TRUSTEES' REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2022 13
Changing laws
WE SAID WE'D… …AND WE DID IT BY… THE IMPACT ON ANIMALS
✚ push for a UN declaration
or convention on animal
protection
✚ securing a UN resolution, which acknowledges
that animals are sentient and their welfare
should be protected
✚ This is a significant step towards better
animal welfare worldwide
✚ target illegal hare coursing ✚ seeing hare coursing encompassed in the Police
and Crime Act, along with increased sentencing
✚ Fewer hares will suffer and, with police
taking the lead on such cases, our frontline
rescuers can focus on other animals in need
✚ encourage the government
to set up a new
Sentience Committee
✚ securing the Sentience Act and agreement
to set up a government committee for England,
which is now testing policy-makers' focus on
animal sentience
✚ Millions of animals will be protected from
unnecessary harm with animal sentience now
firmly at the heart of policy-making decisions
New animal welfare laws passed
Sadly, though the government made 39 promises that would
make a real and lasting difference to animal welfare in its
Action Plan for Animals in 2021, only three were completed
into law in 2022 and 19 stalled. However, we continued to
advocate for action and welcome the announcement that
farmers who farm to higher welfare standards will receive
subsidy payments.
l The Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act means animal
sentience is recognised in law
l A ban was passed on the unlicensed use of cruel glue
traps in England
l Cat microchipping is to be introduced for owned cats
from April 2024
First Animal Kindness Index confirms
we're a nation of animal lovers
Our very first annual Animal Kindness Index told us a lot about
the UK and its attitudes to animals in 2022. Commissioned
by the RSPCA and the Scottish SPCA, it revealed us to be
a nation of animal lovers who see animal welfare as the
responsibility of everyone, including governments.
Worryingly, the cost-of-living crisis is having an impact on
pet owners, with 28 percent being concerned about being
able to afford the right care for their pets. A huge rise in
online searches for cheap vets or questions about self-
treating pets tells an alarming story.
Overwhelmingly, people think animal welfare should be
taught in schools, which supports our ambition to have
it included in the National Curriculum.
Nine-year-old Sofia at home
with her kitten Jessie,
who was born at RSPCA
Leybourne Animal Centre.
Our very first annual Animal
Kindness Index...revealed us to be a
nation of animal lovers who see animal
welfare as the responsibility of everyone,
including governments.