RSPCA Block Fen Animal Centre, Cambridgeshire

Initial visits to RSPCA Block Fen were positive. It is clean and bright and the animals seem well cared for. It's easy to see all the cats and dogs, and the staff seemed warm and friendly. We spent many weekends visiting and the whole family enjoyed meeting all the animals.

After we decidied to rehome a pet we discovered that there was a very stringent check for all the animals, including a home visit during which more forms needed to be completed. If you have children under 11 it's unlikely you will get a dog! So despite our hopes we chose a cat.

The rehoming costs are expensive compared to other shelters and the interest of staff switches off the moment they have your cash. We adopted a cat, which we were told had come from a loving family who hadn't been able to look after him, but were assured that he was fine with children. He disappeared after we'd had him a few months - so trying to track him we wondered if he'd tried to get back to the shelter or his old home. We called for advice and were treated in an extremely off hand way. We were told at this point that he'd actully been a stray and they didn't know his history!! Fortunately after about 4 weeks he returned to us - skinny but alive! The RSPCA didn't care less. After all the hoohaa it too to get him - we felt at that point that the animals are seen only as an inconvenience and a way to make money. He has also proved to quite aloof and not good with the children at all, but he's now part of our family. Noone showed any interest or offered any practical support, in fact we were made to feel like we were being a nuisance - very different from the pre-sale attitude - we care, any problems contact us .. ha ha ha!!

I have always supported the RSPCA since I was a young child - and now I feel really let down. Would I consider resuing another animal - yes I would - but probably not from the RSPCA!!