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More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
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RSPCA
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(Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Horsham, West Sussex) Founded in 1824 to enforce recent laws protecting animals and to campaign for further legislation, the society was granted the addition of 'Royal' in 1840 by an enthusiastic young Victoria. (It is an often mentioned fact of British life that the NSPCC, preventing cruelty to children, has remained only 'National'). The society's early campaigns achieved the banning of bull-baiting in the 1830s and of cockfighting in the 1840s, but the widespread maltreatment of horses remained at that time the central issue.
The Protection of Animals Act (1911) is seen now as the society's greatest achievement. Today domestic pets are a prime concern (there are more than seven million dogs in Britain and almost as many cats).
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