For the MWD it is some of the big names in show that are THE worst offenders (sadly).

I don't doubt that's the case for a number of breeds, but I'd suggest they are in the minority. Unfortunately, when you get people who are passionate about something, they can lose sight of the right aims, and definitely some involved with showing are in it to produce the perfect specimen at any cost. I aim to show my flatcoat and in the future, hopefully a Labrador pup I've bred, having put a lot of time and thought into the direction I want to go with my dogs and any breeding I undertake, I hope I never lose sight of what's important, the dogs.

I think it's a great shame that people lose their aims, or that they become blurred somehow and they can't see what's right under their nose. But the RSPCA commenting on the health of dogs, when they are one of the charities that's lost their way the most, seems to be a little bit ironic to me.

Why do you feel the RSPCA have 'lost their way' the most?

They're supposed to be a rescue organisation, yet much of their money is spent on posh offices, taking people to court over wills, and advertising.

And of course all the rescue centres bearing their name are self funded and run however that particular manager sees fit (which isn't always a good thing).

I sort of agree with you on the office front, but wills are part and parcel of their fund raising efforts so I'm not sure on that one. Advertising is another damned if they do, damned if they don't. It brings in revenue and raises the profile of both the organisation and animal welfare so is a necessary part of their activities (IMHO)

They've spent thousands upon thousands of pounds previously, taking family members to court to contest wills.

Perhaps I should have said misadvertising, the RSPCA famously campaigned against fox hunting, with two adverts that were completely made up, and were successfully contested ending up in them being fined. So, spend money on adverts and pay fines for making up adverts, is that a good way to spend money that's meant to rescue companion animals, particularly when what they were creating an advert against, has nothing to do with companion animals?

I can understand them contesting wills.

Don't know about the 'fox hunting' advert so, as I don't know the content, I can't really comment.

However, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) isn't all about companion animals, but ALL animals - hence the name. Many would agree with them, me included, that fox hunting is a cruel sport that needed banning, but that's a whole other debate

Well not completely made up were they and there was no fine, the complaints were made by the Countryside Alliance (i am a member) so lets be honest they had a vested interest, the RSPCA claimed that a majority wanted an outright ban but a poll showed only 48% did, the others wanted changes but more self regulatory, please do not try and skew the debate as it gives power to the antis, just let the facts speak for themselves.
Regarding the RSPCA and wills going to court, well the person who made the will obviously wanted the money to go to the RSPCA so that is the way it should be.

No need to be balanced it was about exposing the flaws in a certain part of the dog world, it achieved that and more.