Facts and figures

Key information

• Every 25 seconds someone in England and Wales dials 0300 1234 999 - the RSPCA's 24-hour cruelty line - for help. We received more than one million phone calls during 2008.
   
• We have 330 RSPCA inspectors, 80 animal welfare officers and 115 animal collection officers working to prevent cruelty and promote kindness to animals in England and Wales. Read more about what we do.
   
• In 2007, the Animal Welfare Act passed into law. For the first time, this law places a clear legal obligation on people to care properly for their animals. And the Act can also help RSPCA inspectors to prevent animal suffering by taking action earlier in cases of ongoing neglect.
   
• We have a network of 170 RSPCA branches around England and Wales, and we work with many animal welfare organisations abroad through our international team.
   
• Our four RSPCA animal hospitals and five clinics treat pets in need of preventative medicine or welfare treatments belonging to members of the public who can’t afford private veterinary fees.  (We also have 37 clinics and 3 mobile clinics run by our branches.)
   
• Our 16 regional animal centres across England and Wales help people adopt pets and rehome more animals than any other organisation.  (We also have 40 animal centres run by our branches.)
   
• We have four specialist RSPCA wildlife centres in England.
   
• The RSPCA also works to improve the lives of millions of farm, laboratory and wild animals.  

        * More than 900 million farm animals are reared every year in the UK.
        * More than 3.58 million animals were used in research in the UK in 2008.
     

During 2008 the RSPCA...

• rescued and collected 143,501 animals
   
• treated and helped 214,657 animals in our hospitals and clinics, including neutering 87,105 animals
   
• found new homes for 70,017 animals
   
• microchipped 68,385 animals, helping them to stay safe
   
• investigated 140,575 cruelty complaints
   
• secured 2,574 convictions by private prosecution to protect animals against those who break the laws
   
• provided 5,653 meals for animals in our care on Christmas Day.
   

Pet population

• The UK pet population in 2009* is estimated at:

        8 million cats, in over 5.2 million households
        8 million dogs, in over 6 million households 
        4.7 million households owning fish (tanks and ponds)
        12 million non-domestic pets are kept in the UK

• In the UK, about 1 in 2 households own a pet*

*Latest available estimated figures from the Pet Food Manufacturers' Association (PFMA). 

About the RSPCA

• Our mission is to, by all lawful means, prevent cruelty, promote kindness to and alleviate suffering of animals.
   
• We were established in 1824 as the SPCA - Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Royal patronage follwed in 1837 and Queen Victoria gave permission to add the royal R in 1840, making us the RSPCA as we're known worldwide today. Find out more about our heritage.
   
• The RSPCA is a registered charity in England and Wales that receives no lottery funding and relies entirely on private donations.
   
• The annual running costs (around £124 million in 2008) of the national Society and all our branches are funded almost entirely by donations and legacies.
   
• Our patron is Her Majesty the Queen, and vice-patron His Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury. Read more about our people.