Humankind has developed a strong relationship with animals - they have been our companions, have worked for us, assisted us in wartime and protected our property. We use animals for food and we share our environment with a huge variety of wildlife.

The RSPCA's Animal Charter encompasses the belief that man must treat animals humanely. It states: "Where man makes use of animals or interferes with their habitat, he should bestow a level of care befitting man's own dignity as a rational, intelligent, compassionate being, and a level of care merited by the nature of the animal as a sentient creature capable of responding to man's care and attention. Such care should be marked by sympathy, consideration, compassion and tenderness towards animals."