At a time when people are facing huge difficulties, from the cost of living crisis to political and cultural division, it is easy to let animal welfare slip down the agenda. It would be a huge mistake for any government to neglect animal welfare, an issue the public care so deeply about. Animal welfare refers to the quality of life experienced by an animal and encompasses how well the animal is coping with their current situation and surroundings. According to the Animal Humane Society, the five freedoms of animal welfare include: freedom from hunger and thirst, freedom from discomfort, freedom from pain, injury or disease, freedom to express normal behaviour, and freedom from fear and distress.
The RSPCA, in celebrating its 200th anniversary, wanted to bring the public into conversation about the future of animal welfare. Following the Wilberforce Report, which outlines possible scenarios affecting the lives of animals by 2050, the charity commissioned the deliverance of ‘Animal Futures: The Big Conversation’. 44 people who took part in the Citizens’ Assembly have made a set of recommendations aiming to create a better future for every animal – including plans for members of the public to be called up to actively take part in restoring local habits and protect nature. Gemma Hope, the group’s assistant director of advocacy, policy and prevention, said: ‘The message of this assembly is clear – animal welfare really matters to people and the government needs to take notice’. There is no doubt that the UK loves animals. More than two-thirds (69%) of people in 2023 (and the same in 2022) define themselves as ‘animal lovers’. This represents an estimated 36.7 million people across the UK. Despite wider social and economic pressures, animal welfare must not be sidelined. It remains a core public concern, centred on animals’ quality of life. The RSPCA’s Citizens’ Assembly shows strong public support for action, with millions in the UK committed to protecting animals and shaping their future.