The RSPCA is seeking public assistance.
We want to find the owner of a dog that we found with life threatening injuries.
The gorgeous Maltese cross had a elastic band tied around it’s neck causing horrific, deep cuts all over it’s neck and throat. We have no idea why anyone would do this, however, given the size of the band, it may well have been a horrible attempt to suffocate the animal.
The dog has no identification, we haven’t been contacted about a dog fitting this description.
We’re asking for anyone who recognizes this dog to contact the RSPCA. We understand that the owner may be completely innocent, but we don’t know this until someone comes forward.
Call us on 8 231 6931
December 7th, 2007
The Annual Conference of the Australian and New Zealand Council for the Care of Animals in Research and Teaching (ANZCCART) was held in Melbourne between 10th and 12th July 2007. The attendees were a mixture of scientists, teachers, veterinarians, animal welfare representatives and lay people who each year meet to share information about how best to REDUCE the numbers of animals used in scientific research and teaching, to REFINE the use of such animals to ensure research is relevant and warranted and to REPLACE the use of animals with appropriate alternatives wherever and whenever possible.
It was disappointing that throughout most of the Conference, animal liberationists conducted a noisy demonstration outside, making every effort to disrupt the proceedings. At the completion of the Conference, delegates had to be shielded from the protesters by the Police. While delegates, including those from the RSPCA, were led to their cars, abuse was hurled at us through loud hailers, horns and whistles. The animal activists took photographs of delegates in their taxis, a well known method of intimidation taught at “activist schools”.
While the RSPCA is philosophically opposed to the use of animals for experimental purposes, we accept that all medications, vaccines and surgical procedures are required by law to be trialled on animals before humans for the purposes of safety and efficacy. The RSPCA therefore is pleased to partipate in the Animal Ethics Committee system, set up under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, to require that all research and teaching using animals is conducted in such a way that animals are adequately protected from pain and suffering.
Those protesters who seek to prevent the quest for improvements do the animals they seek to protect no service. And if these people take personal advantage of any therapeutic medications or surgery provided to them by doctors, they demonstrate their hypocrisy and naievity.
August 7th, 2007
Hon Gail Gago
Minister for Environment and Conservation
Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse
Minister Assisting the Minister for Health
Tuesday, 31 July 2007
Penalties for animal cruelty offences in SA will be doubled under new legislation introduced into State Parliament today.
Environment and Conservation Minister Gail Gago said the new Animal Welfare Act sought to strengthen the existing legislation to provide tougher penalties and better means of detecting people who harmed animals.
“Anyone who is responsible for cruelty to animals needs to be made accountable for their actions,” Minister Gago said.
“We recently announced additional funding of $560,000 to the RSPCA over the next four years for two new inspectors bringing the total in SA to 10.
“The introduction of this new Bill today proposes significant changes to, and a new name for, the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1985.
“It follows the release of a discussion paper and extensive public consultation with the views of more than 70 submissions being taken into account, as well as suggested legislative changes from the RSPCA.
“We believe there’s widespread community support for improved measures for the welfare of animals, and the changes to the legislation will ensure that our animal welfare standards are among the best in the country,” Minister Gago said.
The draft bill includes proposals to:
DOUBLE penalties up to $20,000 or two year’s imprisonment for ill treatment of animals.
MAKE aggravated animal cruelty an indictable offence, increasing the penalties for offenders.
EMPOWER animal welfare inspectors to routinely inspect intensive farming establishments, puppy farms, circuses and council operated dog pounds.
ALLOW animal welfare inspectors to enter a property to rescue an animal, even if the owner is not present.
EMPOWER courts to order confiscation of objects used in an offence and any financial proceeds of an offence.
FORCE owners to forfeit mistreated animals without having to seek a conviction through a court.
CREATE a new offence for keeping animals in conditions likely to cause pain, distress or disease.
Minister Gago said the name change from the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act to the Animal Welfare Act had come from a suggestion in the public submissions.
“We want the new legislation to reflect a changed emphasis from preventing cruelty to promoting animal welfare,” she said.
The new legislation follows the State Government’s moves to tighten standards on how rodeos are conducted in South Australia.
“We already have 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.
“The new 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,” Minister Gago said.
August 5th, 2007
