More than 12,000 animals have been rehomed by the RSPCA in Hertfordshire in the last decade.
The remarkable rehoming achievement has been revealed as the RSPCA celebrates its milestone 200th birthday in 2024.
The charity has come a long way since 1824 — when founding members of the charity met in a coffee shop in London determined to change animals’ lives, creating the then SPCA, and sparking an animal welfare movement that spread around the world.
Now, as the RSPCA enters its landmark 200th anniversary year, the charity wants to inspire a one million strong movement for animals, as the charity aims to "create a better world for every animal".
Today, Hertfordshire is served by a team of RSPCA rescuers who save animals and investigate cruelty while also offering welfare advice and help to pet owners in need.
The county is also home to the national RSPCA Southridge Animal Centre, which is situated in Packhorse Lane, between South Mimms and London Colney, and two independent RSPCA branches — RSPCA Hertfordshire East Branch and RSPCA Middlesex North West and South Hertfordshire Branch — who rehabilitate and rehome rescued animals and help animals most in need in the area.
These separately registered charities raise money locally to support the animal welfare work they do.
Many animals will have endured horrendous suffering but with the care of dedicated staff and volunteers they will be helped to recover before they are found loving homes.
The latest available figures show that in the ten years up until the end of 2022, they have found new homes for a staggering 12,892 animals.
Additionally they have helped pet owners in the county by providing:
- 10,185 neuters (to stop unwanted pregnancies and promote responsible ownership).
- 9,460 microchips – to help reunite lost pets with their owners.
Nationally, the charity has rehomed 405,839 pets in need of a loving new home since 2013, thanks to its network of 140 branches and animal centres across England and Wales — which equates to 111 animals every day.
Also during that time 615,000 animals have been patients at the charity’s hospitals for anything from life-saving operations to welfare treatments and a staggering 1.7 million vet treatments have been carried out.
At a time when animals are facing bigger challenges than ever with the cost–of-living crisis, animal neglect and abandonment is sadly at a three-year high.
In 2023, the RSPCA received 72,050 reports about animal abandonment and neglect — higher than in 2022, 2021 and 2020.
Dermot Murphy, RSPCA inspectorate commissioner, said: “We have even more animals in need of help coming into our care — but at the same time rehoming has been declining sharply, meaning thousands fewer rescue pets are being adopted and our branches and centres are full to bursting.
We are also faced with increased bills and less donations due to the cost-of-living crisis, which is one of the biggest challenges facing animal welfare right now — and this economic hardship is continuing into our 200th anniversary year.
“But we are determined to rise to the challenge and help animals and pet owners who need us more than ever.
"That’s why we’re currently asking supporters to Join the Winter Rescue by donating to help our rescue teams reach the thousands of animals who desperately need them."
Dermot added: “Animals are now facing bigger challenges than ever as a result of factory farming, climate change, war and a cost-of-living crisis.
"In our 200th year we want to inspire one million people to join our movement to improve animals' lives.
“We’ve been changing industries, laws, minds, and animals' lives for 200 years. Together, there are actions, big and small, we can take to create a better world for every animal.”
- To find out how you can join the RSPCA's million-strong movement for animals visit www.rspca.org.uk/200
- The charity is also asking supporters to join the Winter Rescue and make a donation to help rescue teams reach the thousands of animals who desperately need them.
- More information can be found on the RSPCA's 200th anniversary webpage https://www.rspca.org.uk/whatwedo/whoweare/history
A timeline highlighting some of the RSPCA’s rich history
1824 – The SPCA was founded in The Old Slaughter Coffee Shop, in London, by anti-slavery campaigners William Wilberforce, Richard 'Humanity Dick' Martin and theologist Arthur Broome.
SPCAs forming around the world – It was the birth of an animal welfare movement which inspired the creation of SPCAs around the globe, including in the USA in 1860, Australia in 1872, New Zealand in 1882 and Hong Kong in 1903.
Today, there are over 200 SPCAs all around the world from the Lilongwe SPCA in Malawi to the Ontario SPCA in Canada.
1835 – Championing the Pease's Act which prohibited cruelty to dogs and other domestic animals, outlawed bear-baiting and cock-fighting, and insisted on better standards for slaughter houses.
1840 – Queen Victoria gave permission for the SPCA to add Royal to its name. The now RSPCA established a team of inspectors to help animals. The RSPCA pre-date the Met Police.
1875 – Catherine Smithies and anti-slavery activist established The Bands of Mercy, a youth movement to encourage children to love animals. In 1879 a publication was started.
1911 – RSPCA led the call for improved legislation which resulted in the Protection of Animals Act, creating the first comprehensive approach to protecting animals
1914 – The Exportation of Horses Act (relating to five ports) goes through Parliament, following campaigning from Ada Cole – who founded World Horse Welfare and later did research for the RSPCA's special operations team – along with the RSPCA.
1914 – During the First World War the RSPCA set up 13 animal hospitals to care for horses injured during service, including the provision of over 200 animal ambulances. These were paid for by a fundraising campaign called the RSPCA Fund for Sick and Injured Horses. Many RSPCA staff members signed up to serve in the Royal Veterinary Corp.
1939 – During the Second World War RSPCA frontline officers rescued 256,000 animals trapped and injured in bombing raids. The charity fundraised to help animals used in war and sent veterinary supplies abroad.
1952 – First two women RSPCA patrol officers started work, forerunners to female inspectors in the 1970s. Now a majority of the RSPCA frontline staff are female.
1953 – RSPCA teams worked through flood water during the East Coast floods to save 10,390 animals including cattle, horses, livestock, rabbits, ferrets, cats, ferrets, some hibernating tortoises and even a monkey!
1980 – The RSPCA set up Eurogroup for Animals, bringing together animal welfare organisations from across Europe and further afield to work together to call for EU-wide animal protections. Eurogroup has been instrumental in achieving legislative change from banning the routine tail docking of pigs, sow stalls and veal crates through to the recognition of animals as sentient in European law and the ban on cosmetics tested on animals
1994 – The RSPCA created RSPCA Assured (formerly Freedom Food), the only welfare-focused food assurance scheme in the UK. Millions of farm animals and fish have had better lives as a result of being farmed to the RSPCA’s welfare standards since the RSPCA Assured scheme began.
2006 – After many years of campaigning, the Animal Welfare Act was passed which actively set out to prevent unnecessary suffering and improve animal welfare by embedding the five welfare needs into law.
2010 – The RSPCA was part of the Animal Relief Coalition for Haiti response to the devastating earthquake.
2020 – The Coronavirus pandemic saw England and Wales go into a lockdown but the RSPCA's frontline rescue officers, vet and centre staff were designated key workers and continued working to help animals most in need.
2021 – The RSPCA celebrated a milestone victory for animal welfare. After years of dedicated campaigning from teams and supporters, the UK Government passed the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill – increasing the maximum sentence for offenders ten fold, from six months to five years.
2022 – Following a high-profile campaign, working in partnership with other organisations, the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Bill was passed; restoring the recognition of animal sentience in law, legally recognising the sentience of cephalopod and decapod crustaceans for the first time, and establishing the Sentience Committee tasked with scrutinising the extent to which any government policy has taken animals' welfare needs into account.
2024 - The RSPCA marks its 200th anniversary.
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