The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) is today (Friday, June 14) celebrating its 200th birthday during its “busiest week of the year”.
The animal welfare charity took 31,947 calls to its emergency line during its birthday week last year (June 12-18).
The charity’s rescuers also dealt with 5,573 incidents in that week alone – with its frontline teams responding to countless pets, wild and other animals subjected to cruelty, neglect and mistreatment.
The RSPCA has said it has already been “incredibly busy” during its 200th year, with 330,415 calls received by the charity’s emergency line (up to May 27) even before the busiest summer months begin; with rescuers dealing with a whopping 116,512 incidents of concern.
The charity is urging people to join its million-strong movement with animals facing “some of the biggest threats in our history” – including the cost of living crisis, the growth of intensive farming and climate change.
RSPCA chief executive Chris Sherwood said: “Our dedicated rescue teams are so busy on the frontline for animals, and – as we celebrate our landmark 200th anniversary this week – we’re expecting to be as busy as ever.
“But we know we can’t do this alone – and the support of our friends in the animal welfare sector, and the public, is set to be more important than ever as we all look to work together to create a kinder, better world for all animals.
“To keep creating a better world for every animal, we need more people to take action. That’s why, in our 200th year, we want one million people to join our movement – and to share in our vision for every kind.”
‘We’re so proud’
Sherwood said the charity is “so proud” that animals’ lives have changed beyond recognition over the last two centuries.
“But we know animals are now facing some of the biggest threats in our history, from climate change to intensive farming, the cost of living and the ongoing effects of the pandemic,” he said.
“And the fact that we expect our birthday week to again be one of our busiest of the year for our officers highlights how the RSPCA cannot do this alone – animal welfare is for everyone.
“That’s why we’ve launched a new tool on our website, to help the public understand the best and quickest way of helping an animal they think needs help – like those which may be sick, injured, lost, or abandoned.
“Whether it’s transferring animals to the vet, sharing advice online, or contacting our rescuers to respond to cruelty and neglect, we can all do our bit for animals. Because a world that is better for animals, is better for us all.”
