More people care about animals in Wales than in any other UK nation, a brand new RSPCA survey has found - however, it is clear that plenty more could, and should be done to ensure a good life for every animal across the country.

New findings from the RSPCA’s Animal Kindness Index - the charity’s annual survey into the UK’s attitude towards animals - show that Wales has the highest proportion of animal lovers, with 75% of people here classing themselves as such.

The survey also found that animal welfare is within the top three causes that people in Wales care about - with only mental health a bigger priority.

It also found 85% of adults in Wales believe that animal welfare should be protected through government legislation.

Which is why RSPCA Cymru’s manifesto for the Senedd - ‘Securing A Better Future For Animal Welfare in Wales’ recently launched, needs to be taken seriously by party leaders throughout the country.

The manifesto highlights how animal welfare can be improved and prioritised by the next Welsh Government, Senedd Members and political parties across Wales.

The ew manifesto calls on the next Welsh Government to:

  • Empower the RSPCA by granting its inspectors with statutory powers and reducing the rehoming period for seized animals
  • Protect pets, including by making pet abduction a specific offence in Wales, improving legislation relevant to pets and growing the number of pet-friendly homes through legislation
  • Improve horse welfare by regulating livery yards and addressing horse tethering
  • Enhance farm animal welfare by prohibiting the use of cages, addressing non-stun slaughter and introducing mandatory labelling on animal-derived products
  • Legislate for all kinds of animal - by recognising animal sentience specifically in Welsh law, regulating the keeping of exotic pets, prohibiting the keeping of primates as pets and ending the giving of pets as prizes
  • Support Welsh wildlife by introducing a Wildlife Act for Wales - consolidating the myriad of existing law - and refuse the culling of badgers as a method of dealing with Bovine TB

Members of the public can let Wales’ political parties know that animal welfare matters to them and help give animals a voice by taking online action.