A CHARITY that is marking its 200th anniversary this year says that over the past decade it has helped find homes for more than 1,700 animals in the Berkshire area.
The RSPCA launched in 1824, originally without the Royal part of its name. Its aim has not changed: to improve animal welfare across the world.
In the Royal County, it has two branches which act as separate charities: Reading with Oxon Border and East Berkshire. They rehabilitate and rehome rescued animals and help animals most in need in the area.
To mark the anniversary, the RSPCA asked its branches to look back at how many animals it has rehoused in the 10 years up to December 2022 – data for last year is not yet available.
It found that 1,745 animals had been rescued, sometimes from situations of cruelty, and horrendous suffering. With help from the charity’s volunteers, investigations took place, and the animals were given appropriate support to overcome their trauma.
And the charity’s work doesn’t stop there.
Over the past decade, the RSPCA helped neuter 1,759 pets, and microchip 2,150 animals.
Nationally, it rehomed 405,839 animal – that’s 111 every day.
And 615,000 animals have been patients at the charity’s hospitals for anything from life-saving operations to welfare treatments and a staggering 1.7 million vet treatments have been carried out.
While this is good news, the charity says that the cost-of-living crisis means it is facing bigger challenges than ever before.
It says animal neglect and abandonment is at a three-year high,
Last year, the RSPCA received 72,050 reports about animal abandonment and neglect – higher than in 2022, 2021 and 2020.
Dermot Murphy, RSPCA inspectorate commissioner, said: “We have even more animals in need of help coming into our care. At the same time, rehoming has been declining sharply, meaning thousands fewer rescue pets are being adopted and our branches and centres are full to bursting.
“We are also faced with increased bills and less donations due to the cost-of-living crisis which is one of the biggest challenges facing animal welfare right now – and this economic hardship is continuing into our 200th anniversary year.
“We are determined to rise to the challenge and help animals and pet owners who need us more than ever. That’s why we’re currently asking supporters to donate to help our rescue teams reach the thousands of animals who desperately need them.”
He continued: “Animals are now facing bigger challenges than ever as a result of factory farming, climate change, war and a cost of living crisis. In our 200th year we want to inspire one million people to join our movement to improve animals’ lives.
“We’ve been changing industries, laws, minds, and animals’ lives for 200 years. Together, there are actions, big and small, we can take to create a better world for every animal.”
To find out how you can join our million-strong movement for animals visit www.rspca.org.uk/200
The charity is also asking supporters to Join the Winter Rescue and make a donation to help rescue teams reach the thousands of animals who desperately need them. More information can be found on the RSPCA’s 200th anniversary webpage: https://www.rspca.org.uk/whatwedo/whoweare/history
