Archive for July, 2007
The RSPCA was recently called out to a five car pile up at Main North Road, Blair Athol. ‘Bailey’, a Labrador, was seriously injured and has lost the use of one of his front legs. The owner was also taken to hospital. The accident highlights the fact that unrestrained dogs and cars don’t mix.
Aimee McKay, RSPCA spokesperson said:
‘From an animal welfare perspective, dogs can be seriously injured in a crash - the incident this morning is a perfect example of this. Like a human without a seatbelt, when a driver suddenly brakes, an unrestrained dog flings forward with a great deal of force. Broken bones, fractured skulls and death are very, very real possibilities and we have certainly seen lots of these types of injuries at our shelters.’
It’s not only your pooch at risk - an unrestrained dog equals a distracted and dangerous driver. A recent survey by AAMI says forget your mobile - your ‘best friend’ is more distracting. The research also says over 80 per cent of drivers think car restraints should be compulsory and the RSPCA agrees.
While they’re distracting they’re also potentially lethal. RSPCA research shows the force of a dog hitting you or a passenger in the car is 20 times its weight. It goes without saying, that could lead to severe injury.
The RSPCA would like the Government to look at making new legislation that makes restraints mandatory.
July 30th, 2007
Hi everyone.
Due to factors beyond our control gremlins snuck into the RSPCA’s blog a few nights ago and stole all of the comments, leaving nothing behind but gremlin dust.
We are sorry, but at least your comments from now on will show up. We have posted a fearsome guard dog at the entrance to the blog so that the gremlins won’t steal anything else…
Administrator
July 20th, 2007
The most recent national statistics released by the RSPCA reveal Australia’s most trusted animal welfare charity investigated 38,913 complaints in the previous financial year.
RSPCA Australia President Lynne Bradshaw said the figure represents an unacceptably high number of animals that are being abused or neglected in Australia, and underlines the difficulties faced by the 84 RSPCA Inspectors employed nationally.
“Although complaints are at a five-year low, the number of animals accepted into shelters nationally has escalated to almost 147,000 for the same time period - that’s an increase of over 14,000 on the previous year,” she said.
Ms Bradshaw also said a new television series called RSPCA Animal Rescue will highlight the number and range of issues that are handled by the Society’s uniformed law enforcement officers as well as veterinarians and shelter staff.
“For example, RSPCA Animal Rescue will show our Inspectors rounding up neglected sheep, retrieving a stray dog from a stormwater canal and rescuing a pelican shot with an arrow,”
Ms Bradshaw also said she hoped the new series would help raise awareness of the RSPCA’s work as well as help to deter potential offenders.
“RSPCA Animal Rescue will emphasise that a great deal of the RSPCA’s work is focussed on prevention: providing advice and assistance to owners as well as educating the broader community about the care and protection of animals,”
“However, the strong message for would-be animal cruelty offenders is that abuse and neglect of animals will not be tolerated, and there are strict penalties in place that range from heavy fines to imprisonment,” she said.
“Our Inspectors, veterinarians and shelter staff have to achieve a great deal with very limited resources, but this programme will show just how dedicated and capable they are,” said Ms Bradshaw.
“As a non-government charity, the RSPCA nationally receives around 96% of funds from businesses, individuals and the community - so I would urge anyone who is able, to support the essential work of the RSPCA with a donation by visiting www.rspca.org or phoning 1800 803 355,” said Ms Bradshaw.
RSPCA Australia’s annual national statistics for every year since 1997 can be found online at http://www.rspca.org.au/resource/stats.asp
RSPCA Animal Rescue premieres on the Seven Network at 7:30pm, Tuesday 17 July.
July 13th, 2007
Hon Gail Gago MLC, Minister for Environment and the Minister responsible for Animal Welfare in South Australia has announced an increase in funding to RSPCA (SA), equivalent to an additional $560,000 over the next 4 years to enable the Society to employ 2 additional Inspectors.
The first of these appointments will be a specialist Inspector who will be dedicated to the routine inspection of intensive farms throughout South Austalia. The Inspector will ensure that the Regulations and Codes of Practice that specify existing welfare requirements for intensively farmed animals, mainly pigs and poultry, are fully complied with.
There are significant imminent changes to intensive farming standards and the RSPCA will ensure that farmers make the necessary changes to their farming methods. Battery hens will be required to be given more space in their cages, and the revised Code of Practice for the Welfare of Pigs will introduce larger stall sizes and limit the amount of time sows can be kept in individual stalls.
Of course, the RSPCA, as an organisation, will continue to lobby nationally for the abolition of battery cages and individual sow stalls, but our Inspectorate have a separate role. They must work within the powers given to them by Government and enforce the laws as written by Parliament.
Two additional Inspectors will greatly increase the RSPCA’s capacity to attend to the thousands of reports of alleged cruelty we handle each year. And the new initiative of an Intensive Industries Inspector is welcomed by the Farming Associations who understand that compliance with modern animal welfare standards is an absolute must, both for the reputation of South Australian agriculture and for the well-being of the animals.
July 6th, 2007
Today, 4th July 2007, the South Australian Minister for Environment and Conservation Hon Gail Gago MLC announced the Government’s plan to significantly strengthen the RSPCA’s ability to enforce National Rodeo Standards to protect the animals forced to participate. In response to continued calls from the RSPCA, the Government plans to ban calf roping and the use of concealable electric prods at all rodeos in South Australia. What follows are extracts from the Minister’s Media Release. Of course, the RSPCA will maintain our strong opposition to rodeos until they are completely prohibited, for the sake of the animals. Please Read!
STATE GOVERNMENT MOVES ON RODEO ANIMAL WELFARE
“The State Government is moving to tighten standards on how rodeos are conducted in South Australia.”
Environment and Conservation Minister, Gail Gago said today that SA already had one of the best track records of all the States in its approach to animal welfare at rodeos.
“We now want to go further by introducing new regulations relating to animal welfare standards which are currently being drafted for discussion with rodeo clubs,” Minister Gago said.
“The new draft regulations will include a ban on the use of small, easily hidden cattle prods at rodeos.
“There’ll also be a ban on all animals weighing less than 200 kilograms taking part, which effectively prohibits calf roping events at all rodeos held in South Australia”
“We don’t intend to ban rodeos, but we want to improve the welfare of all animals taking part in these events.”The new regulations are designed to eliminate two areas identified as being of high risk to rodeo animals- easily hidden, small cattle prods and calf roping.
Breaching the national Standards for the Welfare of Rodeo Livestock is already an offence in SA, while most other states use the code as guidelines only,” Minister Gago said.
“We’re the only State where the standards are regulated, and we’ve been working with the RSPCA to strengthen our regulations because of their concerns that breaches may be difficult to prove in court due to the wording of the national code”.
“We’re also the only state with a successful prosecution for a breach of rodeo standards. However, there’s a danger that any future court actions might fail because of a lack of clarity relating to the rodeo standards, regulations and permit conditions.
“We therefore want to strengthen existing and new regulations in the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, so inspectors can prosecute alleged offenders knowing that the requirements are clear and legally binding”.
“This will also benefit rodeo participants who will, for the first time, know for certain what is and isn’t allowed at rodeos in SA.
“The regulations will also ensure that a veterinarian is present at all South Australian rodeos, which has been a condition of gaining a permit for many years. Veterinary attendance is only required in SA and Victoria.
“There’ll also be a provision allowing the Department for Environment and Heritage to provide reports prepared by the rodeo judge and veterinarian to the inspectors to help them investigate breaches of the regulations.
“I anticipate that the new regulation will be in place in time for the next rodeo season starting in September.
“Id like to thank the RSPCA for their support and vital contribution to ensure we end up with regulations that are both effective and enforceable,” Minister Gago said.
July 4th, 2007
