Our heritage
Times have changed in the last 185 years – and so have we.
Our history
When the RSPCA was founded in a London coffee shop back in 1824, the men present knew they were creating the world’s first animal welfare charity, but they couldn’t possibly have imagined the size and shape that the charity would become today.
Back then we were the SPCA - Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Royal patronage followed in 1837 and Queen Victoria gave permission to add the royal R in 1840, making us the RSPCA as we’re known worldwide today.
Moving with the times
We’ve always responded to animals in need, needs which have changed with the times.
When we were first founded, our common focus was working animals, such as ‘pit ponies’, who were worked down the coal mines.
Our work with pets that we’re best known for today, only developed with the trend to keep them.
Other trends we’ve reacted to include the use of animals in fashion. A trade which birds, foxes and even cats have all fallen foul to. In 1898 one million egrets were killed in Venezuela alone, in the name of fashion. The ‘Plumage Act’ was passed in 1919 to ban the use of certain birds’ plumage for fashion.
Animals and entertainment has been a common theme across the years, from bear-baiting to ‘modern’ day circuses. Bear-baiting and bull-baiting were abolished in 1835. Our chairman in 1924, Lord Lambourne, reflected that ‘for centuries both were keenly followed as our modern day football’.
Animals in war
Our involvement in the First and Second World Wars makes up a large part of our history and heritage.
Millions of animals were enlisted to serve alongside British, Commonwealth and Allied forces, and many RSPCA staff served on the frontline, not only to serve our country, but to help these animals.
Our animals in war pages give some key facts about our involvement in both wars and are dedicated to the memory of the animals and staff who lost their lives.
The Airport Hostel
The Airport Hostel is also a significant era in our history – and yet one not widely known about.
Find out how we cared for millions of animals when the trade and transport of animals took off.
The law
The RSPCA has always been influential in forming and improving animal welfare law.
In 1822, two years before we were founded, ‘Martin’s Act’ was passed. It was the very first animal welfare law and it forbade ‘the cruel and improper treatment of cattle’.
Thirteen years on, in 1835, and ‘Pease’s Act’ consolidated this law. The prohibition of cruelty was extended to dogs and other domestic animals, bear-baiting and cock-fighting was forbidden, and it insisted on better standards for slaughter houses.
Other successes along the way have included laws for lab animals, the abolition of fur farming in the UK, and the ban of fox hunting with dogs.
Today we are still changing the law - find out how.
Great minds . . .
Our pioneering approach has always attracted support, including some high profile supporters that help us to raise ours even more.
Today we can count Jamie Oliver, Simon Cowell and Countryfile’s Kate Humble among our supporters. And across the years we’ve attracted support from some rather distinguished characters.
William Wilberforce was one of our founders in the coffee shop back in 1824. He was also a politician and an esteemed leader of the movement to abolish the slave trade.
Charles Dickens was a member and great supporter of ours, and so was Thomas Hardy. For our 100th anniversary in 1924, Hardy wrote Compassion (PDF 25KB) as an ode to the RSPCA.
A nation of animal lovers
The greatest shift across the times has been in attitude. In the UK we’re known as ‘a nation of animal lovers’ but it wasn’t always that way.
When we were founded it was a challenge to get the British public to recognise animals as sentient beings - and not just commodities for food, transport or sport.
When we think how far we’ve come it’s inspiring to think how much more of a difference we can make.
Our own history and heritage should remind us of just how possible change is around the world. Right now we are working with China to develop its first animal welfare law, and here in England and Wales there’s still so much to do.
With your support and our expertise, so much more can be achieved!
