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Latest RSPCA News
RSPCA latest news and stories on animal welfare issues. Click here to view the RSPCA News Archive or here to view our Media Releases. _______________________________________________________________________________________
Vote with your feet and choose not to attend the rodeo this Saturday night! Monday April 28 2008 With a rodeo event to be conducted this Saturday night at Rod Laver Arena, the RSPCA is stepping up its campaign to have rodeos banned. RSPCA Victoria has taken out advertisements in the major media asking people to vote with their feet and choose not to attend the rodeo. The RSPCA believes that all animals must be treated humanely and is opposed to rodeos for the abuse and high risk of injury to animals. For more information, please download our media release.
Thursday April 24 2008 As part of an animal welfare campaign called "Whos for cats?", RSPCA Victoria, in conjunction with Animal Aid Trust, Cat Protection Society , Lort Smith and Lost Dogs Home is offering desexing, vaccination and microchipping of semi-owned cats for just $60. The coalition of animal welfare organisations is calling on the residents of Melbourne to stop feeding a bigger problem and take full ownership of the stray cats they may be feeding. As an incentive to take this action, all five shelters will offer semi-owners the special rate of $60 from May 1 May 31. Each person will also receive a free showbag, containing a cat collar and tag, a photo frame magnet, a cat toy, and cat ownership booklets. For more information, please download our media release.
Wednesday April 16 2008 The response from the community together with the support of the Bendigo Advertiser has been very supportive and RSPCA inspectors are following up on several possible leads. The RSPCA would like to clarify media comments in relation to pig and deer hunters. The comments were not asserting in any way that all pig and deer hunters are involved with illegal dog fighting. However, there is information that has come to our office alleging that some people involved in dog fighting may also be involved in pig and deer hunting. The RSPCA urges anyone with information to phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or the RSPCA on 03 9224 2222.
Thursday April 10 2008 RSPCA inspectors are appealing for information following the horrific and tragic death of an Irish Wolfhound at Eppalock near Bendigo found on Christmas Day last year. The wolfhound was found tied to a tree with a yellow PVC lead. The dog had been placed in a sitting position and tied in such a manner that he would have suffered an abhorrent death. As the dog grew tired and was unable to lie down, it would have started to struggle and sadly die a slow painful death. This follows the tragic death of a grey female wolfhound found dumped in bushland at Mandurang, Bendigo in April 2007 in similar circumstances. This dog had a blue hayband tied tightly around the throat. RSPCA Manager Inspectorate Services Greg Boland said it is one of the most contemptible acts of animal cruelty ever reported to the RSPCA. 'Despicable acts like this should not be tolerated in today's society and we welcome any information at all from the community to find the perpetrator or perpetrators. The person faces a fine of up to $24,000 and 24 months jail for aggravated cruelty', said Inspector Boland. Initial enquiries were made by Victoria Police and they have now handed it over to the RSPCA for further investigation. RSPCA Victoria needs information from the public to solve cases such as these shocking acts of animal cruelty. If you have any information call the RSPCA on 9224 2222 or email inspector@rspcavic.org.au Information will be treated as confidential. This story featured as a page one story in the Bendigo Advertiser on Friday April 11.
Tuesday April 8 2008 A person was found guilty of animal cruelty in Sunshine Magistrates' Court on Tuesday April 8. This case involved a Rottweiler that was found by the RSPCA inspectors in an emaciated condition at a property at Laverton in February 2007. The dog was surrendered by the owner. The case proceeded ex parte before the Magistrate, Mr. Wilson. An RSPCA Veterinarian said she believed that the dog was most probably suffering from malnutrition. She said in her opinion that malnutrition would have caused the dog great suffering and that if it had continued for another month would have resulted in the death of the dog. The person was convicted of failing to provide sufficient food to the dog. The owner was fined $2,000.00 and ordered to pay $1,231.25 costs. The order was stayed until May 6 2008. Thankfully through some tender loving care by RSPCA clinic staff, the dog doubled its weight and was successfully rehoused.
Tuesday April 8 2008 RSPCA Victoria has growing concerns for the welfare of horses pulling carriages in the streets of Melbourne. Presently, horse-drawn carriages in Melbourne are not required to adhere to any minimum animal welfare, passenger safety or vehicle safety standards. This lack of regulation leads to a number of animal welfare and cruelty complaints being lodged with the RSPCA Inspectorate against Melbournes horse-drawn carriages each year. Following introductory meetings with the City of Melbourne initiated by the RSPCA, a working group was broadened to include the Victoria Police, Department of Primary Industry and the Victorian Horse Council. The working group was then expanded to involve members of the carriage horse operators. RSPCA Victoria wants a minimum set of standards and guidelines to be developed collaboratively with the working group. At a meeting in mid-February, the major issues were considered and discussed with the carriage horse operators and they undertook to frame a set of standards/guidelines to bring back to the working group for further discussion. Once these guidelines have been finalised they will be taken to the Council for sign off. RSPCA Victoria met again on Tuesday April 8 with the Melbourne City Council and Carriage Horse operators. A draft Statement of Purpose and a draft Code of Practice document were presented by the operators to the working group. RSPCA Victoria will be seeking a much more detailed Code of Practice that addresses the following issues:
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