TRUSTEES' REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2014
4
2014 Leading animal
welfare into the 21st century
Chairman's foreword
2014 marked our 190th birthday, giving
us an opportunity to reflect on what we
have achieved in almost two centuries of
preventing cruelty to animals. We have
also considered what our priorities should
be, as we move towards our third century
of rescuing abused and neglected animals.
Our goal in 2014 was to put in place the
foundations for a strategic and sustainable
RSPCA that will be well placed to meet
the challenges of the future. The year
marked steady progress.
In the words of Stephen Wooler, a
former Chief Inspector of HM Crown
Prosecution Service Inspectorate,
whom we commissioned to conduct
an independent review of the RSPCA's
prosecution activity, "Since the RSPCA
was founded in 1824, its combination of
direct welfare action, campaigning for
law reform and enforcement of those
laws has advanced animal welfare beyond
anything its founders could have hoped
for or dreamed of." We must continue to
hope and to dream. Despite the progress
delivered by the RSPCA, so much more
remains to be done.
Like many charities we are feeling the
effects of the economic crisis, particularly
through a sharp increase in the number
of desperate animals needing our help
and making it harder to attract the level
of funding needed to deliver this. This
financial reality makes cost cutting and
streamlining essential for all charities. We
are no different and have taken steps to
ensure our resources are focused in the
right areas to help those animals most in
need. I am proud of what our dedicated
colleagues have achieved in this most
difficult sector of animal welfare: rescuing
and rehabilitating the most neglected
and abused animals in England and Wales;
operating a 24-hour ambulance service
for sick and injured strays and wildlife;
prosecuting people on behalf of the
animals they abuse and campaigning for
a better future for creatures that cannot
speak up for themselves.
One area of our work of which I was
particularly proud in 2014 was that of
horses. This was our best rehoming
year ever, achieved by running a major
integrated rehoming drive. We also
campaigned alongside other
equine charities for a change
to fly-grazing legislation in
England which will make it far
easier to secure the safety of
horses being illegally grazed.
The RSPCA owes its success
to the hard work, dedication and
passion of its staff and volunteers
to whom I express my thanks for their
support during the year. And thank you
to all our supporters who understand
that a donation to the RSPCA helps
the most desperate and abused
animals find a safer, kinder future.
Michael Tomlinson
CHAIRMAN, RSPCA COUNCIL
Andrew Forsyth, Becky Murray/RSPCA Photolibrary