THE JSCPA says it does not have the resources or funding to remove animals at risk, in the wake of calls from the public to give the charity such powers.
A States petition launched by Michelle Le Mercier calling for the JSPCA to have the ability to remove animals from an environment in which they are being harmed has gathered 891 signatures so far.
Any petition which reaches 1,000 signatures requires a ministerial response.
However, the JSPCA believes this responsibility should fall on the States vet or States police.
A statement from the JSPCA said: ‘The JSPCA is a small, self-funding charity without any government financial support and does not have the resources or funding for a team of investigators and inspectors to carry out this work. We believe this responsibility should sit with the States vet and States police.’
They added: ‘The JSPCA responds to welfare concerns regarding domestic animals and escalates these to the States vet or States police as required.
‘We would welcome dialogue with the incoming States vet and States police to assist with pursuing cases of concern going forward.’
In her petition, Ms Le Mercier wrote: ‘I strongly feel the JSPCA should be given the powers to remove any animal at risk of harm in an unstable or toxic environment.
‘All animal shelters in the UK have the rights to remove any animal abused or starved from its home. So should the JSPCA.’
