E-news Issue 1 - April 2006

Welcome to our first issue!

We at RSPCA Australia are very excited to be delivering to you the very first issue of our brand new e-newsletter!

I'm sure you'll understand that here at the RSPCA, it's very easy to get so caught up in the work we're doing, that we sometimes forget to pause for a moment and tell everyone what we're up to!

Our intention is that this newsletter will keep you up-to-date with the many projects we're working on, and for those of you who support the RSPCA, remind you of the difference you are helping us to make to all kinds of animals throughout Australia.

This newsletter is all about keeping you informed, so please feel free to share it with your friends and contact me with any comments, suggestions or feedback you have.

Otherwise, happy reading and I look forward to staying in touch with you next issue!

Cheers,

Jane

P.S.: you can e-mail me at  

P.P.S: our sincerest thanks to all the team at Premiere Global Services/Xpedite, for their help in making this happen.

In this issue…

A Million Paws for a great cause!

More than just a pretty face

Campaign update: Animal cruelty exposed in live export trade

Gifts with a difference

RSPCA to the rescue: Robin gets a second chance

A Million Paws for a great cause

The 13th annual Million Paws Walk is fast approaching and now is the perfect time to think about how you can get involved!

In 2005, around 35,000 people and 25,000 animals took part at over 60 different walk locations all over Australia, and with your help, we expect this year to be bigger and better than ever.

The Million Paws Walk (sponsored by Hill’s Pet Nutrition) is the RSPCA’s major annual national fundraising event. It’s a great day out for all creatures great and small – including dogs, cats, ferrets, horses and even a few brave cats!

Even more importantly, funds raised through registration and the sale of merchandise assist the RSPCA to continue its vital work in caring for and protecting more than 135,000 animals every year. In fact, in many states the Walk is led off by dogs that have been rescued from cruelty and neglect and rehabilitated with the help of the RSPCA – they are identified by special blue dog coats that are all made by a pair of very dedicated volunteers.

The 2006 RSPCA Million Paws Walk will be held on Sunday 21 May in all states except WA, where it will be held earlier on 30 April (to avoid the increased likelihood of rain that occurs in May!).

This year, those participating in the Walk can wear bright blue 'stop animal cruelty' wristbands, with a little heart shaped doggie tag to match.

In addition to the Walk itself, participants enjoy a real festival atmosphere on the day, with entertainment, vet checks, displays, a great variety of food and drinks, and free demonstrations.

Individuals, families, corporate teams and non-pet owners are welcome! Why not challenge your workmates to see who can raise the most funds? And if you can’t attend on the day, you can still purchase great merchandise through our website.

We would also really appreciate your help in promoting the Million Paws Walk through your internal newsletters and web sites. Contact Jane Speechley for information and some great photos like the ones you see here!

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More than just a pretty face

In addition to helping us to find homes for pets in need, the RSPCA’s new national adoption website, Adoptapet, is a wealth of information about pet ownership.

For example, you can read about the many proven health benefits that pet owners from a whole range of age groups may enjoy.

Pet owners typically make fewer visits to the doctor and use fewer medications. Those who interact regularly with animals have been shown to suffer less from depression and cope with grief and loss better than non-pet owners.

Pets also help to enhance self-esteem in children and teenagers, with young people that have pets showing a more positive outlook on life and suffering less from loneliness, boredom and restlessness.

Pets can also help the elderly and infirm, helping them to remain more active and reducing tension, confusion and fatigue.

For more information (and especially, some advice on why adopting your new pet from the RSPCA is the best choice of all!) - visit www.adoptapet.com.au and click on ‘Why adopt an orphan?’

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Animal cruelty exposed in live export trade

The cruel reality of live animal exports for slaughter was brought to the attention of many Australians in February, when confronting footage of the treatment of cattle in an Egyptian abattoir was aired on Channel Nine programme, 60 Minutes.

While it has not been established that these animals were from Australia, the shocking pictures and the public response reinforced the RSPCA’s long held opposition to live exports, as it clearly demonstrated Australian authorities simply have no control over the treatment of livestock once they arrive at their destination.

But this is only part of the problem. It’s important that we don’t lose sight of the other concerns: that the live export trade is inherently cruel, because of the cumulative effects of heat, stress and possible injury over very long journeys where the potential for disaster is high and often out of Australia’s control.

Just as disturbing is the fact that the livestock export industry continues to send Australian animals into potentially cruel and inhumane situations. If the type of treatment shown on 60 Minutes took place here, it would be illegal and the perpetrators would be prosecuted by the RSPCA.

It is a case of applying double standards, and sadly it’s the animals which suffer as a result.

The RSPCA welcomes the decision by Agriculture Minister Peter McGauran to suspend cattle exports to Egypt, while the claims raised by 60 Minutes are investigated. However, the RSPCA doesn’t believe the trade should ever resume; in fact we want to see live animal exports altogether replaced with an expanded chilled and frozen meat trade.

It’s not just the RSPCA which has recognised there are serious animal welfare issues with the trade. Both industry and governments are aware of fundamental problems within live export, which is why significant resources have been directed at the trade in an attempt to make improvements.

Despite many changes being made within live export over the decades, the facts remain that the journey is still inherently cruel and Australia has no control over the treatment of our animals once they arrive at their destination.

Worse still, is that live export is also completely unnecessary.

All major export markets for live animals already accept chilled and frozen meats from Australia, that have been slaughtered according to cultural and religious requirements. This is at odds with the suggestion that key markets in the Middle East and across South East Asia will only accept live animals.

The chilled and frozen meat trade will never reach its potential until live exports are stopped. A move towards an expanded meat trade will not only spare many livestock from suffering cruelty, it will also help create new jobs within Australian abattoirs, particularly in rural and regional areas where they are so desperately needed.

Read more about live exports here and sign our Fair Go for Farm Animals petition.

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Gifts with a difference

If you’re interested in supporting the RSPCA, there are a number of ways in which you can help.

Donations are always welcome, but have you ever thought about making a donation on someone else’s behalf, as a special gift to both the recipient and the RSPCA?

The next time you are shopping for a unique birthday, wedding or Christmas present, why not check out the gorgeous gift cards available from the RSPCA?

Here’s how it works: jump on to our gift card page and choose one of the amazing photographic designs available. Each one has a different focus, from pets to wildlife to farm animals – so you can choose one to really suit the person you are shopping for.

Click on your chosen design then fill in your details, including the amount you would like to donate on the recipient’s behalf. Then proceed to our secure payment gateway, where you can safely make your payment using your credit card.

Your beautiful photographic gift card will then be mailed to you, ready to be personalised by you and presented to the lucky recipient.

Struggling to find a distinctive and rewarding gift for that special someone is now a thing of the past. With the RSPCA gift card, you can receive a attractive photographic memento, plus the knowledge that your contribution is making a real difference to the lives of animals in need.

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Robin gets a second chance

The brave little cat that was shot with an arrow has found a happy ending, thanks to the RSPCA.

Named “Robin” (after Robin Hood) by the RSPCA WA veterinary team, the one year old tabby kitten was reunited with her knight in shining armour last month after making a remarkable recovery.

Danny Ryan had just returned to work at a building site after the Christmas/New Year break when he found this feisty feline, a victim of animal cruelty, and his heart just melted.

“I saw this flash out of the corner of my eye and then something hit my leg. I looked down and then I saw her lying on the ground,” said Danny.

He attempted to reach out to pat the little female cat and on the third try, this scared little survivor let him touch her.

“It was like she’d given up the fight and knew I wanted to help her.”

Danny carefully picked her up and took her to the site office, where the alarm was raised. The local ranger soon arrived at the building site and brought the little cat to the RSPCA, in the hope that we could save the animal’s life.

The veterinary team worked carefully for nearly two hours to remove the arrow and stabilise the cat’s condition. X-rays revealed the arrow missed all major organs, arteries, veins and nerves. Amazingly, it didn’t even break a bone!

“It passed by so many vital structures – it went near the chest cavity, the heart, then out through the neck, the jugular vein, its oesophagus, and its trachea, yet none of those things were hit,” said RSPCA vet Rachel Evans.

Robin astounded RSPCA vets team with her rapid recovery.

“This little cat has bounced back far better than we ever expected, considering the wound was so deep and infested,” said vet Laura Milner.

It took three weeks for the wound to heal but Robin was kept under observation for another seven days to ensure there were no further complications.

“Her wound has completely healed. She still has some muscle damage which will take some time to repair but after that she’ll be as good as new. You’ll hardly be able to tell she’s been through this ordeal,” said Dr Milner.

When Danny heard that Robin had made a complete recovery and was looking for a loving new owner, he immediately rushed to the RSPCA animal shelter to apply to adopt her.

He wasn’t alone, we were inundated with dozens of calls from so many wonderful people willing to give Robin a second chance at life, but RSPCA Shelter management knew Danny was the “one” – no one could match his enthusiasm, care and compassion for this special little cat.

While Robin may have found a loving new owner, there are still many more cats, kittens, dogs, puppies and even birds waiting at RSPCA animal shelters for someone special to take them home. You can view their photos and details at www.adoptapet.com.au.

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