RSPCA move upsets

Marjory Kent, who helped establish the society's Bendigo East animal shelter in the early 1980s, is devastated at the decision taken to remove the local committee's authority over the shelter.

Mrs Kent is also distressed that a cattery the Bendigo committee had planned to build may not go ahead.

Another former RSPCA volunteer, Basil Miller, who died several years ago, left $150,000 to the society in his will, but only on the provision the money would help build a cattery in Bendigo.

Mrs Kent said she knew of several others who were also removing the RSPCA from the list of benefactors in their wills.

"I had it all arranged, and I know there are several others who say they are going to withdraw their monetary support," she said.

"What are we going to do?"

Mrs Kent has twice been given major awards for her work with the society.

In 1990 she was awarded the Order of Australia medal, and in 2003 received the Federal Medal for her volunteer work.

The RSPCA has taken control of its regional Victorian branches, saying it needs to ensure all shelters comply with state government regulations and provide a consistent quality of service.

The society criticised the Bendigo committee for not keeping its shelter up to standard, and also said a recent audit of the Bendigo facility found several problems.

Mrs Kent felt a lack of respect was being shown to the RSPCA's older members and volunteers.

"It's out with the old, and in with the young," she said.

"They are putting us aside, so we are not really able to think."

Mrs Kent, who is 90 next year, said in a letter to The Advertiser she was appalled and disgusted at plans to have the shelter's boarding kennels closed during Christmas - a decision taken by the RSPCA's Melbourne office.