Nine out of 10 people in the South East believe that dogs can feel happy, compared to just four out of ten who think chickens can, according to new research published by the RSPCA.
To mark its 200th year, the animal charity has asked us to ‘radically rethink’ our relationship with animals, as it launches its new For Every Kind campaign.
The charity reveals a survey of more than 2,500 UK adults shows a stark difference in the way we see animals, depending on whether they are in our homes, in labs, on farms or in the wild and says we have become disconnected to many of the animals around us.
According to the poll, in the South East:
35% of people think rats can experience positive emotions like happiness, and just 42% think chickens can.
People were more likely to think their pet deserved a ‘happy and healthy life’ (dogs 90%, rabbits 88%) compared to animals used in science (rats in a lab 60%, rabbits in a lab 65%).
And only 31% said they would be sad if pigs no longer existed in the world, compared to a whopping 83% for dogs.
Now, For Every Kind is urging people to care about the lives of every animal, and carry out one million acts of kindness to mark its second centenary.
Chris Sherwood, Chief Executive of the RSPCA, said: “We are devoted to our cats and dogs, but we often don’t realise we are connected to billions of other animals in our lives, through the things we buy and the choices we make. All animals are amazing, but sadly we’ve come to see many creatures as commodities and we value their lives differently because of it.
“As a society, we love our native birds, but turn a blind eye to the suffering of billions of meat chickens; we love the hedgehogs who visit our garden, but treat rats and foxes as pests. We need to realise that all animals have feelings and emotions, many can feel joy, anger, fear, and more, and whether they are pets, wildlife, on farms or in labs, they deserve to have a fulfilled life of their own.”
The new figures also revealed there is a big difference in the way we see animals, depending on the role they play in our lives. People are more likely to see a dog as a ‘friend’, and are more likely to see pigs or rats as ‘useful’, possibly due to being found on farms or in labs. The majority of people saw foxes, who are often seen as vermin, as a ‘threat’ or ‘pointless’, suggesting they don’t recognise their right to a good life.
Chris continued: “All animals deserve our kindness and respect and the first step to changing the way we treat animals is changing how we see and feel about them. Which is why we are launching our For Every Kind campaign to mark our 200th year. A world that is better for animals, is better for us all.”
The For Every Kind campaign is launching with a new brand for the RSPCA – for the first time in 50 years – and a new advert which sees singing animals performing Aretha Franklin’s iconic hit to demand Respect.
The changes for the RSPCA come as it celebrates 200 years of changing animals’ lives and the charity says the challenges facing animals are ‘bigger than ever’.
Chris said: “This year marks our 200th anniversary – that means 200 years of changing laws, attitudes and behaviours towards animals. But animals are now facing some of the biggest threats in our history, from climate change to intensive farming, from the cost of living to the effects of the pandemic. Unless we act urgently, we risk animals’ lives getting worse, not better.
“The RSPCA has a critical role to play, but we can’t do this alone. We need as many people as possible to join us to build a better world for animals, which means we need people to look again at the RSPCA and what we can all do for animals. We hope a new, bolder and brighter brand will inspire everyone, whoever they are, to get involved with animal welfare so we can rise to the challenges facing animals now and for many years to come.”
This year, the RSPCA hopes to inspire one million acts of kindness for animals to celebrate its 200th anniversary. To find out your kind of kindness and turn it into action for animals visit: rspca.org.uk/everykind
