the scene and safely remove the swan.

But the charity refused, saying despite the bird being a hazard, if it was uninjured and situated on a road, it was a matter for the police.

The group felt they had no other option but to grab the bird, bundle it into a car and drive it to safety.

Mrs Fixter, who keeps two dogs and three cats, said: "I felt really let down by the RSPCA.

"The woman on the phone was so rude and snapped at me to contact the police.

"We have never handled swans before and could easily have hurt it.

"Either that or it would have been run down by a car.

"Faced with this dilemma the RSPCA didn't seem to care.

"I think the RSPCA is far better placed to attend in these cases and they should stop palming off responsibility to the police, who are already overstretched."

A Notts police spokesman said: "The police are not responsible for this sort of incident – this would be for the county council to deal with as they have responsibility for highways."

Notts County Council said it did have responsibility for roads, but added owners had a duty of care for their animals, and they would only attend if the incident required work to the road itself.

Mrs Fixter has now called for clarification on who is responsible.

A spokesman for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said: "The RSPCA received two calls about an uninjured swan in the road in the area of The Elms in Colwick on December 7 and advised the callers to contact the police.

"In the first instance, if the swan is not injured, we advise people to contact the police so that they can make sure the area is safe for road users – as this has to be the priority.

"We may then attend if the police request our assistance."

New Orleans Cancún climate change conference 2010 | COP16 Annuities Waste Alps Reality TV