In January the RSPCA was contacted by a person who worked at a piggery north of Adelaide who spoke of general concerns about the workplace. Many of the concerns were outside the jurisdiction of the RSPCA. None of the information about the care of the pigs was sufficient for the RSPCA to be able to get a warrant to enter the farm. The person was advised that we would seek to conduct a full inspection of the farm when our Inspector most experienced in piggeries returned from annual leave. The person expressed that he was comfortable with this response.
A person later contacted the RSPCA to report his concerns about a specific pig which was unwell and which seemed unable to raise itself. We were told that the farm owner was aware of the pig’s situation. It is not an offence to have an animal which is sick, however such animals must be receiving appropriate care to ensure they are not distressed or in pain. We had no information that this animal was not receiving appropriate treatment but told the person we would contact the farm owner to ensure the pig was receiving proper care. Again, the caller expressed satisfactioon with that response. An Inspector immediately contacted the farmer and was advised that the pig was under the care of a veterinarian, was on medication and should make a quick recovery. We then contacted the vet who confirmed the pig was under her care and treatment. We arranged with the farmer to visit his farm shortly.
The farm worker was apparently dismissed by his employer. He contacted an animal rights organisation which claimed that we must have told the farmer that it was his employee who had made the complaints and this had resulted in the worker being sacked. The RSPCA has a strict policy of confidentiality of informants’ personal details. We did not breach our Privacy Policy.
Three RSPCA Inspectors conducted a detailed inspection of the farm in the company of the farm’s vet and determined the sick pig was up and recovered. Our Inspectors found the farm to be fully compliant with the conditions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and the Pig Code of Practice. The farmer told us has in fact spent over $700,000 on improvements to the farm so that he can meet the expectations of the new Pig Code of Practice to be in force soon. While the RSPCA will continue to have concerns about aspects of intensive pig farming, especially the use of sow stalls, we cannot take action against a farmer who is meeting all of the requirements of the relevant laws.
The RSPCA maintains that;
- We responded appropriately to the complaints at the farm and had no legal authority to enter the farm based on the information given to us.
- The sick pig was receiving appropriate professional care - the RSPCA does not seek to prosecute people who have the misfortune of having a sick animal, as long as the animal is being treated.
- the RSPCA did not breach the confidentiality of the report and can take take no responsibility for the employer’s decision to dismiss his employee.
A great new book is now available from Dymocks Books - “From Baghdad, With Love” by Lt Col Jay Kopelman.
It is described by “Publishers Weekly” as “A tale of radiant joy“.
“When Marines enter an abandoned house in Fallujah, Iraq, and hear a suspicious noise, they clench their weapons, edge around the corner, and prepare to open fire.
What they find during the U.S.-led attack on the ‘most dangerous city on Earth’, however, is not an insurgent bent on revenge, but a tiny puppy left behind when most of the city’s population fled before the bombing. Despite military law that forbids the keeping of pets, the Marines de-flea the pup with kerosene, de-worm him with chewing tobacco, and fill him up on Meals Ready to Eat.
Thus begins the dramatic rescue attempt of a dog named Lava and Lava’s rescue of at least one Marine, Lieutenant Colonel Jay Kopelman, from the emotional ravages of war.
From hardened Marines to wartime journalists to endangered Iraqi citizens,”From Baghdad, With Love” tells an unforgettable true story of an unlikely band of heroes who learn unexpected lessons about life, death, and war from a mangy little flea-ridden refugee“.
As a special offer to RSPCA supporters, if you present a copy of this Blog to Dymocks Adelaide or Dymocks Burnside you will receive a 10% discount on this book (and any other books purchased on that day). Or anyone who orders via will receive free delivery.
For many years the RSPCA has offered a program for people worried about the future care of their pets if they happen to die first. Often family, friends or neighbours will take on the responsibility of these animals, but not everyone has this support - and many elderly people decide not to keep a pet for just this reason. But this is a time in their life when a pet can offer them company, security and reasons to keep active! Research has proven the positive health benefits that pets bring to their owners.
The RSPCA Pet Bequest Program finds a suitable new home for pets when their owner dies. The RSPCA will not keep these animals “institutionalised” in an animal shelter but in private homes. We take special care to ensure the cat or dog goes to somebody who will provide individual attention, and the RSPCA continues to monitor the care of the animal over its life. We pay all ongoing veterinary costs and ensure the pet is microchipped, vaccinated and fed whatever diet it may need. These costs are met by making a bequest to the RSPCA.
Here is an actual case history from our Pet Bequest Program;
When Maureen passed away in 2003 she left behind “Millie”, her constant companion for the previous 8 years. Maureen named the RSPCA as a beneficiary in her estate in the expectation that we would ensure Millie was cared for in the future.
Millie, a tiny Papillon, was placed in a new home with Roma, a foster carer known to the RSPCA. Millie recently required major surgery to remove a large bladder stone and is now on a special Hills Science Diet to prevent the buildup of crystals in her kidneys. From Maureen’s bequest to the RSPCA, all of Roma’s expenses in keeping Millie are paid for. Maureen also requested that when Millie dies, her ashes are placed in the RSPCA’s Memorial Garden at Lonsdale, where a plaque is already placed in memory of Maureen and her late son.
To register in our Pet Bequest Program, and to have peace of mind for your animal’s future, contact our Bequest Officer Anthea at the RSPCA on 8212 6871. Anthea will collect as much information about your pet’s particular needs and characteristics in order that your pet can make a smooth transition to a new home if that becomes necessary.
The export of live animals for slaughter is inherently cruel. The entire live export journey - from farm-gate to point of destination - involves stressful and painful experiences for the animal.
These images are an example of the fate that awaits millions of Australian sheep and cattle at the end of this journey, every year.
Improved export standards and general welfare lower mortality rates on voyages but do not eliminate the suffering of many individual animals.
On-board mortality rate is a crude measure of animal welfare and doesn’t account for the suffering of animals that survive. Plus, Australia’s standards do not apply as soon as the animals reach their point of destination.
Our livestock export standards cannot influence cruel handling and slaughtering practices in importing countries.
Australian animals in some importing countries are subjected to incompetent and inhumane animal handling practices.
Inhumane slaughtering methods in some importing countries include cutting leg tendons and eye stabbing of cattle to cripple them, followed by rough throat-cutting and a slow agonising death. Sheep are also killed without pre-stunning, have their throats roughly cut and bleed to death. All while other animals look on. These practices are engrained in local culture.
The best way to influence inhumane animal handling and slaughtering practices in importing countries is to stop trading with them.
Such diplomatic and trade sanctions are internationally accepted, and have been used effectively in the past, for example, to change unacceptable practices such as apartheid and to denounce countries that support terrorism.
Participating in the trade does not help to improve welfare standards in the destination countries.
By continuing to send Australian animals to suffer such cruelty and abuse, we send the message to the international community that Australia not only allows but approves of such practices. Continuing to participate in this cruel trade so we can ‘educate’ the perpetrators is like Australia trying to teach the Japanese how to better kill whales.
Importing governments, local industry and local animal welfare organisations have the responsibility to improve animal welfare standards.
The Australian Government and the sheep and cattle industry must support domestic livestock producers and meat-processing industries.
The Australian Government must, as an absolute priority, invest in the infrastructure required to expand the chilled and frozen meat trade so it can replace live animal exports.
On a hot afternoon in November 2006 two plain clothes Police Officers were driving their unmarked vehicle in Gould Creek north east of Adelaide when they noticed a parked car. The door opened and a small brown puppy was put outside. The car then drove away. The Police followed the car and pulled it over, and the 60 year-old husband and wife occupants admitted to dumping their pup. The Police instructed them to go back and collect the dog from the roadside, before it fell victim to traffic on the highway.
The Police asked the RSPCA to investigate the matter and the RSPCA Inspector interviewed the couple. They admitted to the offence of abandonment of an animal, a four-month old Staffordshire Terrier Cross pup which they had named “Buddy”. Their excuse was they had no money to keep the dog or to pay a surrender fee they believed would be charged by the local animal shelter. They had hoped someone might see the puppy by the road and pick it up. They had clearly not considered the puppy may have been hit by a passing car, or run into the scrub and succumbed to thirst or hunger.
The RSPCA prosecuted the couple in the Elizabeth Court on 13 February 2007 and they were both convicted and placed on a $1,000 Good Behavior Bond for 3 years. They were also ordered to surrender to the RSPCA any other animals they may have and were forbidden from acquiring any other animal in the future.
Buddy was fortunate in having a second chance to find a more responsible owner. The RSPCA will always accept an unwanted pet for whatever reason, and there is no excuse to abandon vulnerable animals to an unkown and possibly disastrous future.
The RSPCA was called to rescue a large echidna from suburban Woodville after a truck driver removed it from busy Woodville Road in morning peak hour traffic.
Contrary to popular belief, echidnas are commonly found in the suburbs, in fact anywhere they can satisfy their hunger for ants, termites, grubs and worms. They wander over very large areas, and can have a home range of over 200 acres! They are surprisingly agile in climbing fences and manage usually to keep out of sight by burrowing into the ground surface.
Echidnas do not cope well in captivity, and if found should be left alone or placed somewhere safe close by protected from dogs, cats and traffic.
The echidna and platypus are closely related - the only animals in the world to have fur and lay eggs - the monotremes. We in Adelaide are lucky to have such a unique animal living in our midst!
