What we have achieved
Like a proud mare showing off her new foal, this is where we celebrate what we’ve achieved. Every achievement, whether big or small, has helped us to improve the lives of animals. From lab rats to pet rats, in the last 187 years, we've covered it all!
Focusing our efforts
When we started our focus was mainly on working animals but as pets became more popular and other trends developed, such as large-scale farming – we’ve put our resources wherever they are needed. Read our heritage to follow our incredible journey from the beginning.
Sometimes it’s obvious where we should be focusing our efforts, at other times it can be trickier. Find out how we make tough decisions about animal welfare.
Changing trends
Times change and with it so do society’s priorities and attitudes. Like a growing puppy, we all need a little guidance from time to time. To help you stay in touch with the issues surrounding today’s animals we launch fantastic, informative campaigns, such as get puppy smart and better food labelling.
To help educate the next generation we’ve launched a fab new section of our website supporting teachers and youth justice professionals, with interactive resources designed to stimulate debate amongst young people.
Although our website is full of information to help you make informed decisions, we know that you’re busy people. So that you don’t miss out on the latest news and views we offer newsletters in your inbox, magazines through your letterbox and we’re even with you when you’re chatting online through Facebook and Twitter. Make sure you stay informed.
Things we can all be proud of
Thanks to the efforts of our supporters we have improved the lives of millions of animals. Here are just some of the things we've achieved recently:
We’ve improved the lives of farm animals by asking and encouraging you to buy higher welfare labelled products such as Freedom Food. More and more of you are now making an ethical choice at the supermarket.
We’re still rehoming thousands of cats, dogs, rabbits and pet rodents, finding loving homes for pets who need a second chance in life. And, when we needed to rehome the Amersham horses so many of you supported us that we were able to find permanent homes for 80 other horses and ponies too!
During 2011 our wildlife centres took in over 16,000 sick, injured and orphaned wild animals. Our ongoing research helps us understand how we can best prepare these animals for release. For example we have learnt that playing bird song to baby birds helps them breed more successfully after they leave our care.
We had major input into a new law that regulates the use of animals in research and testing in Europe, which was finalised in 2010. This should lead to improvements for lab animals in many countries across the EU. We also helped establish new global guidelines which, if widely implemented, will raise welfare standards for millions of laboratory animals.
Because of your donations we continue to be there for animals in trouble. Putting a stop to neglect and cruelty through prevention and prosecution, rescuing animals and offering them a better life.
