Today, a new investigation by Animal Rising has revealed cruelty, mishandling and poor practice at RSPCA Assured slaughterhouses in England and Scotland. [1] Celebrities including singer Moby and Ecotricity founder Dale Vince have today spoken out against RSPCA Assured.
A covert investigation of four RSPCA Assured slaughterhouses has uncovered legal breaches, Assured welfare violations and mistreatment of animals, as published in the Times today [12/12/24]. Animal Rising have released a full report on their findings and footage on their website [2].
Celebrities including Moby, Dale Vince OBE, human rights activist Peter Tatchell and actor Peter Egan have featured in an Animal Rising campaign video promoting the investigation, released today. [3]
This follows Animal Rising’s large-scale investigation of randomly selected RSPCA Assured farms in June this year [4]. All were revealed to be factory farms endorsed under the scheme, revealing widespread neglect and suffering.
This year the RSPCA has been hit by multiple investigations revealing suffering of farmed animals at its Assured premises [5] despite launching its 2024 campaign “for every kind” promoting kindness to all species [6]. Adverts for this campaign are under investigation by the Advertising Standards Authority. [7]
Camera footage at the slaughterhouses captured widespread malpractice from workers, resulting in aggression towards animals and improper techniques. Incorrect stunning of animals prior to slaughter was commonplace, with one slaughterhouse incorrectly stunning 85% of its pigs, and excessive use of the electric prod was illegal and breached RSPCA guidance. Animals watched in terror and panic as other animals were killed or stunned.
Experts including former UK Government Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Alick Simmons were consulted in the making of Animal Rising’s report.
Approached by Animal Rising for comment on the investigation, singer Moby said [3]:
“If an organisation’s goal is to prevent cruelty to animals, it seems like there’s nothing more cruel than leading them to slaughter.”
Rose Patterson, lead investigator for Animal Rising, said:
“It’s astonishing that the world’s largest animal charity continues to endorse the farming and slaughter of animals for food. We have seen time and time again that conditions on Assured farms and slaughterhouses do not match the rosy portrayal in RSPCA marketing. This supposed “higher welfare” scheme does not protect the animals who fall under its care.
RSPCA Assured is a betrayal of the public who trust the RSPCA name and worst of all, it betrays the animals they are supposed to protect.”
Following Animal Rising’s initial investigation, a coalition of 60 animal protection groups signed an open letter asking the RSPCA to drop the Assured scheme, and RSPCA Vice President Brian May stepped down in protest of the scheme [8] [9].
Spokespeople for Animal Rising are available for further comment. Call our press office +44 1225 296691 or email press@animalrising.org
Animal Rising is a social movement campaigning for a safe ecological future. The group primarily calls for the transition to a secure and sustainable plant-based food system, alongside a mass rewilding programme.
ENDS
Word count: 500
High-Quality Pictures and Videos: Animal Rising RSPCA Scandal
All images and videos in this file, on our social media, and website can be used with credit to Animal Rising under ‘fair use’ for the purposes of reporting.
For more information or further comments, please contact:
Emma (Press Back Office) +44 1225 29 6691
Notes to Editor:
Dossier of evidence: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ZZWzfaXQvHPqT6kx8ExbE3nsufZTCBBB
[5] Animal Equality investigation: https://animalequality.org.uk/news/salmon-suffocating/
Animal Justice Project investigations: https://www.animaljusticeproject.com/undercover-investigations
Joey Carbstrong investigation:
Gen V investigation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXOD0Z_4Ywohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXOD0Z_4Ywo
[7] https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/rspca-advert-asa-complaint-misleading-b2615153.html
[8] Read the open letter in full: https://www.forcharlie.love/