Reminiscences from the RSPCA London Night Emergency Service 1936-76.

For 40 years, the City’s pets have had a lifeline.

In the 1930s, London was very different in terms of the number of animals living in Greater London and the level of animal welfare. Estimates indicate that there were approximately 1.5 million cats, 400 000 dogs, 18000 horses, and many livestock, including pigs, sheep, in the Greater London area. Londoners lived in poverty, but not as we know it today. Most dogs and cats roamed the streets with the strays. Many people were ill and injured, especially in road accidents. There were few veterinary practices that offered after-hours services, and even fewer rescue organizations. The council did not have animal wardens, and neither the police nor fire brigade were equipped to handle animal-related incidents. There was a need for a service that could fill in all the gaps.

It was therefore fortunate that a new London Emergency Service quietly appeared in 1936. Over the next 40 years, this service proved to be an invaluable lifeline for London’s sick or injured stray animals, as well as pet owners living within a 10 mile radius of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals headquarters, located at 105 Jermyn Street Piccadilly.

London Fire Brigade and other agencies were always in need of its expertise and staff. The rapid response vehicle was equipped with animal rescue equipment and was ready to respond to any emergency, whether it was an animal in distress on the Thames, a dog or a car that had hit them, or even a cat trapped up a branch. The service quickly became London’s fourth emergency service at night and on weekends. A vet was on call and an emergency clinic opened every night at 9 pm. It was a pioneer in many ways, possibly the first out-of-hours veterinary service and animal rescue.