RSPCA Acts and current rules

Charitable status

The RSPCA is a registered charity (no. 219099) in England and Wales and only exists because of public donations. Its £120 million annual running costs are funded primarily by voluntary donations and legacies.

RSPCA Acts and the Society's current rules

The Society was founded in 1824. It is presently constituted under the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Acts of 1932, 1940, and 1958. The 1932 Act incorporated the charity and made provision for the Society to have Rules. The original Rules are set out in the Schedule to the Act. The Act also made provision for the Society to make changes to the Rules in accordance with procedures set out in the Act.

The Rules set out in the Schedule to the 1932 Act as amended by with the additions, alterations and revocations which have since been made by the Society and, where necessary, confirmed by various Orders of the Charity Commissioners make up the current Rules of the Society.

All RSPCA branches are currently constituted as charitable unincorporated associations operating in accordance with the Branch rules approved by Council.

For more information read the RSPCA Acts and the Society's current rules in the documents at the bottom of this page.

Crown Copyright material is reproduced with the permission of the Controller of HMSO and the Queen's Printer for Scotland.

The RSPCA is also a charity according to Dutch law and has a Dutch fiscal number (RSIN): 8239.09.359.