The Society carries out international aid through an overseas fund, which distributed more than £486,000 to animal welfare organisations in 26 countries in 2001.
It is involved in practical welfare, law enforcement and high-profile campaigning and education to prevent cruelty to animals.
The Society employs veterinary experts and consultants for the care and treatment of farm livestock, wildlife, domestic pets and animals used in research. There are 328 uniformed RSPCA inspectors and 146 animal collection officers in England and Wales working for animals in distress.
The RSPCA's press office provides a 24-hour media service. Its cruelty statistics for 2001, released in 2002, achieved more than 700 mentions in the media.
The Society's management is the responsibility of a council made up of 25 volunteers. Of these, 15 are national members who have been elected by the entire RSPCA membership. The remaining ten are regional members, one from each of the RSPCA's regions, who are elected by local branches.
In August 2002, the RSPCA tested a direct response TV ad campaign to encourage consumers to pledge monthly donations. The ad, by WWAV Rapp Collins, was called 'Dead Kitten'. It told the story of a kitten's death from internal injuries after being thrown against a wall by its owner.
In November 2002, the RSPCA, concerned about unprovoked airgun attacks on people and animals, stepped up its lobbying to ban teenagers from using airguns.
It urged MPs to back moves by Kent MP Jonathan Shaw to ban the unsupervised use of airguns by under-17s.
In April, the RSPCA produced a mailer encouraging donors to place two £1 coins into sticky holes in a response card. The work, created by SR Communications, was sent to 80,000 potential donors. It was designed to appeal to older donors and included a personalised letter, leaflet and reply-paid envelope.
In May, the RSPCA called on the European Union to tighten laws governing the transportation of live animals, unveiling evidence of "sickening cruelty". An RSPCA report detailed a catalogue of cruelty, including sheep found dead after a nine-day trip across Europe.
Total income £79.7m
Expenditure £80.2m
Employees 1758
(For year to December 31 2002)
Advertising agency
Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO
Media agencies
WWAV Rapp Collins Media, PHD Media
New media agency
PHDiQ
Direct marketing agency
WWAV Rapp Collins
Annual communications spend
(year to June 2003)
TV £896,525
Press £1,404,509
Radio £1109
Outdoor £52,499
Direct mail £1,230,744
Total £3,585,386
Source: ACNielsen MMS
UK headquarters
Wilberforce Way, Southwater, Horsham, RH13 9RS
Tel: 0870 010 1181
Web site: www.rspca.org.uk
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