At the heart of animal welfare

At the heart of animal welfare
Annual review 2014
Joe Murphy/RSPCA Photolibrary
OUR VISION
Our ultimate goal
is for a world
where all humans
respect and live
in harmony
with animals.
Welcome to
our 2014 review
2014 has been another full-on year for the RSPCA, in which
we’ve focused on some big issues right at the heart of
animal welfare, and seen some heartening progress.
Animal welfare can often be one of the casualties in a tough
financial environment, but for the RSPCA the goal is to reduce
costs while never compromising on animal welfare. We have
certainly stepped up to that challenge in 2014.
For several years now we have experienced an alarming
escalation in the number of equines coming into our
care, putting enormous pressure on our resources. This
year, we’ve not only seen fewer horses coming in, but
also a huge increase in our rehoming figures as a result of
our nationwide Homes for Horses appeal. Alongside this,
Wales introduced new legislation this year to allow local
authorities to take swift action to tackle the menace of fly
grazing, while the government in Westminster continued
to grapple with the broken horse passport system. We’ve
been there working alongside both governments, aiming –
as always – to tackle problems at source as well as dealing
with the aftermath when things go wrong.
Another example of this is that we are seeing definite
progress in our drive to eliminate animal cruelty through
education. We know this because our prosecutions
dropped by around 20 percent in 2014, though we
continued to investigate and give warning notices at the
same level. Prosecution is our last resort – we aim always
to investigate, advise and warn first. If our advice is taken,
the animal will be protected and there is no need to
prosecute. By working with owners in this way, we can
gradually improve animal welfare throughout society. But, if
owners ignore our guidance and continue to mistreat their
animals, we leave them in no doubt that we will prosecute
to safeguard animals’ welfare.
Another core issue that we focused on in 2014 was
responsible dog ownership. The developments on
compulsory microchipping are welcome, though they fall
short of what we are campaigning for. Nevertheless, it
will be better for dogs and owners, improving compliance
with the law and impacting on cruelty; whilst practices like
puppy farming and trafficking will also be further
tackled by new dog breeding legislation in Wales – long
championed by the RSPCA. Ultimately, fewer dogs with
more responsible owners will help improve animal welfare
and reduce the pressure on us, so we can continue to do
more for animals in need.
Thank you for all your support in 2014.
Michael Tomlinson
Chairman, RSPCA Council
Joe Murphy x2, Andrew Forsyth/RSPCA Photolibrary
Emergency response
❙ Our inspectors rescued 58 stranded and orphaned grey seal pups and took them to RSPCA East Winch Wildlife Centre.
W H O W E AR E AND W HAT W E DO
ANNU A L RE V I E W 2014 we are the
animal rescuers
On call for animals RSPCA inspectors respond to emergencies and rescue animals from
danger 24/7. We are equipped and trained to deal with many situations that threaten
animal welfare, and 2014’s dramatic floods were no exception. Our officers worked tirelessly
to rescue trapped animals and help people. We also swept in to rescue seals washed ashore
or separated from their mothers by Norfolk storms. Throughout the year we rescued
abandoned, neglected and cruelly treated animals from appalling situations. And our
undercover officers tracked down perpetrators of organised animal cruelty, rescuing animals
from terrible suffering.
Flood alert
When the River Thames rose to its highest level in more
than 60 years, thousands of people were evacuated
from their homes. Our dedicated water rescue team was
on the case fast, responding to urgent pleas to protect
vulnerable animals. We rescued pets from abandoned
homes and led farm animals to safety through
treacherous waters. We also saved 18 ponies from floods
in Dorset. We had been watching over and feeding the
ponies, which were stranded on an island, for three
weeks, but when the water rose even further, our water
rescue team coaxed them through a carefully marked
route to safety in a two-hour operation. Our work
as part of the emergency response team during
the Somerset floods won us a special award from
its county council.
Saving orphaned seals
At the end of 2013, an enormous tidal surge hit England’s
eastern coasts. This was in the middle of Britain’s grey
seal breeding season and a large number of young pups
were washed off the Norfolk beaches. RSPCA inspectors
128,209
animals were
collected
and rescued
in 2014
rescued 58 stranded and orphaned pups in the three days
following the surge and they were taken to the specialist
seal unit at RSPCA East Winch Wildlife Centre.
In November, the Daily Mirror Animal Hero Awards – in
partnership with the RSPCA – gave the Editor’s Choice
Award to RSPCA East Winch staff for their work with seals.
Lucky lizard
Increasingly, we are called on to rescue unusual animals,
such as the panther chameleon that fell out of a tree in
Southampton. Missing from his home for two months,
the chameleon was exposed to our wintry British
weather and when found in December wouldn’t have
survived the low temperatures for very much longer.
Reptiles cannot regulate their own body temperature and
require a carefully-controlled environment to be able to
function normally. If reptiles get too cold they become
stressed, may be unable to feed or move properly and
their immune system is suppressed. Exotic animals like
this are very difficult to care for and need expert owners
who can meet their needs. We took him to a specialist
vet for treatment before reuniting him with his owner.
www.rs pca .o rg .u k /re sc u e
PAGE FI VE
Joe Murphy/RSPCA Photolibrary
Working for welfare
❙ Every day of the year in England and Wales, RSPCA inspectors are out in the community responding to animal cruelty complaints.
W H O W E AR E AND W HAT W E DO
ANNU A L RE V I E W 2014 taking action
when we need to
Tough line on crime It’s part of the RSPCA’s job to prevent and suppress cruelty to animals.
We are out there daily responding to complaints alleging that animals are being ill treated.
We’ll always step in first with advice if we think an owner needs guidance or a helping hand,
however, when we need to, we will build a case and prosecute to safeguard animals’ welfare
and deter people from offending. The good news is that in 2014 animal cruelty convictions
were down 38 percent from the previous year.
Callous drinker
pays for prank
New home for
starved dog
Bella, who featured in
the Channel 5 TV series
The Dog Rescuers, was
found by RSPCA Inspector
Kate Fletcher (right) in
a flat without access to
food or water. Bella was
described by a vet as being
“outstandingly underweight,
emaciated and about as thin
as she could be…” Blood
tests showed the German
shepherd’s condition was
simply due to starvation.
Her owner admitted he had
never taken Bella to a vet,
but was adamant he had
done nothing wrong. He
pleaded not guilty to two
charges under the Animal
Welfare Act 2006, but was
found guilty of both charges. He was sentenced to 16
weeks’ imprisonment, banned from keeping dogs for life
and ordered to pay £484 costs.
Bella’s weight increased by a staggering 62 percent after
just two months of proper care, and we found her a
loving new home.
Remorseful man given a caution
A man who set snares in his garden to catch foxes and
deer that he thought were damaging his trees, failed to
check the snares on a daily basis, which is required by
law. Two cats were caught in two of the snares – one of
them was badly injured. RSPCA Inspector Kirsty Withnall
investigated and warned the man it was an offence to
snare deer. He was very remorseful and paid for the
injured cat’s veterinary treatment. The matter was dealt
with by issuing a caution, which the man accepted.
A social media craze
resulted in animal cruelty
convictions for several
people in 2014. The drinking
game NekNominate involves
people challenging one
another to drink strange
alcoholic concoctions. Sadly,
some took it too far and
decided to involve animals.
We prosecuted five such
cases, including a
man who put a live
frog and lizard into
a glass of water and
swallowed them.
RSPCA Inspector
Alan Browning said:
“These two small
animals would
have suffered considerably
during this incident, going through the distress of being
swallowed, then coming into contact with stomach
acids.” The defendant was ordered to do 80 hours’
unpaid work and had to pay £1,200 costs.
in 2014 we
investigated
159,831
cruelty complaints,
successfully
implemented
82,746
welfare notices to
prevent suffering
and secured
2,convictions
419
Shocking footage on mobile phone
We often work with the police and other enforcement
agencies to combat animal cruelty. In one case in 2014,
shocking footage of a teenager attacking a cat and a dog
was discovered by the police on a boy’s mobile phone
when he was arrested for unrelated criminal offences.
The attacks seem to have been carried out as a form of
entertainment, as the film of the cat being attacked was
named ‘LOL’, short for ‘Laugh Out Loud’. The boy showed
no emotion during interview when the video footage
was played. He was banned from keeping animals for life,
given an 18-month youth rehabilitation order and a
three-month curfew order.
www.rsp ca .o rg .u k /prose cu t io n
PAGE SEVEN
❙A young puffin found outside a Post Office was cared
for at RSPCA Mallydams Wood Wildlife Centre and
released back to the wild once back to full fitness.
❙Eleven orphaned polecat kits were cared for in 2014.
❙We took 14 horses and ponies to the Equifest horse
show and found them all loving new homes.
❙RSPCA East Winch Wildlife Centre had more than 100
seal pups in its care following a storm surge.
Joe Murphy x2, Andrew Forsyth x1, Alison Charles x1/RSPCA Photolibrary
Clockwise, left to right:
❙We cared for Bugsley the kitten at RSPCA Millbrook
Animal Centre and then found him a loving new home.
W H O W E AR E AND W HAT W E DO
ANNU A L RE V I E W 2014 being there for those
who need us most
Our full circle of care Thousands of animals come into our care every year: animals we
have rescued from cruelty or neglect, who have been abandoned or where circumstances
mean owners can’t look after them any more.
If they are injured or sick our hospitals and clinics give them vital medical treatment.
Then they have the time and care they need to recover and prepare for a new start in life.
In our animal centres we seek to find pets the best possible future, however bad their past
may have been.
Our wildlife centres and hospitals rescue and treat injured wild animals, from dormice to deer,
rehabilitating them where possible in order to release them back into the wild.
Caring for seals
At the beginning of 2014, RSPCA East Winch Wildlife
Centre in Norfolk had more than 100 seal pups in its care
following the storm surge at the end of 2013 – more than
the centre had ever dealt with in its 25-year history.
Fifty-eight of the new arrivals were less than three weeks
old and needed three-hourly feeds around the clock.
When the young pups arrived at the centre they were
assessed, given medication and food. The seals gained
weight rapidly and once feeding for themselves, were
moved to intermediate pools. They were then moved to
outside pools and released into the wild once fully fit.
A message of support was received from Buckingham
Palace: “Her Majesty, as your patron, has asked that her
warmest good wishes be passed on to all involved in the
rescue operation and the on-going care of the seal pups.”
Puffin pit stop
A young puffin found on a pavement outside a Post
Office was taken to RSPCA Mallydams Wood Wildlife
Centre. The weak and exhausted puffin – nicknamed Pat
– was given a full veterinary check-up, including an X-ray,
and fortunately no injuries were found. Treatment at the
centre focused on improving his weight and appetite.
After a few days he’d made enough progress to move
to an outside pool to be assessed for buoyancy and
waterproofing. He quickly regained full fitness and was
released on a nearby beach during high tide.
Polecat release
During the year we cared for eleven orphaned polecat
kits, one of which was found in Wales. He was about
four weeks old and just opening his eyes – at this age he
wouldn’t have survived long without our intervention.
RSPCA Animal Collection Officer Ellie West fed him with
a syringe before taking him to RSPCA Stapeley Grange
Wildlife Centre.
we carried out
320,128
microchippings,
neuterings and
treatments
in 2014
All the polecat kits received intensive one-on-one care
until they were able to feed for themselves, then they
were grouped together and placed in a purpose-built
enclosure. In November they were released back into
the wild using a special release cage.
Bugsley bounces back
Bugsley the kitten was underweight and very nervous
when we rescued him from a house overrun with
unneutered cats. He was taken to RSPCA Millbrook
Animal Centre where the tiny kitten, who was the runt
of his litter, received round-the-clock care getting him up
to a healthy weight for his age. Staff also spent a lot of
time interacting with him and socialising him with other
animals. Once rehabilitation was complete, we found
Bugsley a loving new home.
Patience pays for horses
In recent years, falling horse prices and uncontrolled and
over breeding have caused an unprecedented rise in the
number of unwanted and neglected horses coming into
our care. With our expert care we turn these animals’
lives around, making them ready for new homes.
But it’s a long job. Many have hardly ever or never been
handled, and need months of coaxing to trust humans
– gaining their trust is a lengthy and difficult process.
We assign every horse one groom to work with them
to begin their education. As they learn the basics, such
as being led or picking up a hoof for the farrier, our
patience is rewarded as we can see these horses and
ponies will go on to find new homes and lead happy,
fullfilled and active lives.
Each year to highlight these successes the PRP/RSPCA
Rescue Horse of the Year competition is held at Equifest,
the main horse show in England. In 2014 we took 14
horses and ponies to the show and all found loving new
homes as a result.
www.rspca .o rg .u k /re h a b il itat io n
PAGE N I N E
There is no one
❝
thing we love about
Rocky, instead we love
everything. He is our
friend and most of all,
a well loved member
of our family.
❞
Andrew Forsyth, Philip Toscano/RSPCA Photolibrary, Monkey World, Julie Growdy
Rebecca, Rocky’s new owner
Rocky’s forever home
❙ Despite his horrendous ordeal, Rocky battled back to health and has been given a loving new home with Darren (pictured above) and Rebecca.
W H O W E AR E AND W HAT W E DO
ANNU A L RE V I E W 2014 RSPCA care
comes full circle
Rehoming methods We want all our animals to get the great homes they deserve, and we
start working towards that as soon as they come into our care. Our vets check them over
and make sure they are vaccinated, neutered, microchipped and given any treatments they
need, such as flea treatment or worming. Animals that have suffered cruelty or neglect often
need specialist veterinary and behavioural treatment to get into tip-top shape and ready for
their new lives. Because each animal is an individual, we take great care in matching every one
with the right owner. Our rehoming team makes sure the environment they will go to is right
for them, and we support owners to ensure the animal’s new home is a happy, forever home.
Rocky’s return
Homes for horses
Boxer-cross Rocky was left to die in a ditch after being
shot in the head five times and battered with a shovel.
A council litter picker discovered Rocky lying next to the
blood covered bin bag he’d been dumped in three days
earlier. Incredibly, Rocky was microchipped so we were
able to track down his cruel owner who pleaded guilty
to offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, was
banned from keeping animals for 20 years and given
20 weeks’ imprisonment.
With more than 800 neglected, abandoned and abused
equines in our care at the start of 2014, we launched
a full-scale appeal to find homes for them. More than
400 equines went to new homes in 2014 – the highest
number ever in a year.
Despite his horrendous ordeal, Rocky battled
back to health with our help. It was at an RSPCA
Northamptonshire Branch rehoming day that Rocky first
met his new owners Darren and Rebecca. He was the first
dog they saw and admit they fell in love with him within
minutes. “He looked happy to see us – we ended up
spending the whole afternoon with him,” says Rebecca.
At first there were a few reminders that Rocky had been
through a terrible experience, but with lots of love and
reassurance he’s now enjoying his new life to the full.
RSPCA branches
Much of our animal welfare work is carried out by our
branches, which are run by volunteers. As self-funding,
separately registered charities, each RSPCA branch raises
money to keep their vital local animal centres going.
our animal centres
and branches gave
53,263
animals a second
chance of a new
home in 2014
One of the lucky ones was yearling Magpie. We found
him collapsed in a field, emaciated and riddled with lice
and worms. It took six months of intensive care at one
of our centres to nurse him back to full health. Once well
he featured in our national Homes for Horses appeal, and
within two weeks he was in a fantastic forever home.
Misery for Milo
When we first heard about Milo the marmoset the
three-year-old primate was underweight, housed alone
in a cramped, dirty bird cage and fed an inappropriate
diet including baby food from a jar. His owner took him
out on a lead to the pub, which is likely to be a terrifying
place for a shy, forest-dwelling species that tends to
dislike strangers and loud noises. Milo’s owner admitted
causing his pet to suffer and was banned for life from
keeping any animals.
We rehomed Milo at Monkey World in Dorset. He is now
thriving and lives in a more natural environment, gets
specialist care and has companionship of his own kind.
www. rs pca .o rg .u k /re h o me
PAGE EL EVEN
RSPCA Ruffs
We were overwhelmed by entries for our
first alternative online dog show in 2014.
Ruffs celebrates dogs for their welfare
and happiness. Ruffs, our dog show with a
difference, was born out of frustration with
‘beauty pageant’ style dog shows, which judge
dogs based on their looks, even when it’s
these looks and extreme exaggerated features
that can cause suffering. Ruffs ‘Best in Show’
was Tiny, a Rottweiler who had overcome
tremendous suffering to look like a different
dog two years after his rescue.
Joe Murphy x1, David Chapman x1/RSPCA Photolibrary, Liz Pitman x1
www.rspca.org.uk/ruffs
W H O W E AR E AND W HAT W E DO
ANNU A L RE V I E W 2014 giving animals
a voice in 2014
As well as being the world’s leading animal welfare organisation, the RSPCA is a powerful
campaigner. We don’t just pick up the pieces when things go wrong for animals – we
campaign to change laws and attitudes so that animals get a better deal. We lobby politicians
and decision-makers, businesses and people who work with and own animals. More than
100,000 people have now signed up to our campaign network because like us, they want to
make a difference for animals. In 2014 we campaigned on many fronts, as always, to protect
pets and wildlife, animals used in entertainment, farm animals and animals used in research.
RSPCA
supporters took
more than
New laws for dogs in Wales
animals in 2014
Great news for dogs came from Wales when the Welsh
Government passed new laws that will see tighter
controls on puppy breeders from spring 2015. Although
we are concerned the rules don’t go far enough, we hope
they will finally get rid of puppy farms in Wales.
Puppy trade
Cruel puppy farming and trafficking are rife, and we
continued our call for more stringent laws and
enforcement. Puppy trading is big business with dealers
making huge profits at the expense of the welfare of
both puppies and their parents who are used as breeding
machines in the UK and other EU countries. Puppy
traders don’t care if puppies live or die as long as they
make a profit, so to help buyers avoid unscrupulous
breeders the RSPCA in partnership with the BVA Animal
Welfare Foundation launched the Puppy Contract.
puppycontract.rspca.org.uk
and abandoned horses on private and public land.
In England a Private Members Bill on the control of
horses was introduced – it became law in 2015.
www.politicalanimal.org.uk/wales/equines
www.politicalanimal.org.uk/england/horses
Combating the cull
The UK Government’s pilot badger culls in England in
2013 failed to meet their goals. We continued to fight
for badgers and rally public support against this
misguided policy throughout 2014, in the face of
news that the second year of the cull was to begin.
A Commons debate was won 219–1, resulting in a
U-turn from the Government which agreed to scrap
10 additional culls, although it did go ahead with year
two of the pilot culls in Gloucester and Somerset.
No badger culling is happening in Wales, as the Welsh
Government continues with its badger vaccination
programme and tighter cattle controls.
Irresponsible dog ownership
www.rspca.org.uk/stopthecull
The UK Government announced a package of measures
to tackle irresponsible dog ownership, proposing
compulsory microchipping in England for all dogs as
one measure. On one level this is good news, as chips
can reunite dogs with their owners, but it won’t stop
irresponsible dog ownership on its own. For compulsory
microchipping to be effective, we’ve lobbied for tighter
regulations that make chipping legal proof of ownership
and carry effective penalties. Wales is expected to
introduce similar mandatory microchipping laws in 2016.
Tackling the cat crisis
www.rspca.org.uk/compulsorymicrochipping
Helping horses
In January, following the publication of a key RSPCA
report on equine welfare, the Welsh Government
brought in a landmark piece of legislation in the form
of the Control of Horses (Wales) Act 2014. The new law
equips local councils with powers to tackle fly grazing
134,000
actions for
With the UK’s cat population reaching crisis point our
centres are full and we’ve had to rely heavily on private
boarding establishments to house many of the cats
in our care – a very costly solution. Our research
shows that one of the main barriers to neutering is
the misbelief that cats should have a litter of kittens
before being neutered. In 2014 we campaigned and
worked with vets to dispel the myth and encourage
owners to neuter their cats at four months old. We’ve
produced new materials focusing on the benefits to
cats of timely neutering and we’ve delivered subsidised
neutering for cats in areas where cat owners may not be
registered with vets.
www.rspca.org.uk/catneutering
www.rs pca .o rg .u k /ca mpa ign s
PAGE T HI RT EEN
OU R WO R K B E HI ND THE SC ENES
ANNU A L RE V I E W 2014 Our expert science teams provide the
scientific basis that helps us advance
animal welfare effectively.
Working for pets
The work we do for companion pets is backed by our companion animals science team, which helps ensure
that everything we do and say about pets is based on science and practical experience. The team protects and
improves the lives of companion and working animals, and those used in sport, by advising and helping anyone
responsible for them, from individuals to governments.
In 2014 our work for pets included:
❙Developing several new training courses for RSPCA staff including
understanding and meeting the welfare of kennelled dogs, and
understanding and preventing dog aggression.
❙Producing more guides for staff working with animals in our care,
including the bonding of rabbits, meeting the needs of indoor cats
and how to socialise puppies with kittens.
❙Launching new materials about keeping children safe around dogs,
showing how children should and shouldn’t interact with dogs.
For more information, visit: www.rspca.org.uk/dogsandchildren
❙Taking part in Rabbit Awareness Week, which aims to improve
the welfare of rabbits with the theme being ‘one small hop’,
encouraging owners to make one small change to improve the
lives of their rabbits.
❙Developing a course to help staff understand and comply with
the requirements of the Dangerous Dogs Act and in particular
prohibited types of dogs.
❙Updating the RSPCA range of HarperCollins pet care books on
caring for guinea pigs, hamsters, kittens, puppies and rabbits.
ANNU A L RE V I E W 2014 Working for wildlife
Working for research animals
Our wildlife science team uses sound research to
improve welfare and protect wild animals from
threats such as oil spills, culls, trapping, hunting,
their trade and inadequate care as pets or when
otherwise kept in captivity. Our wildlife centres
provide a safe haven for wild animals in trouble.
After nursing them back to fitness we rehabilitate
and release them, often monitoring how they fare
in the wild.
Our work for laboratory animals is led by our
research animals science team, who work with
those involved in the regulation, care and use of
animals in experiments, both nationally
and internationally. Replacing lab animals is
our primary goal, and we work to achieve
reductions in the use and suffering of animals –
including our ground-breaking initiative to end
severe suffering.
In 2014 our work for wildlife included:
In 2014 our work for research animals included:
❙Publishing a report calling for a ban on keeping primates
as pets.
❙Challenging the government and scientists to do more to
tackle severe suffering.
❙Working with Monkey World in Dorset to establish a
marmoset rehoming project.
❙Establishing expert working groups to set out specific ways
to end severe suffering in arthritis and septic shock research.
❙Working with groups across the world on producing
protocols for rescuing and rehabilitating oiled sea birds.
❙Helping the European Commission establish guidance
for member states on how they should regulate
animal experiments.
❙Initiating a project to encourage the public to report the
sale of glue traps, so we can contact the retailers and
encourage them to stop selling these inhumane traps.
❙Recruiting RSPCA Exotics Officers in response to increasing
numbers of calls about exotic pets, such as reptiles.
❙Researching into the Canada geese population at Lake
Windermere in Cumbria.
❙Developing licensing conditions for amphibians and reptiles
in RSPCA animal centres.
❙Delivering training courses on ethics, replacing animals and
animal welfare to government inspectors, scientists and vets
in China, Croatia and Bulgaria.
❙Initiating a project with RSPCA Education to ensure that ethics
and animal welfare are incorporated into university courses
for future scientists.
❙Helping members of animal ethics committees better
challenge whether and how lab animals are used.
To find out more about our science teams’ work, visit: www.rspca.org.uk/sciencegroup and scroll to the
bottom of the page to view the RSPCA Science Group Review of 2014.
Becky Murray, E A Janes, Andrew Forsyth/RSPCA Photolibrary.
OU R WO R K B E HI ND THE SC ENES
ANNU A L RE V I E W 2014 Working for farm animals
Two decades of Freedom Food
Our work for farm animals aims to improve
farm animals’ welfare from birth to death.
The law alone does not always ensure they have
a good quality of life and are transported and
slaughtered humanely. We want as many UK
farm animals as possible to be reared to our own
higher welfare standards.
2014 was a landmark for our unique farm
assurance and food-labelling scheme Freedom
Food, which celebrated its 20th anniversary.
When launched, Freedom Food had just a
handful of members and there were RSPCA
welfare standards for laying hens and pigs.
Twenty years on Freedom Food has more than
3,500 members, 12 sets of RSPCA welfare standards
for different farmed animals, and labelled
products in all major UK supermarkets. In the last
10 years alone, more than half a billion terrestrial
farm animals have benefitted from the scheme.
In 2014 our work for farm animals included:
❙Investigating the humaneness and practicalities of a new
US system for killing meat chickens using low atmospheric
pressure, rather than gas. The system replicates ascent to
high altitude and could offer a very humane system for killing
chickens, although more research is needed to show the
impact on chicken welfare.
❙Publishing the first ever RSPCA welfare standards for farmed
rainbow trout covering hatching, rearing, transport and
slaughter, and new pig welfare standards giving more guidance
on indoor free farrowing systems.
❙Presenting to an international conference on using our
on-farm welfare assessments, which were developed as
part of the AssureWel project and aim to encourage
continuous welfare improvements. Visit: www.assurewel.org
❙Assessing and identifying practical ways to provide
commercially-reared ducks with full body access to
open water.
Anything carrying the Freedom Food mark gives consumers the
assurance that the animals that produced it have been inspected
to RSPCA higher welfare standards. The scheme helps producers
of all sizes to produce good food profitably, while safeguarding
their animals’ welfare.
In 2014 Freedom Food:
❙Saw the first Freedom Food-labelled farmed trout products
launched in Sainsbury’s.
❙Announced that 70 percent of Scottish salmon is now farmed
under the Freedom Food scheme.
❙Held the first Compassionate Cook competition, supported by
Fairtrade. The winning recipe was ‘Chilli Con Sausage’.
❙Advising and making recommendations to governments and
governmental advisory bodies urging mandatory use of CCTV
in all abattoirs to improve monitoring and enforcement of
animal welfare rules.
❙Released a Freedom Food square eggs April Fools press release,
resulting in wide media coverage and an appearance on ITV’s
Daybreak morning TV programme.
❙Launched a new online suppliers’ directory.
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PAGE S I XTEEN
Andrew Forsyth x2/RSPCA Photolibrary
OU R WO R K B E HI ND THE SC ENES
ANNU A L RE V I E W 2014 Education is prevention
Global reach
For animals to have the lives they deserve, we
need to build a world of compassionate, caring,
informed citizens and consumers. To make this
happen, we work with early years educators,
right through to adulthood, making sure we
include those who may fall by the wayside
through disadvantage.
RSPCA International works with partners across
the world to help rescue animals, prosecute
cruelty, promote farm animal welfare and
encourage humane education.
In 2014 our educational work included:
❙Training more than 3,000 student teachers at 53
universities and over 500 social workers and youth
intervention professionals.
❙Launching the RSPCA Great Debate competition in schools
and universities, where entrants submitted debate videos.
❙Holding the second Youth AGM, attracting 24 teenagers
who took part in debates and activities designed by their
peers and presented by specialists from across the RSPCA.
❙Launching My Pet Pals Academy primary school digital
resource with Pets at Home.
❙Securing a grant for the Wild Things project at RSPCA
Mallydams Wood Wildlife Centre, which provides practical
outdoor activities and education for disadvantaged young
people and families.
RSPCA Young Photographer Awards 2014
One of the most rewarding ways we engage with young
people is through our annual RSPCA Young Photographer
Awards. In 2014 we received around 4,000 entries of the
highest quality and at a ceremony hosted by one of the
judges Chris Packham (pictured above), 15-year-old Owen
Hearn was named overall winner for his amazing shot of a
seal at sunrise. Visit: www.rspca.org.uk/ypa
In 2014 our international work included:
❙The Channel 5 TV series The Dog Rescuers followed
RSPCA Inspector Anthony Joynes on a visit to our projects
in Malawi. He was filmed successfully rescuing a dog that
had fallen down a deep hole and investigating illegal puppy
selling. Inspector Joynes also advised staff and police on
investigation procedures and welfare improvements, which
resulted in immediate changes.
❙Law enforcement training for local government inspectors
in Japan and Taiwan, with a focus on evidence gathering and
prosecution of cases of neglect and deliberate cruelty.
❙Launching our first major activity aimed at six Central Asian
countries with a workshop in Turkey, to promote more
humane handling, stockmanship and slaughter of farm
animals. Sixty representatives from six countries in the
region attended the event, which was held in partnership
with the Turkish government, Food and Agriculture
Organisation, World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE)
and the European Commission.
❙Continuing our long-term projects in East Asia with
consultancy Humanebeing to train teachers in the values
of animal welfare education. We delivered two courses
in China to kindergarten and primary teachers, presented
an education workshop in Japan and a training course for
primary teachers in Korea.
Above:
❙An RSPCA-trained kindergarten teacher prepares the children for
an animal-friendly nature trail in China.
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PAG E SEVEN T EEN
Becky Murray/RSPCA Photolibrary, Paul Littlefair/RSPCA International
OU R WO R K B E HI ND THE SC ENES
OU R F I N A N CES
A NNU AL R EVI EW 2 0 1 4 Money matters
The summary financial information set out on this page
has been extracted from the full consolidated annual
financial statements which exclude RSPCA branches and
have been prepared in accordance with the Charities
Act 2011 and the Statement of Recommended Practice:
Accounting and Reporting by Charities (SORP 2005)
issued in February 2005, together with all
subsequent amendments.
Animal welfare (£78.8m)
• hospitals and animal centres (£37.8m)
• inspectorate (£36.2m)
• prosecutions – animal welfare (£4.8m)
Cost of income generation (£21.2m)
Support to branches (£7.5m)
Prosecutions – legal (£4.6m)
Campaigns, communication,
publications (£2.8m)
OUR
EXPENDITURE
Science (£1.8m)
2014
Education (£1.4m)
International (£0.7m)
Governance costs (£0.9m)
Legacy income (£63.7m)
Donations and contributions (£43.1m)
Other income (£4.6m)
Charitable activities* (£8.8m)
OUR INCOME
2014
Investment income (£5.2m)
Membership subscriptions (£0.5m)
All costs include applicable support costs.
*Income from charitable activities including:
rehoming, boarding and veterinary income;
prosecution and other costs recovered;
sponsorship and advertising income; other fees
and charges received; goods sold and Animal
Action Club subscriptions.
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PAGE EI G HTEEN
www. rs p ca . org . u k
Council report on
the summary
financial information
Independent auditors’
statement on the summary
financial information
This summary financial information is not the statutory financial
statements, but a summary relating to the income and expenditure,
prepared to give an overview of the Society’s financial affairs. The full
financial statements, from which the summary is derived, have been
audited. The audit report was unqualified. The full financial statements,
Trustees’ annual report and auditors’ report may be obtained from:
Advice Team, RSPCA, Wilberforce Way, Southwater, Horsham,
West Sussex RH13 9RS or: www.rspca.org.uk/trusteesreport
Independent auditors’ statement to the Trustees of the Royal Society
for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
The Trustees’ report and accounts 2014, which was approved on
29 April 2015, has not yet been filed with the Charity Commission.
Signed on behalf of Council on 29 April 2015.
Michael Tomlinson
CHAIRMAN, RSPCA COUNCIL
Karen Harley
TREASURER, RSPCA
We have examined the summarised financial information of the Royal
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals for the year ended
31 December 2014, set out on the opposite page.
RESPECTIVE RESPONSIBILITIES OF TRUSTEES AND AUDITORS
The Trustees are responsible for preparing the summary financial
information in accordance with RSPCA Rule XVI and the
recommendations of the charities SORP.
Our responsibility is to report to you our opinion on the consistency
of the summary financial information within the Annual review with the
full annual financial statements and Trustees’ report and its compliance
with RSPCA Rule XVI.
We also read the other information contained in the Annual review
and consider the implications for our report if we become aware of any
apparent misstatements or material inconsistencies with the summary
financial information.
Our report has been prepared pursuant to the requirements of the
RSPCA Rule XVI and for no other purpose. No person is entitled to
rely on this report unless such a person is a person entitled to rely upon
this report by virtue of and for the purpose of the Charities Act 2011
or has been expressly authorised to do so by our prior written consent.
Save as above, we do not accept responsibility for this report to any
other person or for any other purpose and we hereby expressly disclaim
any and all such liability.
BASIS OF OPINION
We conducted our work in accordance with Bulletin 2008/3 ‘The
auditors’ statement on the summary financial statement in the United
Kingdom’, issued by the Auditing Practices Board. Our report on the
Society’s full annual financial statements describes the basis of our
opinion on those financial statements and on the Trustees’ report.
To find out more
Download a copy of the
Trustees’ report and accounts at:
www.rspca.org.uk/trusteesreport
OPINION
In our opinion the summary financial information is consistent with the
full financial statements and Trustees’ report of the Royal Society for
the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals for the year ended 31 December
2014, and complies with the RSPCA Rule XVI.
BDO LLP
Chartered Accountants and Statutory Auditor
Gatwick, United Kingdom. Date: 29 April 2015.
BDO LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales
(with registered number OC305127).
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PAGE N I N ET EEN
HOW YO U CAN HELP
ANNU AL R EVI EW 2 0 1 4 How you
can help
GIVE GENEROUSLY
Support us with an ongoing donation by
direct debit. This means we can rely on
your support and plan more effectively,
visit: www.rspca.org.uk/donate
Your generous donations of time, money
and support mean we can plan ahead
and work out how best to use our
resources for animal welfare.
Take part in an RSPCA challenge.
Join our runners or take part in our
24-hour Challenge, visit:
www.rspca.org.uk/challenges
Nominate someone who’s gone the extra
mile for animals for an RSPCA Honour, visit:
www.rspca.org.uk/honours (open Oct).
Support our appeals. Give £3 now by
texting HELP to 78866 (texts cost £3
+ one standard network rate message).
Make your fundraising idea a reality, visit:
www.rspca.org.uk/fundraisingpack
and download the pack.
Become an RSPCA Sponsor, visit:
www.rspca.org.uk/sponsor
Volunteer for us, visit:
www.rspca.org.uk/volunteer
Give direct from your payroll, visit:
www.rspca.org.uk/payrollgiving
Complete a Gift Aid declaration – for
every £1 donated under the scheme we
can reclaim an extra 25p from the Inland
Revenue, visit: www.rspca.org.uk/giftaid
TAKE ACTION
Rehome or foster an animal from one of
our centres or branches, visit:
www.rspca.org.uk/rehoming
Support us during RSPCA Week, visit:
www.rspca.org.uk/rspcaweek
Sign up to RSPCA BIG Walkies – join us on
the best walk ever, visit:
www.rspca.org.uk/bestwalkever
Buy Freedom Food higher-welfare
products, visit:
www.freedomfood.co.uk
Book a cottage holiday and we will get 10
percent of the booking, visit:
www.cottages-4-you.co.uk/rspca
or call: 0845 268 8714.
IN YOUR AREA
RSPCA local branches are run by volunteer
trustees who influence how we care for
and prevent cruelty to animals locally. Find
out about becoming a branch trustee at:
www.rspca.org.uk/branchtrustee
Check out what we’re doing in Wales:
www.rspca.cymru
SPEND AND SAVE
>
Take out MORE TH N Pet Insurance – we
receive a donation for each policy sold,
visit: www.rspca.org.uk/petinsurance
Buy charity gifts, presents, RSPCA pet
and animal food and accessories at our
RSPCA Shop Online, visit:
shop.rspca.org.uk
Open an RSPCA Saver
account at any
Yorkshire Building
Society Branch
and help support
our work,
visit: www.
ybs.co.uk/
branchfinder
to find your local
branch or call:
0845 1200 100.
PAGE T WENT Y
Apply for the RSPCA credit card, visit:
www.rspca.org.uk/creditcard
GET SOCIAL
Follow us on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/rspca
Follow us on Twitter: www.
twitter.com/rspca_official
Watch our films on:
www.youtube.com/rspcauk
HAVE FUN
Play the RSPCA Weekly Lottery
and raise money for animals at
the same time, visit:
www.rspca.org.uk/lottery
Take part in Simply Ask, Freedom Food’s campaign to get people
asking about animal welfare when eating out, visit:
www.freedomfood.co.uk/simplyask
Help us make our campaigns, such as improving pet welfare,
successful by joining in debates and taking action,
visit: www.rspca.org.uk/campaigns
GO GREEN
Take unwanted goods to one of the 200+ RSPCA
charity shops, visit: www.rspca.org.uk/inyourarea
to find your nearest shop.
Recycle ink-jet cartridges,
old mobile phones and
gadgets for us. Call:
0800 091 0696 or visit:
www.therecyclingfactory.
com/rspca
LEAVE A LEGACY
The work we do for animals is only possible thanks
to the financial support we receive from grant-giving
Trusts, corporate partners and generous individuals.
❙The significant support that we continue to receive from
the Katherine Martin Charitable Trust has helped make
some wonderful things happen at our wildlife centres,
improving facilities for the rescue and rehabilitation
of abandoned and injured seals, foxes, badgers, deer,
hedgehogs and birds of prey.
❙Several projects received support from the W G Harvey
Discretionary Settlement including: the construction of
new purpose-built otter enclosures at RSPCA Stapeley
Grange Wildlife Centre and the building of a new kennel
block at RSPCA Greater Manchester Animal Hospital.
❙In July we received a generous donation from the
Montague-Panton Animal Welfare Trust towards
improving veterinary care at RSPCA Birmingham Animal
Hospital and the creation of a dog exercise area at
RSPCA Birmingham Animal Centre.
❙In February we received a substantial grant from Support
Adoption for Pets towards the rebuild of the new kennel
block at RSPCA South Godstone Animal Centre.
❙Our relationship with TrustedHousesitters ensures that
we receive a donation every time someone signs up to
their pet and house sitting service.
Leave us a gift in your Will, visit:
www.rspca.org.uk/legacy
❙Wilko stores in South Wales and the west of England
chose the RSPCA as their Charity of the Year in 2014/15
and have committed to raise money for us in 2015/16.
JOIN US
❙In April Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles agreed to
provide a number of VW vans to help support the RSPCA’s
Networking Project. These bespoke vans will allow us to
move animals between our rehoming centres to improve
their chance of finding a forever home.
Become a member of the RSPCA, visit:
www.rspca.org.uk/joinus
Give children aged 8–12 Animal Action Club
membership, visit: www.animalaction.co.uk
or for teenagers: www.rspca.org.uk/
teenagemembership
FEED YOUR PETS
Buy RSPCA pet food for your cats, dogs, guinea pigs
and rabbits – it’s been designed by experts. Cat and
dog foods are ‘complete’, meaning they contain all your
pets need to keep healthy.
Visit: shop.rspca.org.uk/pet-food
Generous individuals
For their ongoing and
continued generosity, we
would particularly like to
show our appreciation to:
•Mr G C Cook
•Miss A Garnham
•The De Giorgi family
•Miss C M Harris
•John and Sandra Joseph
•Mr G R Mayhead
•Dennis and Patricia Myers
•Mrs Francesca Quint
•Mrs Patricia Spooner
•Mr and Mrs Tollman
•Mr and Mrs White
Other corporate
partners include:
•Bank of America
•Big DL
•Capita
•Catermasters
•cottages4you
•CP Designs •eBay
•Hallmark •Jackpotjoy
•MORE TH N
•The Recycling Factory
•Shell
•WHSmith
•Yorkshire Building Society
>
Joe Murphy x2, Becky Murray/RSPCA Photolibrary
CAMPAIGN FOR US
And there’s more...
We work around the clock rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming animals, so it’s not possible to mention every
project in this review. Here are a few more stories about what we’ve been doing for animal welfare in 2014.
RSPCA BIG Walkies
1
In summer, we ran RSPCA BIG Walkies events in Stockport and
Chesterfield. Staffy-cross Barlow and his owner Ben Wright took part
in the Stockport walk, as a way of thanking us for saving Barlow from a
brutal dog-fighting ring. In 2015 we have two flagship RSPCA BIG Walkies
in London and Birmingham, plus 23 regional RSPCA BIG Walkies planned.
www.rspca.org.uk/bestwalkever
RSPCA Week 2014
Every year during RSPCA Week we ask our supporters to help us
promote our life-saving work and raise the funds
we need to help animals. In 2014 we wanted
people to think about the shared responsibility we
should all take for animals in our society.
We held a coffee house debate during the week,
on 16 June, RSPCA Founders’ Day. It recognised
the day back in 1824 when a group of men,
including MPs Richard Martin and
William Wilberforce, sat in Old
Slaughter’s Coffee House in
St Martin’s Lane, London, and
came up with the idea of forming a society that would
look after the welfare of animals. The coffee house
debate was held at the RSPCA’s birthplace in St Martin’s
Lane, London, which is now a Pret A Manger store.
RSPCA Week 2015 will run from 1–7 June.
www.rspca.org.uk/rspcaweek
RSPCA pet food launched
In March 2014 we launched a new range of super premium foods for
cats, dogs, guinea pigs and rabbits. All recipes have been devised in
consultation with RSPCA animal experts and are formulated to be
highly palatable whilst providing a balanced diet. There are seven
recipes to cater for cats and dogs of all ages – adult, senior, kitten,
puppy and grain-free for adult dogs. Each is a complete food
formulated to be hypoallergenic, highly digestible and full of healthy
vitamins and minerals.
So not only can you give your pets great, nutritious food, you’ll also
know that your purchase is helping us to help animals that are less
fortunate than yours.
See the full range and order at: shop.rspca.org.uk/pet-food
RSPCA Christmas catalogue
Our Christmas catalogue was bigger and better
than ever in 2014, with 400 new products
including an animal design collection of RSPCA
t-shirts printed on organic cotton. For pets
there were RSPCA-approved collars, leads,
beds, food and treats. And we offered a range
of RSPCA charity gifts – ideal for the really
hard-to-buy-for friend or relative!
See hundreds of our products at:
shop.rspca.org.uk
Animal Hero Awards 2014
2
The winners of the second Animal Hero Awards were announced in
November by TV star and animal lover Amanda Holden.
The Daily Mirror Animal Hero Awards – in partnership with the RSPCA –
celebrated courageous animals and those who have overcome
difficulties, as well as outstanding people and businesses
that have made a real difference to animal welfare.
RSPCA Vice President Dr Brian May was awarded
Celebrity Supporter of the Year. TV presenter and
animal lover Paul O’Grady announced the award and
said: “Thank God for the RSPCA – they do such
wonderful work – and for people like Brian who continue
to fight for animals every day. We all have a responsibility
to care for animals and not to abuse them. It is vital that the
RSPCA is given our support.”
The winner of the RSPCA award – Hero Animal of the Year – was Henry,
a springer spaniel. After suffering appalling neglect at the hands of a
former owner, Henry was adopted by Julie Barrett, who suffers from a
number of conditions, including diabetes. He can detect when her blood
glucose is low and has actually saved Julie’s life by fetching her mother
when she fell seriously ill with septicaemia. Henry is now deaf, but he’s
learnt sign language and is an ambassador for the Deaf Dog Network.
RSPCA Animal Welfare Officer Hayley Plows won the RSPCA Superstar
of the Year Award. Inspirational Hayley works with some of the most
vulnerable members of society in her quest to help London’s most
distressed and badly treated cats. Hayley works closely with the police
and local authorities, helps RSPCA inspectors and conducts home visits
for potential adopters and fosterers. She is responsible for trapping feral
colonies of cats, neutering them and finding them new, safer homes on
farms and she fundraises for the RSPCA in her own time.
The Daily Mirror’s Editor’s Choice Award went to RSPCA East Winch
staff for their work with seals – read more on pages 5 and 9.
Other awards included Rescue Animal of the Year, Caring Animal
Award, Young Animal Enthusiast, Public Service Animal and
Outstanding Business Award. There were also appearances from
1
TV presenter Julia Bradbury, Coronation Street’s Maria (Samia Ghadie),
Pussycat Doll Ashley Roberts, Deborah Meaden from Dragons’ Den,
newsreader Emma Crosby and Ashleigh and Pudsey from Britain’s Got
Talent. The 2015 awards will take place in London on 22 October.
www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/animal-hero-awards
20th anniversary for
RSPCA Stapeley Grange
2
3
A tiny blackbird with an infected eye has become the 100,000th animal
to pass through the doors of RSPCA Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre
and Cattery since it opened in 1994.
As part of RSPCA Stapeley Grange’s 20th anniversary celebrations,
Manager Lee Stewart had been counting the animals that were taken
into the centre. “I originally only had the figures going back to 1995, but
after further digging I managed to find 1994 admissions; they revealed
we were very close to hitting the 100,000 mark,” says Lee. “It is amazing
when you think about it, that so many animals have passed through our
doors during the last two decades.”
www.rspca.org.uk/local/stapeley-grange-wildlife-centre
Homes for horses
4
3
Our targeted, three-month campaign reaped huge rewards and resulted
in the RSPCA’s best-ever year for horse rehoming. More than 400 equines
went to new homes during 2014, 102 during the #HomesforHorses
campaign, reducing the number of horses in our care to fewer than 680,
the lowest number since the crisis started in 2009.
Double Olympic gold medallist Charlotte Dujardin (pictured right) fell in
love with a foal when he was taken into RSPCA care one Christmas.
The Sunday Times and Sky Sports
sportswoman of the year 2014 fell
for the foal and rehomed him when she
met him through a friend who cares for
horses on behalf of the RSPCA.
“There are hundreds of horses and ponies
that need homes; it has really opened my
eyes to what’s going on,” says Charlotte.
“It would be great if more people could
rescue as there are some lovely horses
and ponies needing homes. I’m really
pleased I’m able to help the RSPCA.”
www.rspca.org.uk/homesforhorses
It would be great
❝
if more people could
rescue as there are
some lovely horses
and ponies needing
homes. I’m really
pleased I’m able to
help the RSPCA.
Charlotte Dujardin
❞
Nick Brock x2, Nicola Chilton x2/RSPCA, Andrew Forsyth x2/RSPCA Photolibrary, Lee Stewart x1/RSPCA.
In June we launched our #HomesforHorses campaign with the aim of
finding homes for a record number of abused, neglected and abandoned
horses and ponies. Equine rehoming days took place throughout the
summer at RSPCA Gonsal Farm Animal Centre, Lockwood Centre for
Horses and Donkeys, RSPCA Felledge Animal Centre, RSPCA Millbrook
Animal Centre and RSPCA Southridge Animal Centre.
4
Meet Spencer
our cover star
He was discovered tied to a post in a
park, unable to stand up or move. The
police officer who found him covered
him with his coat for warmth, so it was
only fitting to name Spencer after him.
Following treatment and care in
boarding facilities and RSPCA centres,
Spencer made a full recovery and is
enjoying life in a loving new home.
“As soon as we saw him on the RSPCA
website we wanted him, he charmed us
instantly,” says owner Simon Oddy.
Simon’s parents ran an animal rescue
centre, so he grew up surrounded by
animals in need and encourages people
to adopt their pets: “There are just so
many rescue dogs out there, it’s good
to give them a chance. Somehow it
deepens the bond when you know
what they have been through and how
much they deserve a second chance
for a happy home.”
RSPCA Inspector Laura Sayer, pictured
here with Spencer’s new owners, is
delighted he’s found his forever home.
If you would like to give an animal
like Spencer a second chance at
a happy home, visit:
www.rspca.org.uk/findapet
He’s such a
❝
lovely dog and
was so sweet and
affectionate from
the word go, it
doesn’t surprise me
that someone fell for
him so quickly. It’s
the best part of our
job when we have
such happy endings,
it makes everything
so worthwhile.
RSPCA Inspector Laura Sayer
❞
Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Wilberforce Way, Southwater, Horsham, West Sussex RH13 9RS
0300 1234 999 www.rspca.org.uk
facebook.com/RSPCA twitter.com/RSPCA_official
The RSPCA helps animals in England and Wales. Registered charity no. 219099.
The RSPCA only exists with the support of public donations.
© RSPCA2015
Editorial: Gina Guarnieri and Judith Irwin Design: Kevin Long Cover photos: Andrew Forsyth/RSPCA Photolibrary