The RSPCA is the world’s oldest and best-known animal welfare organisation and is one of the largest charities in the UK. We’ve been responding to and campaigning for animals in need since 1824, when we were founded by a group of twenty-two reformers including Richard Martin MP and William Wilberforce MP.
The Society's inspectorate investigates complaints concerning animal cruelty 24/7 and where there is sufficient evidence we take private prosecutions against those responsible. We also provide resources and tools to educate the public about animal welfare as well as campaign and lobby governments to try and improve policies and the law to ensure better protection for animals.
The RSPCA helps animals in England and Wales in a number of ways. We:
- Rescue domestic and wild animals in need of care
- Re-home abandoned pets
- Run veterinary centres to provide care for sick or injured animals
- Rehabilitate wild animals so that they can be returned to the wild
- Educate and advise the public about responsible pet ownership
- Work with the governments (in both Westminster and Cardiff) to ensure the law protects the welfare of animals
- Prosecute those who break the law relating to animal cruelty and neglect animals
- Run the only UK farm assurance scheme focused solely on improving the welfare of animals reared for food: Freedom Food
- Also work in over 30 countries worldwide to transfer our experience and information to other governments and organisations
The RSPCA works closely with a number of partners to help improve animal welfare including local authorities, the police, the veterinary profession policy makers as well as other animal welfare charities. We value our relationship with policy makers and are grateful for the support we receive from parliamentarians across the political spectrum.
Political advocates
The RSPCA has a number of national vice presidents who are politicians. You can read more about them below. Individual branches also have members of their boards who are politicians.
Baroness Fookes of Plymouth DBE
Caroline Dinenage MP