They aren't qualified they are just shown how to do it and the films I've seen of RSPCA Inspectors doing it shows that they are not competant. The one I saw just put a cat down in the back of the van! He made the decision that the cat was ill and that was it, no vet involved at all.
Becky

Beautiful wee dog , glad she survived though lord knows how...

This is the third time it has happened, sadly the other cases weren't so fortunate, one poor dog was PTS in the freezer another 2 times
Becky

Sorry just to say they are trained, and aren't allowed to euthanise unsupervised until competent and certified. The majority of inspectors would be more than pleased if it didn't fall upon them to have to carryout the awful deed.

In regards to the cat, the inspectors are only doing their jobs and following the RSPCA's polices. The reason they do it there and then is to prevent further suffering, as opposed to transporting the animal terrified in the back on a van and then caged until a vet is available to put him/her to sleep

The RSPCA have screwed up on several occasions, one time recently killing an elderly Cat that had got into the street, saying he was ill and they were stopping further suffering. No vet consulted or anything else! I watched a program on the RSPCA some time ago, where a newish inspector was called to a Deer RTA, sadly the Deer had two broken back legs, so she killed it with a bolt gun. She said how surprised it was that it bled so much!! pardon?? how could you not realise that?

re the puppy in the story. im pleased she has survived and hope she lives a happy life from now on. Death by cardiac injection is nowhere near as safe as an intravenous one, I believe its favoured in the euthanasia of small puppies and kittens though.
Dawn.

Awful Story but so happy that pup made it!

Anne I didn't think RSPCA officers were fully trained vets?

its america, not the UK. the lady that runs many tears rescue in wales (a brit) had a job as an animal control officer in america, where part of her duties were to euthanise.
also, sue sternberg, a famous rescue centre owner from new york, euthanises her dogs herself.

Although the story of the pup doesn't quite add up, the cases where this has actually happened are completely inexcusable, disgraceful mistake

Find out for yourself if you're going to have that attitude.

Anne it was a question not attitude