SINCE there appears to be a great deal of interest in the RSPCA's involvement with the foot and mouth crisis, I thought it would be useful to outline some of the main hands-on work our inspectors have been doing.

The RSPCA was the first agency to begin making a real difference to animal welfare problems when it became clear that thousands of ewes were lambing in appalling conditions, due to movement restrictions, in the eastern counties of England.

On March 2 the area's inspectorate was taken off non-urgent services and given refresher training in lambing and sheep management. To date, these RSPCA staff and many drafted into help -- have lambed 3,000 ewes and helped bring more than 5,000 lambs into the world. We have helped organise and provide lambing marquees, feed, shelter and manpower to farmers in crisis.

One of the most depressing tasks our staff has had to perform was assisting with the euthanasia of about 1,300 ewes to prevent further suffering. Many of these animals hadn't even the most basic level of care available to them. The RSPCA could see no means of improving their welfare on site and the sheep were not fit to be transported for slaughter. It was a task no one relished but, as ever, the RSPCA does not shy away from difficult animal welfare decisions.

Last week 80 RSPCA inspectors from across the country were taken off normal duties to concentrate on visiting farms to help farmers and to prioritise the most desperate animal welfare cases. The charity is also running a brokerage system, where people with excess supplies of hay, straw, feed and other supplies can offer them to us, via the RSPCA's national helpline on 08705 555999, for matching with the animals which need them most. Alongside this hands-on help, we have raised our concerns to the government about some of the slaughter methods employed and have sent inspectors to monitor the slaughter of sheep at the mass site in Cumbria. We have also investigated many incidents of alleged inhumane slaughter and have continued to protest to the government about the slaughter of healthy animals with no proven link to the disease. I would ask the public to be reassured that the RSPCA is doing everything it possibly can to help these stricken animals. Our staff have worked some incredibly long hours in appalling conditions dealing with heartbreaking situations. We would like to offer our thanks to everyone who has supported us and continues to do so.

Yours faithfully

Kay Brandist - RSPCA Regional Manager