Our Story So Far
In 1873, a Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) was established in Coventry. Joining others across the country, the society aimed to prevent cruelty to animals and educate people on kindness to creatures.
Our branch was started by prominent people in Coventry which included Cara Bray. She was our first secretary and is one of Coventry’s ‘forgotten’ heroines.
Since our inception, the national RSPCA was given Royal appointment which was also given to each SPCA across England and Wales. However, our charity was, and still is, an independent charity.
This means that we run as an individual charity that receives its own donations, makes its own decisions for its local community, and pays for its own operating costs. We have, and always will, uphold the vision of the RSPCA: to create a better world for every animal.
In 1975, we moved to Brownshill Green Farm on Coundon Wedge Drive, Coventry. Over the past 40 years, our district has expanded to protect and rehome animals from Coventry but also Nuneaton, Rugby and Solihull.
Our aim remains the same, to rescue, rehabilitate and rehome dogs and cats across the region and educate our community on what it means to treat animals with compassion and care.
Working within our community is important to us; we’ve introduced vet services in 2025 to increase vaccinations across the region, and are contributing to making Coventry and district greener with solar-powered energy on our roofs.
Any way you can support us to continue our story will help us. As a separately funded charity, we cover all costs of approximately £40,000 a month to keep our centre open.
Whether you donate, fundraise, shop with us, volunteer or something else entirely, it will help keep us rehoming cats and dogs across Coventry and District.
The RSPCA Coventry and District Branch has been in existence since 1873 and we’ve been based at Brownshill Green Farm for 40 years. Our vision is a world where all animals are respected and treated with kindness and compassion and our mission is to ensure animals have a good life by rescuing and caring for those in need, by advocating on behalf of all animals and by inspiring everyone to treat them with compassion and respect.
Our Branch is an independent registered charitable incorporated organisation (CIO), separately funded from the National RSPCA. We receive no government funding. It costs around £40,000 per month to keep our Animal Centre open and our vets bills are often £1,000 a week, although this can dramatically increase if we have a poorly animal in our care. We rely on donations from the general public to fund our work.
Our supporter stories
Kaylee ran the Coventry half-marathon for us as she got her beautiful boy from us. She says “unfortunately he gained his angel wings earlier this year. I’m so grateful for the 7 years of happiness we got with him so to give anything back would be amazing.”
Teresa and the RSPCA Coventry rescued Lily as a feral cat. Together, we vaccinated and neutered her and rehomed her with Teresa. She says ” I’ve had her now for 3 years and she is such a lovely wonderful cat. It’s been a long road but she’s now much more settled and loving.”
Our Future
Our aim is that the next 150 years see us grow even more across our region of Coventry, Solihull, Nuneaton and Rugby. In 2025, our cattery is being redeveloped to ensure it meets best practice for our animals.
We hope to introduce new projects and will be opening our pond as a wildlife activity for local communities in Autumn of this year. If you have an idea to help us educate new communities please get in touch.
The RSPCA Coventry and District Branch has been in existence since 1873 and we’ve been based at Brownshill Green Farm for 40 years. Our vision is a world where all animals are respected and treated with kindness and compassion and our mission is to ensure animals have a good life by rescuing and caring for those in need, by advocating on behalf of all animals and by inspiring everyone to treat them with compassion and respect.
Our Branch is an independent registered charitable incorporated organisation (CIO), separately funded from the National RSPCA. We receive no government funding. It costs around £40,000 per month to keep our Animal Centre open and our vets bills are often £1,000 a week, although this can dramatically increase if we have a poorly animal in our care. We rely on donations from the general public to fund our work.
