Oldest animal welfare organization in the world. (RSPCA)

Member Name: FORCHARITY

Product:	RSPCA
Date:	20/11/02 (914 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: rescues animals, prevents cruelty, educates people

Disadvantages: none

As a half-written opinion, this has been languishing homeless on my computer for quite some time now. When I came across the FORCHARITY scheme that has been set up within dooyoo ? visit the profile page for more details ? I thought that this would be the perfect incentive to complete my review and give it a worthwhile home. As the topic of the review is a charity in itself, what better place to post it?

I have been a member of the RSPCA for a considerable number of years now ? I first joined when I was still in junior school. My incentive? Well, I liked animals, and I knew that my membership would somehow help animals. Well, that and I got a glossy magazine every so often and the chance to earn certificates for conservation work ? which is very cool when you are 9. Or at least, it was to me as a 9 year old. Before I became a fully-fledged adult member, I earned the RSPCA?s bronze and silver awards for conservation ? which I?m sure my mother still has somewhere! These days though I find I have little time for such practical work, although my subscription is faithfully renewed every year and I still enjoy reading the magazines and reports I get from them.

The RSPCA is something a bit special. As the oldest animal welfare organization in the world, it was set up as the Society for Protection of Cruelty to Animals in London in 1824. Since then, it has worked tirelessly on two fronts ? to turn public opinion against the maltreatment of animals, and to employ inspectors for direct action and to bring offenders to court. Currently, the society has over 200 branches throughout England and Wales (although it has a sister society in the SSPCA in Scotland) and around 300 inspectors. The work of the society involves checking animal markets, pet shops, kennels, stables and zoos to ensure the animals are being fairly treated ? it also runs a chain of rescue and rehoming centres for unwanted pets, and several animal hospitals (such as the one featured
in the Rolf Harris BBC series). The RSPCA also campaigns on issues that it sees relevant to its cause, such as a ban on hunting with dogs and an end to factory farming.

This charity is a massive cause and one of the most popular in the UK ? it has a turnover of around £30m annually, all of which comes from the public rather than the government (two thirds of which are legacies). As a member, I help the charity by paying an annual subscription fee, and I also give one off donations to specific campaigns as and when I can afford to. I have also written letters to my MP to ask him to support petitions on animal welfare when parliament votes on them. This actually takes very little effort on my part, but the fact that there are so many people doing it makes the RSPCA a massive force in improving conditions for animals.

But it doesn?t just end there. The RSPCA uses its financial weight and practical experience to work with charities abroad to promote better welfare and bring medical aid to animals. This can involve donations, training, advice, equipment loans or a supply of medicines.

If you want to get involved in this cause, then visit www.rspca.org.uk, or write to them at their HQ in Horsham, West Sussex. Membership costs £17.50 for adults and £6 for children, and includes membership card, magazines, annual reports and the chance to vote at any society elections ? which is a vital aspect of membership, as there have been problems recently with several pro-hunting groups applying for entry to promote electoral results in their favour. Personally, I don?t find this expensive, and further donations of cash or voluntary labour are entirely at your discretion. You can also support the RSPCA by using their gift catalogues, as a donation from each purchase goes towards the charity?s work.

(Please note that the RSPCA does not condone any form of violent or criminal behaviour in pursuing its aims. This includes hunt saboteurs, pe
rsonal attacks such as those on Huntingdon Life Science staff or setting loose captive animals directly into the countryside).

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