Who we are

FOR EVERY KIND

The RSPCA is the world’s oldest and largest animal protection organisation. We were founded 200 years ago in a coffee shop in London by a group of revolutionaries – including anti-slavery campaigner William Wilberforce, Irish MP Richard Martin and the Reverend Arthur Broome – sparking an animal welfare movement which spread around the globe. We exist today to inspire everyone to create a better world for every animal.

For 200 years, we have changed laws, attitudes, behaviours and the lives of billions of animals in the UK and around the world. We investigate cruelty and neglect, and rescue animals in urgent need, and our rescue teams work with staff and volunteers across our network of hospitals, centres, branches, and partners to rehabilitate, release or rehome a huge variety of species.

Through our campaigning and advocacy work, we change laws – more than 400 during the last two centuries – improving the welfare of millions of animals in homes, on farms, in laboratories and in the wild. We work to change industries, ending cruel practices that harm animals here in the UK and internationally. Through our RSPCA Assured farm scheme we promote higher welfare farming, assuring more than 4,000 farms. We change behaviours, through our new brand, education and prevention work with educators, organisations, businesses and communities to empower everyone to be kinder to animals.

The RSPCA works in communities through its 135 branches in England and Wales, with more than 10,000 volunteers doing everything from collecting animals, fostering, dog walking, and campaigning to becoming a wildlife friend. We work in England and Wales, with around 400 animal rescuers investigating cruelty and neglect, four hospitals and clinics, as well as 14 animal centres and four wildlife centres offering expert treatment, rehabilitation, behavioural and rehoming services. And we work around the world, beyond borders, using our voice, our expertise and our profile to drive change for animals in partnership with others.