According to a new poll by the RSPCA, two-thirds of people think the UK should do more to help animal welfare.
Figures from the animal welfare charity reveal that although a massive 85% consider themselves animal lovers, two in five (39%) feel a lack of money and a third (32%) cite a lack of time as barriers to doing more to help animals.
In the survey of more than 2000 people across Great Britain, carried out by YouGov, respondents said that the animal welfare issue they were most concerned about (40%) was animals being used in blood sports, such as badger baiting or cock fighting.
With litter and plastic high on the public agenda, 35% of people revealed they were concerned about the destruction of damage to wildlife habitats and 27% worried about litter being hazardous to animals.
However, just 6% said a lack of homes for animals was a major concern and only 17% said farm animal welfare was one of their main concerns.
While blood sports undoubtedly cause horrific suffering to animals, the numbers of animals involved are relatively small. However, in the UK each year hundreds of thousands of rescue pets are waiting in adoption centres looking for homes, and nearly a billion animals are reared on farms in the UK.
The RSCPA launched their new #AnimalKind campaign this week to encourage people to join it in creating a world which is kinder to animals.
The campaign aims to give people practical advice about what they can do to ensure that all animals are better protected and cared for.
Klare Kennett, Acting Director of External Relations, Marketing and Communications at the RSPCA, said: “It is really encouraging to see that we still consider ourselves to be a nation of animal lovers, but we want to show people that it doesn’t take a lot of time or money to do your bit to help create a world that’s kinder to animals.
“We at the RSPCA are dedicated to improving the lives of animals everywhere but we cannot do it alone. We know so many people want to do their best for animals, be it pets, wildlife or those reared on farms, but they may not know how they can help.”
For more hints and tips about how to do your bit to help animals, get a free Animal Kindness guide from www.rspca.org.uk/animalkind
