TV presenter Chris Packham and former MP Caroline Lucas have resigned as president and vice-president of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) after Animal Rising exposed animal cruelty at abattoirs approved by the animal welfare charity for its “Assured Scheme”. Animal Rising’s investigation found “systemic animal cruelty” at four abattoirs; in one facility 85% of pigs were not stunned correctly, leaving the animals conscious during slaughter, while in another 96% of cows were prodded with an electric goad – a practice banned by the RSPCA.
Packham and Lucas both criticised the RSPCA for continuing to support the meat industry despite poor welfare standards. Packham said he had been campaigning for reforms unsuccessfully for some time, while Lucas said that the RSPCA had failed to confront and tackle the scheme’s “deeper flaws”.
The RSPCA refuted the allegations and said that it was exploring body worn cameras and CCTV while increasing unannounced visits, having taken allegations of poor animal welfare “incredibly seriously”. It stressed the lack of legal animal welfare protection for farmed animals and said that no other organisation monitored animal welfare standards on farms.
Packham, a wildlife presenter, said that he had resigned from the RSPCA after seeing Animal Rising’s footage. Lucas blamed “the recent horrific revelations of abuse at RSPCA-approved slaughterhouses” for her resignation
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