His father was a rear gunner in the Royal Air Force, posted to India, and his mother worked in a munitions factory, returning home only on weekends.
[3] From 1964–1969, Davies served as executive secretary for the NB SPCA, which was considered by some of its prominent members to be lacking in influence and drive, according to the society's minutes.
It was through his involvement with the NB SPCA that Davies learned of the commercial seal hunting industry in North East Canada.
[7][8] On returning to his base in Prince Edward Island, Davies found two live seal pups on the shoreline that had been taken there by sealers.
[9] In 1969 the NB SPCA withdrew from the seal campaign, having concluded that it was conducted humanely and arguing that it was “draining too much attention and effort away from other matters the society took responsibility for”.
[12] The tension peaked in 1977, when Davies was charged with violating the Seal Protection Regulations by operating a helicopter in a prohibited area.
[13] In light of the increasing difficulty of campaigning in Canada, Davies began lobbying in Europe for the closure of international markets for the products of the hunt.
Instead of demanding new legislation, PAL provided technical advice in an attempt to build working relationships with sympathetic politicians, and began making strategic donations to political parties.
In South Africa, it funds numerous animal shelter partners, primarily focused on dogs, cats and donkeys.
It provides food and veterinary care for street dogs in Bosnia, Croatia, Greece, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Montenegro, the Philippines, Serbia, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey, Uruguay and Zimbabwe.