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RSPCA Australia E-news
Issue 5 -
May 2007
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The 2007 RSPCA Million Paws Walk is on this Sunday!
Can you imagine what a single gathering of 250,000 dogs would
look like? And what about the noise!! The RSPCA hasn’t quite
reached this goal of our annual Million Paws Walk yet but
luckily, when we do, the participants will be spread out across
dozens of locations nationwide.
This favourite Aussie event is on again this year and we’re
taking this opportunity to remind all our faithful supporters that
you don’t need paws to walk! If you love animals but aren’t lucky
enough to own a pet right now, the Million Paws Walk is a
veritable ‘dog-lovers paradise’ where you can see pooches and
other animals of all sizes, shapes and colours in the one place.
Did you know that in Australia alone, there are almost 200
recognised breeds of dog and around 40 breeds of cat? With so many
different and exotic varieties available, it’s easy to overlook
the merits of one of Australia’s most popular pets: the humble
mixed breed. Special guest writer Michelle Minehan has written a
little piece in praise of the mixed breed, to pay tribute
to those one-of-a-kind mutts, bitzers and moggies that we see
everyday.
The RSPCA accepts many pure bred as well as cross bred animals
from the community each year, and while there’s nothing wrong with
buying a healthy and robust pet from a top quality registered
breeder, we hope this article will encourage you to take a second
look at those scruffy ‘street specials’. They may be low on
breeding credentials but they are simply bursting with love,
loyalty and personality!
Speaking of dogs, if you think yours knows a few impressive
tricks or you suspect your cat is smarter than it lets on, wait
til you read our story on clever farm animals. Sadly, some
people seem to think it’s okay to treat animals with less care if
they are ultimately destined for the dinner plate; however, the
RSPCA believes every animal deserves to live a life free from
unnecessary pain and suffering, and should be slaughtered as
quickly and humanely as possible when the time comes. If you have
any doubt about how much farm animals are really capable of
feeling and understanding, then this article will really open up
your eyes!
Until next time,
Jane.
In this issue…
The RSPCA Million Paws Walk – add your feet to the
beat!
Our clever farm animals
In praise of the mixed breed
Understanding what we’re up against
RSPCA to the Rescue: A very poor fit for Toby
RSPCA Million Paws Walk – add your feet to
the beat!
 The
RSPCA Million Paws Walk is almost here – have you made your plans
yet?
If not, don’t paws (get it?) a moment longer or you risk
missing out on this year’s most fun day out for pets and the
people who love them!
The RSPCA Million Paws Walk will be held this year on Sunday
20 May.
 As the major annual fundraising event for this
much-loved animal welfare charity, the Million Paws Walk last year
attracted around 45,000 people and nearly 31,000 pets
to over 70 locations around Australia. That’s quite a feet!
(boom boom)
The
Million Paws Walk is the ideal opportunity for a great day out
keeping fit and having fun with your pooch, while supporting the
RSPCA.
 And remember, you don’t need paws to walk! If you love
dogs but don’t have one of your own at the moment, taking part in
the Million Paws Walk is an animal-lovers paradise, where you can
see lots and lots of gorgeous dogs, all in the one place and
having loads of fun!
Support from the community enables the RSPCA to fulfil its
mission to prevent cruelty to animals by actively promoting their
care and protection: for example, by operating animal
shelters, vet clinics and ambulances, employing inspectors to
investigate complaints of animal cruelty and neglect as well as
running education programmes and awareness campaigns.
Each Million Paws Walk location has a real carnival atmosphere,
and might include games, demonstrations and competitions as well
as sales of pet care products and accessories.
On average, the RSPCA in Australia accepts more than 135,000
animals from the community each year and investigates around
45,000 complaints of animal cruelty and neglect.
To find out more and register online, hoof it to
http://www.millionpawswalk.com.au/.
*our thanks to
James
Morgan for these gorgeous photos, and to our valued supporters
Jamie Durie, Kerri-Anne Kennerley and Tom Williams for taking time
out to get involved in the Million Paws Walk!
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Our clever farm animals
If you were asked to name a smart animal, chances are you
might think of a dog, a dolphin or perhaps a monkey!
However, our unassuming farm animals (such as sheep, pigs
and even chooks) have abilities that will really amaze you!
 For
example, did you know sheep can recognise faces and are able to
tell one emotional state (such as anger or sadness) from another
in pretty much the same way humans do? In fact, sheep can identify
over 50 other sheep faces and remember them for up to two years.
In one study, sheep were trained to associate one pair in 25
pairs of sheep faces with a food reward. Once they learned this,
it soon became apparent they could also recognise the profile of
the same sheep – without relearning the task! Some 800 days later,
the sheep were still able to recognise the faces associated with
the food reward. Not so shabby, huh? This knowledge makes the
reality of life for sheep and other animals subject to the
cruel
live export trade all the more disturbing.
 Next
time you get a kick out of mastering a new task, think about this:
cows have also been shown to become quite excited when they
realise they have learnt something new! Cows in a scientific study
were taught how to do puzzles correctly and, when successful, saw
a food reward appear from behind a closed door.
The cows ran and jumped when they realised they had performed
the task correctly. Were they happy about finishing the puzzle? –
or perhaps more excited at the thought of a tasty snack…
While we’re talking about ‘pigging out’, you might have seen
some media attention lately about the plight of
pigs
in intensive farms all over Australia, particular the
continuing use of sow stalls. One of the reasons the RSPCA is so
concerned for the welfare of pigs in these situations is because
we know they are highly intelligent and social animals, that live
in small stable groups with strong bonds between individuals.
But did you know that pigs can also play computer games? In an
attempt to better understand how pigs see the world and how smart
they really are, scientists asked pigs to perform similar computer
tests to those that are normally used to test a child’s mental
development.
These clever piggies used their snouts to manipulate a joystick
in order to hit targets on the computer screen. When pigs managed
to hit the target, a bell would ring and they would be given a
food reward. They soon got the hang of this and were gradually
given even more complex tasks. In a quote from one particularly
famous film: that’ll do, pig!
One of the most amazing farm animals is in fact the humble hen.
You might remember from our
Choose
Wisely campaign, that chickens live in social groups and can
recognise and remember more than 100 other chickens by their
facial features.
We also know chickens communicate with around thirty distinct
types of vocalisations. They have different alarm cries to
indicate whether a predator is travelling by land, air or sea, and
to which their flock mates then respond accordingly (for example,
by looking up or heading for cover).
Chickens also have the amazing ability to understand that an
object, when taken and hidden from view, does not actually
‘disappear’ but in fact continues to exist out of sight? – this
level of understanding is beyond the capacity of small children!
 Hens have
also demonstrated that they are perfectly capable of telling us
how much space they need and how much food they’d like to eat.
Hens in one study were asked to choose between three seconds
access to food after a two-second delay, access to 22 seconds of
food after a 6-second delay, or access to 22 seconds of food after
a 22-second delay. The results of this experiment showed hens not
only knew what was going on, but exercised considerable
self-control and were willing to forego the smaller food reward in
favour of a much larger reward after a slightly longer wait.
In another experiment, hens were asked to choose their
preferred cage size. Interestingly, hens did select the larger
cages, but not always – indicating that perhaps they don’t need a
lot of space, all of the time, but most of the time they certainly
prefer more space.
Now, doesn’t that make you want to think twice before reaching
for those cage eggs, which have come from hens that are crammed
into tiny battery ages for their entire lives?
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In praise of the mixed breed
 Whether
you know it as a mutt or moggie, Domestic Short Hair or a bitzer,
chances are you’ve come across a mixed breed dog or cat at some
point during your life.
If you’ve been lucky enough to own one of these
‘one-of-a-kind’ pets, you’re sure to agree when we say this often
underrated pet has a lot to offer and a whole lotta love to give!
In a world where bloodlines and appearances count, it’s a sad
fact that mixed breed dogs and cats are frequently overlooked for
their more ‘glamorous’ counterparts.
All too often it seems that the reputation of the breeder or
breed is viewed as far more important than finding an individual
pet that suits your lifestyle; and meanwhile, the loveable mutts
and moggies of the world are bypassed for a pure bred animal that
some may consider to be a ‘better’ pet.
It seems that when it comes to finding a new home, these little
Aussie battlers really are the underdogs.
Here at the RSPCA, we love all kinds of animals and in fact,
you might be surprised at the exotic breeds that find their way to
your nearest RSPCA shelter! There are many benefits to purchasing
a pure bred animal. For example, you have a good idea of what it
will look like, you can get sound advice from a reliable and
experience registered breeder and you can even see the parents to
get a better idea of their health and behaviour.
On the down side, a healthy dog or cat from a good breeder will
likely be quite expensive, and you can never be completely sure
how your pet’s temperament will turn out, especially if you’re
buying a puppy or kitten.
Many people don’t realise the modest mixed breed can also make
the perfect pet. They might not come from a pedigree of show
stock, but they can be just as affectionate and loyal a companion
than even the most blueblood of breeds.
 Buying a
mixed breed dog or cat is truly buying a one-of-a-kind pet and it
often means you’re getting the best of both breeds in one hardy
little pet! If you adopt an older animal, you can be almost
certain of the looks, personality and behaviour traits of the
animal you’ll be taking home.
Furthermore, the experienced staff members at the RSPCA who
care for that particular animal can also provide reliable advice
on its needs: how much food Moggsie will eat and how much exercise
Rover will need as well as what type of environment or family they
will be best suited to.
And while adopting a new pet shouldn’t be TOO cheap, another
benefit of buying a pet from the RSPCA is that its generally a lot
less expensive: because the RSPCA is a non-profit organisation,
your adoption fee is a contribution towards helping the shelter
cover the cost of caring for that animal during its stay,
including vaccinations, desexing, etc.
When choosing a new pet, it’s important to consider the
characteristics of that particular animal. Personality traits can
vary enormously between different animals of the same breed, and
even between animals from the same litter! Don’t make your
decision based on breed, pedigree or reputation alone.
 There
will always be a place in our hearts for the pure bred animals,
but mixed breed pets can provide unconditional love, companionship
and everything else you’re looking for in a pet. After all, unless
you’re planning on breeding and showing your new family member, it
is a pet you’re after, isn’t it?
Buying a dog or cat is a big decision that needs a lot of
thought and consideration. If you’re thinking of getting a new
pet, you should also consider the thousands of mixed breed dogs
and cats that end up in animal shelters every year, both pure bred
and mixed breed: the big ones and the little ones, from the
cute-as-a-button to those with a face that ‘only a mother could
love’, the shiny smooth-as-velvet to the fluffy and scruffy coats,
from the four-legged athletes to the couch potatoes.
If you can find the dog that is right for you, you’ll be the
proud owner of a loving and loyal companion that will never let
you forget how grateful they are for the second chance.
And if it’s a cat you’re after, well, they will always make
sure you remember how lucky you are to have found them…!
To marvel at some of the amazing pure bred and mixed breed
animals awaiting adoption in RSPCA shelters across Australia,
visit Adoptapet now.
* our thanks to special guest writer Michelle Minehan for this
article.
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All in a day’s work
 Have
you ever been shocked to hear about someone accused of animal
cruelty or neglect, only to see them escape with a light sentence
or ‘slap on the wrist’?
If it’s hard for you to see this happen, imagine how it
feels for the RSPCA Inspector who worked tirelessly to bring the
case to prosecution, or the dedicated shelter workers who have
cared for the sick or injured animals involved!
These cases can make people feel very disappointed or angry,
and perhaps not surprisingly the RSPCA is sometimes asked why they
couldn’t do more, or how they could ‘let them get away with it’.
There is always a lot going on behind the scenes that the media
can’t report in detail so in this article, we’ll attempt to
explain a little more about these difficult situations.
To start with, it’s important to understand that the RSPCA
Inspectors are a little like the police, in that they don’t make
the laws but they do have the responsibility for enforcing them.
The people who work at the RSPCA care a lot about the welfare of
animals and spend a lot of time educating people about the proper
care and treatment of animals. We also think it’s important that
people who are neglectful or cruel to the animals in their care
are appropriately punished.
Animal protection laws in Australia vary between states and
territories and often the processes will differ significantly.
Generally, when the RSPCA receives a complaint, it is obliged to
first take action to rectify the situation by contacting the
owners of the animal and advising them of what they must do to
ensure its welfare.
In some cases, where the animal is in urgent need of care or
veterinary treatment, or where these instructions aren’t followed,
the RSPCA may be able to seize the animal: but there are always
steps that must be taken before doing so.
 It
might also surprise you to know that a seized animal does not
automatically become the property of the RSPCA, and therefore,
cannot be immediately rehomed. Unless the owner voluntarily
surrenders their animal to the RSPCA, it remains the property of
the owner until a court decides otherwise. As you may well be
aware, it can be months until a case goes to court, and during
this time the RSPCA is responsible for accommodating and caring
for that animal.
If the prosecution is successful, sometimes costs will be
awarded to reimburse it for these expenses. Sometimes – but not
always – ownership of the animal will be given to the RSPCA, and
it can then rehabilitate that animal and find it a good new home.
And yes, sometimes, if a prosecution fails the RSPCA may even
have to pay all court costs! For a charity, that’s pretty hard to
deal with, and is one of the reasons why RSPCA inspectors work
closely with the prosecutors to make sure they gather all the
available information and evidence, and are as certain as possible
that they have a good case before proceeding to court.
It’s therefore no surprise that sometimes, just like the police
and lawyers, the RSPCA might not be entirely satisfied with the
findings and penalties handed out by the magistrate. But the RSPCA
staff do understand it’s the magistrate’s job to consider all the
evidence at hand and how it fits under the laws, and will always
respect their decision.
When it comes to matters of animal cruelty, it’s also important
to make the clear distinction between the RSPCA policies and the
laws that it enforces. As an organisation, the RSPCA is opposed to
many practices that we think are cruel and unnecessary – for
example, keeping hens in battery cages.
However, the use of battery cages isn’t illegal: in most states
and territories, the keeping of layer hens is governed by a
model
code of practice that stipulates, for example, how much space
the birds must have and how they should be cared for. As long as
the egg producer is following these guidelines, they are within
the law and cannot be prosecuted for animal cruelty – no matter
how inadequate we think the conditions are (click
here to find out more about the model codes of practices and
how they work).
As a non-profit organisation and a charity, it’s a fact of life
that the RSPCA’s work is also limited by funding. Did you know
that nationally, the RSPCA receives less than 3% of its funding
from the government? – the remainder is made up by the generous
support we receive from individuals as well as businesses. With
limited resources, we certainly can’t be everywhere at once.
That’s one of the reasons why the RSPCA depends so heavily on the
community to help out: not only through donations, but by
reporting cases of cruelty and neglect when they see it happening.
In many states and territories, the RSPCA needs to receive a
legitimate complaint in order to act on a concern or enter
premises where it’s suspected an animal is being mistreated.
Generally, the RSPCA also cannot accept anonymous complaints, and
while it appreciates you might feel uncomfortable revealing your
identity, this confidential information is absolutely essential
and is especially important if the case ends up going to court.
It’s understandable that members of the public might get become
frustrated if they don’t actually see changes taking place
following their complaint. However, you can rest assured the RSPCA
takes every legitimate complaint it receives very seriously and
acts upon them as quickly and efficiently as the law and its
resources allow.
You might not always see the inspectors at work, and because
RSPCA staff are so busy doing this work, they may not always be
able to contact you to let you know the outcome of your call. But
you should still feel very confident that action is being taken,
and that you’ve done the right thing by bringing the problem to
our attention and helping out an animal in need!
It’s a tough job, but for the dedicated staff and volunteers
that work for the RSPCA across Australia, it’s all in a day’s
work.
If you have any questions about the operations of the RSPCA in
your state or territory please don’t hesitate to
contact your
nearest RSPCA for more information.
* our thanks to special guest writer Michelle Minehan for
this article.
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RSPCA to the rescue: A very poor fit for Toby
If you’ve ever been lucky enough to own a dog, you’ll know
that part of the fun is finding the perfect accessories to
complement your new friend’s looks and personality.
Therefore, it’s very difficult to understand how someone
could ignore a dog that was gradually being strangled to death
with a piece of elastic that was placed around his neck as a
makeshift collar.
 Sadly,
that’s the situation in which we found Toby, a gorgeous
Papillion/Cavalier King Charles Spaniel cross dog.
When RSPCA Inspector Ruth arrived at the premises to
investigate a complaint, she was shocked by the stench of rotting
flesh she encountered.
She was even more horrified when she discovered the smell was
coming from poor Toby, who had a raw open wound around his neck
that had become dangerously infected.
There was no time to waste - Toby was rushed back to the RSPCA
headquarters, where he had to be placed under anaesthetic so his
painful injury could be properly examined.
It was than that the RSPCA veterinarian discovered the cause of
the problem. A hair elastic had been stretched tight around Toby’s
neck and was slowly choking him to death. It had obviously been
there for some time, and was becoming tighter as Toby grew.
The elastic had to be cut to be removed, and this led to the
horrific discovery that the metal insert in the band has created a
hole in Toby’s throat.
In a first for the RSPCA in WA, the vet team performed a
life-saving skin graft, by stretching a small piece of healthy
skin from near the gap and placing it over the top.
Images of Toby before and during his surgery are considered too
upsetting to be shown here. But this story does have a happy
ending - thanks to the RSPCA and his own willpower, Toby went on
to make a full recovery and was adopted by one of the fantastic
volunteers in our animal shelter.
The RSPCA was also able to prosecute Toby’s old owner for their
treatment of him, and they were fined $2,000.
- If you’re in Perth, you can meet Toby in person at the Million
Paws Walk this year!
Click
here to view locations details and register online.
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