2024 success stories
A roundup of the biggest and best moments for animals in 2024. Here's what we've achieved together!
1. We celebrated 200 years
This year marks a gigantic milestone - reaching 200 years of improving the lives of animals! Thanks to supporters like you, we’ve improved millions of animals' lives by changing laws, industries and minds. 200 years of dedication, and we’re far from slowing down. Here’s how we’ve celebrated our anniversary in 2024....
2. The end of live exports
After nearly a century of campaigning alongside dedicated supporters and partners, the live export of animals abroad for fattening and slaughter was finally banned from Great Britain. At its height, one million animals were being exported. This is one of the biggest achievements for animal welfare in modern history.
This is momentous for animals. This campaign has been an incredible example of people power, and what we can all achieve together for animal welfare.
3. For Every Kind launched
We launched our For Every Kind campaign to help us all radically rethink our relationship with every animal. Polling of more than 2,500 UK adults revealed 90 percent think dogs can experience positive emotions like happiness, but only 34 percent think rats can and just 42 percent think chickens can.
In reality, both species experience lives rich in emotions – rats love to play and even giggle when tickled, and chickens can count and some show empathy for their flockmates. The campaign, and our partnership with Channel 4’s Gogglebox, encouraged everyone to consider how they could be kinder to animals.
4. 20,000 animals found forever homes
Many of our rehoming centres have been bursting at the seams while caring for pets who’ve been waiting 100 days or more to be adopted. Through our annual Adoptober campaign, we helped many animals find their forever homes.
By the end of 2024, our centres and branches will have found new homes for more than 20,000 animals across England and Wales.
Do you have space in your home for a new family member? Many animals in our care from guinea pigs and birds to reptiles and dogs are looking for a safe and loving home like yours.
5. #BeAKindSpark launched
Thanks to our campaign across England and Wales, we’ve seen neighbours commit to being a Kind Spark this year – in fact, 26,664 of you took action to help reduce the impact of fireworks on animals. Fireworks can bring a lot of joy to celebrations, but for neighbours with pets, horses or livestock, it can be a time of intense stress.
As we approach Christmas and New Year, you can use our new online tool to see how many animals would be affected in your area by a private fireworks display. You can also discover how to be a firework-friendly neighbour and make changes to help animals in your local area.
6. Disposable vapes banned
In great news for wildlife, the UK Government announced banning disposable vapes in 2025 following our campaign. Five million disposable vapes are thrown away weekly in the UK with some entering our waterways and having potentially devastating consequences for our wildlife. The ban will come into effect in England and Wales from June 2025.
Discarded disposable vapes pose a threat to the environment and animals. The infrastructure for recycling these vapes just isn't widely available, and too many single-use vapes are simply being tossed away in our communities, putting animals needlessly at risk.
7. Government pledged to phase out animal testing
According to government reporting, 2024 saw a three percent reduction in the number of animals used in research and testing, marking the lowest number since 2001.
Additionally, since we started our Ending Severe Suffering initiative in 2014, there has been a 67 percent reduction. However, this report showed 2.68 million experiments were still conducted on animals in 2023.
The General Election also brought important progress. The new Labour Government pledged pre-election to “partner with scientists, industry, and civil society as we work towards the phasing out of animal testing”. We will be holding them to their pledge, pressing for a comprehensive and properly funded strategy.
8. 34,000 hours volunteered
Our amazing teams of Animal Rescue Volunteers, Wildlife Friends and Micro Volunteers have made a big difference for animals this year. We welcomed 186 new Animal Rescue Volunteers across England and Wales, and around 300 Animal Rescue Volunteers have given more than 34,000 hours of their time collecting and transferring almost 4,000 animals!
We also had an incredible 1,600 people sign up to be an RSPCA Wildlife Friend. This dedicated group of people support wildlife in their area with everything from helping hedgehogs get ready for hibernation to taking part in litter picks. Our volunteers achieve so much and we simply couldn’t do everything we do for animals without them.
9. 228 pet food banks set up
Our regional pet food banks reached an incredible milestone – the delivery of two million pet food meals to animal lovers struggling with the cost-of-living crisis. The Pet Food Bank Partnership was established in 2020 to support anyone financially struggling to care for themselves and their pets during the pandemic.
Demand has grown since then, and as of October 2024 we’ve partnered with charities and local organisations to establish 228 pet food banks across England. We’ll continue to expand pet food banks next year to help keep more pets in loving homes.
10. 700,000 young people reached
We reached more than 700,000 children through online resources, events and digital initiatives as part of our education and prevention work in 2024. This outreach has sparked important conversations on topics like animal sentience, mental health and wellbeing, and safe relationships between children and dogs.
‘Pets, Wellbeing and Me’ was an event that left a lasting impression on children about the positive impact pets have on our wellness. For World Animal Day in October, 6,000 children engaged in ‘Pets and the Planet', an event about the importance of animal enrichment. Together we’re shaping a future where compassion for animals is taught, understood, and embraced.
11. Welsh animal welfare establishments one step closer to being regulated
For a decade, RSPCA Cymru has been campaigning for animal welfare establishments (AWEs), such as sanctuaries, rescues and rehoming centres, to be regulated. AWEs offer vital services to the public and protect animal welfare, but unlike places such as riding schools, dog breeders and cat boarders, AWEs are not subject to any regulations in Wales.
This means anyone can set up an AWE, regardless of skills, funds or resources needed to care for animals. We reached a significant milestone in 2024 when the government’s consultation closed and we hope the outcome will be made public soon.
12. Over 25,000 people explore the world in 2050
Over 25,000 people have played our game 'Animal Futures' in just three months, discovering what the world could look like in 2050 for animals and people alike. Some of these futures look quite bleak, while others reflect a world where we tackle the challenges facing animals. The good news is we can all help shape a bright future. The decisions we make today about climate change, technological progress, in politics and about what we eat – will all make a difference.
We still need your help change animals’ futures
From the end of live animal exports to the impressive work of our volunteers – together, we’ve achieved a lot for animals. As 2024, our 200th anniversary year draws to a close, we’re celebrating our impact while also looking ahead to the challenges facing animals now and into the future.
From climate change and habitat loss to intensive farming and the cost-of-living crisis, more issues than ever impact animals and people. We’ve changed animals’ lives together for two centuries, but we still need you to help us change animals’ futures.