How we work

We look for integrated solutions and a joined up approach to issues affecting animal welfare and human welfare within the sectors of society, agriculture, industry and the environment.

RSPCA International's proactive country programmes are concentrated in three key regions – Europe, East Asia and southern Africa – but we respond to requests for support, advice and help in emergencies from around the world, and work closely with other international animal welfare organisations and global institutions. Find out more in who we work with.
 

Europe

In Europe, our work focuses on helping member states and candidate countries to achieve the required standards of animal welfare to join the European Union.

The EU has about 30 laws protecting farm animals, wildlife and animals used in research and it grew rapidly in the 2000s, from 15 to 27 member states. We are currently working on stray animal control and poultry production in Turkey, providing training in both areas in 2012. A groundbreaking veterinary network in the Western Balkans which we helped to set up in 2008 is still going strong. Comprised of six countries,the West Balkans Veterinary Network (WBVN) works to raise animal welfare standards in the region by developing training and research, and disseminating information on issues related to the welfare of farm, companion and research animals.
Interested in finding out more about the WBVN?  Visit their website.

Read their leaflet: 

Western Balkans Veterinary Network for Animal Welfare leaflet (PDF 610KB) 

 

East Asia

With dynamic economies and rapidly changing social structures, China and other countries in East Asia have the potential to make great progress in the field of animal welfare.

The concept of animal welfare has seen a surge of interest from the government and the wider public that has enabled us to work on a wide range of societal and agricultural issues including animal welfare education, farm animal welfare and inspectorate development. In 2009, China agreed its first draft animal protection law and we are monitoring its progress. We have recently completed a five year programme of animal welfare education training in Taiwan and in late 2011, we ran our first ever shelter management training course in Korea. In early 2012, we hosted visits from several Korean delegations interested in farm assurance and labelling schemes, and in improving animal shelter conditions.

southern Africa

Current projects in Africa are concentrated in Zambia, Zimbabwe and Malawi, where we supported the establishment of the country’s first ever animal welfare organisation - the Lilongwe Society for the Protection and Care of Animals (LSPCA).

Our animal welfare work is closely linked to human development objectives and wildlife conservation programmes. It includes rabies and Newcastle disease vaccination projects, law enforcement training, animal welfare education, and the development of humane methods of preventing elephant crop raiding and potential human-wildlife conflict. March 2011 saw RSPCA International partnering LSPCA to run training for police commissioners across Malawi on the importance of animal protection legislation and strategies for better enforcement, while in February 2012 we sent a container to Malawi containing everything needed to set up a permanent, operational veterinary clinic.
Interested in finding out more about animal welfare in Malawi? Visit the LSPCA website.

 

Find out more about how we work by visiting the Society, Agriculture, Industry and Environment pages of the International site.

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