Welcome to
our 2014 review2014 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.
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
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.