Who should I make donations by cheque payable to? Expand Please make cheques or postal orders payable to ‘Freedom for Animals’. We are also still able to accept cheques made payable to our former name of 'the Captive Animals' Protection Society' and we are identified under both names on the Charity Commission website.Thank you!
I am undertaking a school/university project on animals in captivity. Can you help? Expand You can find lots of information available on our website, including our educational resources. If you have any other questions, or would like a member of staff to feature in your documentary or arrange a school talk, please email us at office@freedomforanimals.org.uk Please note that as a small UK-based charity, we can only provide information relating to animal issues in the UK.
Do you want to ban all animals from entertainment, or just wild ones? Expand We believe there is absolutely no need for the exploitation of any animal for the benefit of our entertainment. With the amazing developments in CGI and VR technology, the need to display live animals decreases as time moves on, and progressive technology can be used instead, without harm to sentient beings.
I don’t think that wild animals should be in circuses, but what are the issues for domestic animals? Expand Life in a circus is not the same as life in a home for dogs, cats, birds, horses and other domesticated animals. They are often forced to travel hundreds of miles and perform unnatural tricks for audiences. For example, horses are forced to carry numerous people on their backs and perform “dances” which puts dangerous pressure on their joints and ligaments, risking long-term health damage. We believe that no animal should be exploited for entertainment purposes.
Where can I see animals if not in captivity? Expand Seeing an animal in captivity simply does not compare to seeing them in the wild. We recognise that not everyone is in a position to travel, go on safari etc. Still, you can see many of our native animals in their natural habitat here in the UK, which can be a wonderful experience. This can be whale watching, bird walks, animal sanctuary open days and much more. Thanks to technological advances, there are other opportunities to learn about animals, from high quality documentaries to virtual reality experiences.
I don’t think that whales and dolphins should be in aquariums, but what are the issues for other sea animals? Expand Aquatic animals like fish, octopuses, crabs and turtles are largely overlooked in wider campaigns on the industry, however they are just as deserving of our concern as other sentient beings. In captivity, their life of the vast ocean becomes one lived in a tank. A sad existence, unable to swim the depths of the sea with others of their kind. Many of these animals are taken directly from the wild, and we have found them suffering with recurring health issues and immense stress. There is also a very high mortality rate.
Are safari parks better than 'traditional' zoos? Expand Although sometimes offering larger enclosures to animals, safari parks are essentially zoos, with the same issues and animal welfare/rights problems. For example, Woburn Safari Park was keeping its lions locked into small enclosures for 18 hours a day. A government zoo inspection report in 2010 said: “The animals were very crowded and there was no provision for individual feeding or sleeping areas. There was no visible environmental enrichment. Some of the lions exhibited skin wounds and multiple scars of various age, some fresh, some healed.” In late 2012, another safari park was shamed, as West Midlands Safari Park was exposed for providing white lion cubs to a notorious circus animal trainer, who sent them to a travelling circus in Japan. Chessington World of Adventures decided to mix wild animals with theme park rides. In 2018 the park opened a new ''Tiger Rock' log flume. In video footage of the ride, the carriage holding visitors is seen to pass by a series of large glass windows looking in on the endangered tigers held captive there. Overhead walkways for the tigers go over the log flume path. We fundamentally believe that wild animals should be wild, free to experience all the complexities of their own lives. We must consider that an animal living in the wild would be free to roam, and some animals travel for thousands of miles. They would be free to raise a family, forage, play, eat their natural foods and find a mate. They could go anywhere they chose to when they wanted to. When animals are kept captive for entertainment purposes, all of this is denied to them.
But aren't zoos important for conservation? Expand Although many zoos claim to be centres of conservation in order to justify keeping animals in captivity, this is sadly not the case. We believe that zoos can be damaging to conservation efforts. Effective conservation is carried out by working in the animals’ natural habitat to protect individuals and entire ecosystems; stopping poachers and educating communities in the animals' natural environment. Zoos claim to breed animals for eventual release to the wild, but breeding programmes are primarily to ensure a captive population, not for reintroduction. In fact, captive breeding is considered by some conservation scientists to give a false impression that a species is safe, so that destruction of habitat and wild populations can continue. In UK zoos, the vast majority of animals in captivity face no conservation threat in the wild. By focusing on zoos in Wales, we carried out research which unearthed that only 9% of animals held captive are endangered and just 17% are threatened in the wild. It is time that zoos were honest with the public and stopped using conservation claims as a veil for animal exploitation.
I want to take my child to a zoo - are there any good ones? Expand Freedom for Animals does not support any zoo. Whilst we recognise that some zoos have more obvious welfare issues than others, no zoo can fully recreate an animal’s natural habitat and, without exception, our investigations have uncovered worrying information in every zoo visited. Even with welfare concerns aside, we believe wild animals should be just that – wild - and not held for our entertainment. We believe they should have the right to experience their own lives in their natural environment, and this is what we should be aiming to protect.
Is a Direct Debit safe? Expand Yes. Direct Debits are a very safe and familiar option for many types of payment. To offer Direct Debit as a payment option, we have gone through a careful vetting process, closely monitored by the banking industry. The efficiency and security of Direct Debit is monitored and protected by your own bank or building society. As well as being reliable and safe, Direct Debits also mean more of your money goes directly to helping animals, because our administration costs are lower than for managing other payment methods. We can also more easily claim Gift Aid, which could mean your support is worth 25% more! A Direct Debit allows you to spread the cost of your support as well, contributing a little each month and providing an amazing longer-term gift. Remember, with a Direct Debit, you are always in control; you can change the amount or date, or cancel whenever you choose to.
Why is a monthly gift a good way to support you? Expand Setting up a monthly gift is one of the most powerful ways you are able to support Freedom for Animals. A monthly gift offers us reliable income that we can always count on. This means that we can plan our work into the future more effectively, and also allows us to respond to emergencies to help animals in urgent need.
Can I change how you contact me? Expand Yes. Please contact us at [email protected] or on 0845 330 3911 to tell us whether you wish to be contacted by post, email, or not at all.
How can I update my address or other contact details? Expand If you wish to update the name or address held by us, please contact us by email at [email protected], or phone on 0845 330 3911, and we will update our records for you.
Can I send an adoption pack as a gift? Expand Yes, our Adopt an Animal packs make perfect gifts! When purchasing, enter the details of the person whom the pack is for when prompted, and indicate whether you would like it to be sent to you or directly to the Adopter.