Prevention is the ultimate aim. In an ideal world no animal would suffer in the first place, so we put a lot of effort into preventing cruelty wherever possible. We connect with as many people as possible in the following ways.

Education

From primary school classrooms in the UK to government officials in China, we are making sure animal welfare is a hot topic.
 

Attaining higher standards of animal welfare has benefits for a whole community. We use interactive resources to help teachers and youth justice professionals reach out to young people. Supporting them to develop informed, responsible and active citizens.

Through our international work we spread the word, supporting international campaigns and running customised animal welfare education courses.

Advice

We receive over a million calls a year from the public asking for advice, from concerns about dog fighting to worries about farm animals with no shade on hot days.

If you have any questions or concerns, please check our help and advice section, or contact us.

Preventative services

Where we can, we offer reduced cost veterinary services to pet owners on low incomes to make veterinary care affordable.

The main purpose of our veterinary work is to encourage responsible pet ownership by offering services such as neutering. In 2011, 82,812 animals were neutered at the RSPCA, helping to prevent more unwanted animals.

We also have our PetRetreat service which provides advice and pet fostering for families fleeing domestic abuse.

Since the launch of the scheme we have helped more than 600 families and 850 pets - all victims of domestic abuse.

Campaigning and the law

We campaign to make a change where animal welfare is suffering. With public support we are able to work with governments, demonstrating the need and public desire for change. By changing the law we are able to prevent more animals suffering in the future.

Check out our current campaigns.

The Animal Welfare Act

The Animal Welfare Act 2006 has enabled us to act before an animal suffers. Under the previous Act we had to wait for an animal to suffer before we could take action. Thankfully, there are now many more times when we can prevent situations from getting worse.

Find out more about the Animal Welfare Act and prosecution as prevention for when there's no alternative.

Help us to continue to prevent cruelty to animals. There are many ways to support us and get involved.