Victoria's Shame - Wild Dog Trapping

What you should know

Wild dogs are medium sized canids, which exist independently of human sources of food and shelter. These dogs are predominantly located in vast areas of Gippsland and North Eastern Victoria

These animals are considered to be a serious predator of sheep and calves in many areas of Victoria. Stock losses reported to DSE average around 1900 sheep a year, however this number is considered to be under reported and does not cover other impacts on animal productivity.

RSPCA is not opposed to the use of lethal control methods for pest animals provided that there is justification for such killing and there is no effective, humane non-lethal alternative method available.

RSPCA is opposed to any method of control that does not result in a humane death. The Australian Veterinary Association defines a humane death as “the rapid production of insensibility causing minimal distress to the animal”. Current methods of trapping cannot meet this requirement as animals are caught in traps suffer for considerable periods of time prior to finally being dispatched.

Whilst RSPCA does not dispute the requirement to manage wild dogs, we steadfastly maintain the view that these animals are due the same protection from cruelty as any other animals.

Currently only small steel jawed traps (hinge less than 12cm) are permitted to be used in Victoria and these must be operated under a welfare code of practice which stipulates that traps must be checked daily. Under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986 (POCTAA) large steel jawed traps (hinge greater than 12cm) are banned in Victoria, however, there is an exemption that allows for their use within the so-called “Wild Dog Exclusion Zone”. This zone covers vast areas of North Eastern Victoria, Gippsland and far Western Victoria.

Within this area large steel jawed traps can be used to manage animals that are designated pest animals under the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994 (CALPA). These traps can be used without any welfare provisions, as there is no welfare code of practice for the use of large steel jawed traps or any welfare standards legislated by CALPA. This means that there is not even a requirement for traps to be checked daily.

Dogs caught in leg hold traps struggle and try and free themselves until exhausted. Trapped animals suffer from severe anxiety, leg injuries, tooth and mouth damage from gnawing at the trap and debilitation from exertion (Rowan 1988). Animals have been known to chew their leg off to escape. It can be seen from picture supplied that there is circle of tracks surrounding the trap indicating the unfortunate dog has spent a considerable time struggling against the trap

The Department of Sustainability and Environment currently operates wide scale trapping operations throughout the wild dog exclusion zones of Victoria. Hundreds of dogs are trapped every year by a team of government trappers known as “Doggers”.

Many traps are set in remote areas where there is no possibility of checking them daily, potentially dogs (or other non target species) could remain caught in a trap for several days until they are dispatched by the dogger. Even though this situation results in unacceptable cruelty RSPCA could not prosecute as CALP legislation overrides POCTAA legislation

Currently there is a device referred to as the Tranquilliser Trap Device (TTD) that is used in the United States to dose trapped dogs in the United States with sedatives and anti-anxiety drugs. This device has the potential to significantly increase the humaneness of trapping.

RSPCA believes that steel jawed leg-hold traps should be banned from use, as they are inherently cruel. Alternative methods of control such as exclusion fencing should be used far more widely.

However if the use of traps is to continue in Victoria, RSPCA considers that they must only be operated under a mandatory welfare Code of Practice which stipulates that at minimum traps must be checked daily. Also, as a matter of urgency research must be funded to facilitate the adoption of devices such as the TTD for all wild dog trapping in Victoria.