The charity urges potential councillors to prioritise animal welfare.

Ahead of England’s council elections in May, the RSPCA has launched its local government manifesto, and urges potential councillors to prioritise animal welfare. The election will see more than 8,000 seats contested within 230 council areas.

The RSPCA works closely with local councils on issues such as enforcement, licensing, kennelling and stray dog provision. The charity wants to gain the support of the council candidates to ensure that the nation’s pets are not adversely affected by the cost of living crisis.

The manifesto includes information for councils so that they can take action locally to protect and promote animal welfare. It encourages them to share details of the RSPCA’s cost of living hub that offers advice and resources to pet owners, and to prioritise support packages that keep pets in their homes during the crisis.

It encourages councils to work with the charity to stop the exploitation of animals, and includes proposals for localised bans on the giving of pets as prizes, and banning the release of sky lanterns on council-owned land. It also calls on the Government to introduce new legislation on the sale and use of fireworks.

In February, the RSPCA received 1,324 reports of animal abandonment, compared to 1,226 in February 2022. This represents a rise of eight per cent. It also investigated and closed over 63,000 complaints of alleged cruelty across England and Wales in 2022. This represents a rise of over 23 per cent compared with 2021.

Lee Gingell, the RSPCA’s public affairs manager for local government, said: “Sadly, levels of animal neglect remain very high - and the cost of living crisis is the single biggest challenge for animal welfare right now. Ahead of the elections in May, pet owners and their animals across England face such a tough time.

“But new Councils and Councillors elected in May will be in a unique position to transform the lives of animals.

“We know new Councils elected in May will have to make some really difficult decisions.

“But protecting funding of animal welfare services will be so important in keeping animals safe, upholding local standards and preventing criminality."

The RSPCA's manifesto can be read online.