Campaign Successes 2009

We had some really fantastic successes last year – many achieved with the help of individual supporters like you.

Here’s our top 5, with a big thank you to anyone who petitioned, blogged, or just raised the issues with friends down the pub.

1. Better protection for dogs and cats in England and Wales

The culmination of five years work, we finally managed to get dog and cat codes in place under the Animal Welfare Act in Wales and now England. This should make the law much easier to understand and ensures that owners have clearer guidelines on how to properly care for their pets.

2. Quash the Squash – looking out for chickens

When the EU announced its new law to cover chickens bred for meat, astonishingly it allowed chickens to be kept in even more cramped conditions than standard industry practice in the UK.

Our ‘Quash the Squash’ campaign, in conjunction with CIWF and WSPA, was backed up by no less than 11,000 RSPCA supporters who petitioned the Government urging them not to reduce the living space provided to our chickens when the law was brought into England and Wales.

Despite intense pressure from the chicken industry, it worked! New rules were proposed in England to keep standards higher than the recommended European ones.

3. The Big Stop – wild animals in circuses

Many people don’t realise that some circuses in the UK still keep wild animals in captivity. 4,000 RSPCA supporters joined our ‘Big Stop’ campaign to ask the Government to hold a public consultation in England.

Realising the depth of feeling, the English Government agreed to a public consultation that took place in March 2010. The brilliant news is that 94% of respondents supported a ban and before the election, the Government agreed to consider a complete ban in England on the use of wild animals in circuses. Read more in our Big Stop Campaign news update.

4. Getting shock collars banned

We firmly believe that shock collars are inhumane. These collars enable owners to give an electric shock to their dog if they want to train it or correct its behaviour. This is not a form of training that the RSPCA supports and goes against all the good forms that can lead to a more permanent change in behaviour.

The great news is we have managed to get shock collars – indeed any electrical device for dogs and cats – banned in Wales. The next challenge is to get similar legislation in place in England.

5. Rooting for pigs

Our ‘Rooting for pigs’ campaign is all about improving the conditions that these lovable, intelligent animals are reared in.

Up until now, unlike eggs or chickens, there hasn’t been an industry agreed or legal definition for terms like ‘free range’ for pigs. Now there is! During 2009 we worked hard to bring pig farmers, processors and the big supermarkets together and we’re delighted that Asda, M&S, Morrisons, Sainsbury's, Tesco, The Co-operative and Waitrose have all agreed to take part in a new voluntary labelling scheme.

Meanwhile, our Freedom Food mark on packaging is still a great way to distinguish that your sausages, bacon or pork joints came from pigs reared to RSPCA standards. Our campaign, supported by Jamie Oliver’s Channel 4 programme ‘Jamie saves our bacon’ has now resulted in a 23 per cent increase in the number of pigs being reared to the RSPCA’s higher welfare standards under Freedom Food (from nearly 1.6 million in 2008 to more than 1.9 million at the end of 2009). This accounts for 20 per cent of UK pigs reared in the UK!

How can I get involved in helping animals?

What can you do? Join the campaign network and let’s keep this one moving on together.

A great year of campaigning, but have no fear. We’re not complacent. There’s lots more to do and many more ways you can help. Take a look our current campaigns here.