RSPCA

This article is about the British charity. For the Australian organisation, see RSPCA Australia.

Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Formation16 June 1824
Founders
TypeNonprofit
FocusAnimals
HeadquartersHorsham, West Sussex, England
Area served
England and Wales
Key people
Chris Sherwood (CEO, August 2018 – present), Chris Packham (President, May 2023 – present)[1]
Revenue
£151.7m (2021)[2]
Employees
1,305 (2021)
Websiterspca.org.uk

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) is a charity operating in England and Wales which promotes animal welfare. The RSPCA is funded primarily by voluntary donations. Founded in 1824, it is the oldest and largest animal welfare organisation in the world,[3] and is one of the largest charities in the UK.[4] The organisation also does international outreach work across Europe, Africa and Asia.[5]

The charity's work has inspired the creation of similar groups in other jurisdictions, starting with the Ulster Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (founded in 1836), and including the Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (1839), the Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (1840), the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (1866), the Royal New Zealand Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (1882), the Singapore Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (1959) and various groups which eventually came together as the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Australia (1981), the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Hong Kong) (1997) — formerly known as the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Hong Kong) (1903–1997).

  1. ^ "RSPCA announces Chris Packham as President". RSPCA. 2023. Archived from the original on 14 June 2024.
  2. ^ "Trustees' Report and Accounts 2021". Charity Commission.
  3. ^ "Dog Rescue Pages – UK dog rescue centres and welfare organizations". Archived from the original on 2 March 2012. Retrieved 29 February 2012.
  4. ^ "Charity Insight page on the RSPCA. Retrieved 22 November 2010". Archived from the original on 8 July 2011.
  5. ^ "Our international work", RSPCA. Retrieved 16 August 2014.