# RSPCA Reform Group

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/RSPCA_Reform_Group
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/RSPCA_Reform_Group.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RSPCA_Reform_Group
> Source revision: 1319821163
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

The **Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) Reform Group** was founded in 1970 by members of the British [RSPCA](/source/RSPCA) who were frustrated by the organization's inability, as they saw it, to deal effectively with the issues raised by [factory farming](/source/Factory_farming), [animal testing](/source/Animal_testing), and [hunting](/source/Hunting). The group was particularly concerned that pro-hunting members were attempting to prevent the society from expressing opposition to [bloodsports](/source/Bloodsport); several of them had said they would lobby to have the RSPCA's charitable status removed if it campaigned against hunting.[1]

The Reform Group was led by [Brian Seager](/source/Brian_Seager), John Bryant, and [Stanley Cover](/source/Stanley_Cover), and the aim was to secure the election to the 46-member RSPCA Council of Seager, Bryant, and other supporters of the group's more radical agenda, including [Andrew Linzey](/source/Andrew_Linzey), the Oxford theologian, and [Richard D. Ryder](/source/Richard_D._Ryder), the Oxford psychologist who coined the term [speciesism](/source/Speciesism).[2]

Ryder writes that, from then until 1978, the Reform Group succeeded in changing the RSPCA from an organization that had come to focus mostly on companion animals – despite its own radical 19th-century roots – to one that opposed bloodsports, developed comprehensive animal welfare policies, and focused more on farming, animal testing, and wildlife. Ryder became vice-chairman of the RSPCA Council in 1976, then chairman from 1977 to 1979.[2]

## Protests

Members of the RSPCA Reform Group have led protests against RSPCA officials that advocate blood sports. In April 1971, Hilda Owen of the RSPCA Reform Group staged a protest demonstration in [Leamington](/source/Leamington_Spa) contesting the re-election of [Charles Smith-Ryland](/source/Charles_Smith-Ryland) as president of the South and East Warwickshire branch of the RSPCA.[3] Two months later, the RSPCA Reform Group reported success as the South and East Warwickshire branch had voted to remove the president position.[4]

## Notes

1. Ryder, Richard Dudley. *Animal Revolution: Changing Attitudes Toward Speciesism*. Berg, 2000, p. 172ff.

1. Ryder, Richard. 2009. "Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) Reform Group" in Marc Bekoff (ed.). *Encyclopedia of Animal Rights and Animal Welfare*. Greenwood, pp. 307–308.

1. ["Demo over likely RSPCA appointment"](https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0000769%2F19710424&page=26). *Coventry Evening Telegraph*. April 24, 1971. p. 11. (subscription required)

1. ["Victory claim by RSPCA reformers"](https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0002135%2F19710611&page=27). *The Birmingham Post*. June 11, 1971. p. 27. (subscription required)

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [RSPCA Reform Group](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RSPCA_Reform_Group) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RSPCA_Reform_Group?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.