Farmer removes RSPCA collection boxes from shop
Customers of a farm shop in Devon have requested that RSPCA collection boxes be removed in protest against the charity’s chief executive Gavin Grant.
Mr Grant incensed farmers, politicians and the general public when he called for those taking part in a government-backed trial cull of badgers to be named and shamed, putting participants at risk of potentially violent action by animal rights extremists.
As a result, customers at Richard Haddock’s Churston Farm Shop near Brixham requested that the charity’s collection boxes be removed.
“We are a fairly urban farm shop with a turnover of more than £1m,” said Mr Haddock. “Our customers know what’s going on with TB – it’s spread like wildfire through my beef herd and every time we have to kill a suckler cow an unborn calf is lost as well.
“We’ve lost our entire pedigree Aberdeen Angus herd and are very concerned about whether we will have enough beef for the butcher’s counter over the Christmas period.”
He added: “People want to buy really good, grass-fed beef, so we’ve put signs up asking our customers to order early, and explaining why there may be a shortage.
“We’ve listened to our customers, who’ve complained about Mr Grant’s comments and the collection boxes. He is making his own political career and it’s up to the RSPCA board to remove him and make a public apology. We have worked very closely with the RSPCA in the past, but won’t be taking any more RSPCA collections until Mr Grant has gone.”