LONDON, UK – The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) is embarking on its 200th-anniversary celebrations with a renewed pledge to address the plight of factory-farmed poultry. Despite two centuries of advocacy to protect animals in the UK, the RSPCA warns that animals continue to face unprecedented challenges. The chief executive, Chris Sherwood, cites climate change, industrial farming, war, wildlife loss, and the legacy of the pandemic as contributing factors to the current state of animal welfare.
The RSPCA’s director of policy, Emma Slawinski, highlights the grim lives of factory-farmed chickens as a pressing issue. She points out that these chickens are genetically selected to grow quickly and are confined to cramped spaces, leading to their suffering. The RSPCA has a long history of advocating for animal welfare, having been formed in 1824 by a group that included the anti-slavery campaigner William Wilberforce, among others. Over the years, the RSPCA has been instrumental in the passage of laws to safeguard animals and prohibit various forms of animal cruelty.
While significant progress has been made, challenges remain. The surge in pet ownership during the pandemic, combined with the subsequent rise in abandoned pets and the cost of living crisis, has intensified the crisis facing pets and farm animals. In 2020 alone, the society recorded 16,000 cases of abandoned animals, and the total for 2023 is expected to be around 21,000.
The RSPCA’s continued efforts underscore the need for ongoing awareness and action to ensure the humane treatment of animals. With the support of the British public, the RSPCA remains committed to advocating for the welfare of all animals, despite the persistent challenges that exist.