Animal MAGIC
THE RSPCA HAS BEEN HELPING AND SAVING ANIMALS FOR NEARLY 200 YEARS AND TODAY NEEDS YOUR HELP AND SUPPORT MORE THAN EVER
The RSPCA was founded in a London coffee shop in 1824. The men present knew they were creating the world’s first animal welfare charity, but they couldn’t have imagined the size and shape that the charity would become today.
Back then the RSPCA was known as the SPCA – the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Royal patronage followed in 1837 and Queen Victoria gave permission to add the royal R in 1840, making the RSPCA as it is known worldwide today.
When the charity was founded, its focus was on working animals, such as pit ponies, who worked in the coal mines. But it has changed with the times and during the First and Second World Wars it worked to help the millions of animals enlisted to serve alongside British, Commonwealth and Allied forces. Its work with pets, which is what it is best known for today, only developed with the trend to keep them.
WHAT THE RSPCA DOES
As the oldest animal welfare charity in the world the RSPCA works hard to ensure that all animals can live a life free of pain and suffering and through its campaigns raises standards of care and awareness of issues for the animals who have no voice.
Through investigations and prosecutions it stands up to those who deliberately harm animals and sends out a clear message that it will not tolerate animal abuse. Its highly trained officers tackle neglect and cruelty at every level
“The RSPCA believes that every animal has the right to be counted
as an individual”
and work hard to stamp out large-scale serious, organised and commercial animal cruelty. With public support it pushes for laws to be changed, improving the welfare of animals on farms in research labs, in the wild, in paddocks or in our homes.
The RSPCA believes that every animal has the right to be counted as an individual. Animals can rely on the RSPCA to rescue them when they need them most, to rehabilitate them wherever
possible, to provide them with the very best veterinary care and to find them new homes, either through rehoming or release.
REHOMING
Most of the animals in the RSPCA’s care have had a difficult start in life, having been victims of cruelty, or been abandoned or neglected. For that reason they need to find special homes, with special people, who can help pets to learn what it’s really like to be in a loving, caring home. The RSPCA carefully matches each pet to the right new owner and in 2013 found the perfect pet for over 55,000 families and individuals.
HOME FOR LIFE
If you’re worried about what will happen to your beloved pets after you pass away, you might be interested to know that with the RSPCA’s Home for Life service your will can be used to help safeguard their future too. With this free service you can rest assured that, after you pass on, the RSPCA will be there for your loving animal companions who have given you so much. All it takes is a simple clause instructing that care of your pets should be handed over to the RSPCA after your death. Knowing how much they mean to you, the RSPCA will do its best to look after your beloved pets, and do everything it can to find them loving new homes. All the animals in their care are given a health-check, and for most domestic animals they provide vaccinations, neutering and micro-chipping as necessary.
Last year, the RSPCA together with its branches rehomed over 55,000 animals, more than any other animal charity. New owners are checked for suitability, and they often do followup checks too.
The RSPCA Home for Life service offers you peace of mind that you have made arrangements for the care of your pets. If you’re thinking of using Home for Life, perhaps you might also consider leaving a gift in your will to the RSPCA. The RSPCA relies on public support, with over half its income coming from people kind enough to remember the animals in their wills.
For all the information and suggested wording to register for Home for Life please visit homeforlife.org.uk or ring 0300 123 0239
“The Home for Life service offers you peace of mind that you have made arrangements for the care of your pets”
HOW TO HELP
During this difficult economic time the RSPCA relies more than ever on public support to cope with an increase in the number of animals that are being abandoned.
Without the help of its generous supporters there would be no RSPCA. All of its work – all the rescues, the rehomings, the campaigns that change millions of lives – is only possible because of its supporters.
There are many ways you can support the RSPCA’s work, including making a one-off or regular donation. You can also join the RSPCA as a member, leave a legacy, take out its pet insurance or become a corporate partner. Take a look at its website rspca.org.uk to find a way to help the RSPCA that suits you. The RSPCA is a registered charity (charity number 219099) and it simply could not exist without support from people like you.
LEAVE A LEGACY
Gifts left to the RSPCA in wills pay for over half of the RSPCA’s work. A gift in your will can mean that when an animal comes to them hungry or neglected they are able to care for them, or even save their life.
Over the years, gifts have helped the charity build and maintain its animal centres and hospitals. Today, these gifts are as vital as ever, allowing the RSPCA to invest in essential new facilities like an on-site veterinary suite at the Blackberry Farm Animal Centre in Buckinghamshire. For more information visit rspca.org.uk/legacy or call 0300 123 0239 or email legacycare@rspca.org.uk