RSPCA Australia E-news Issue 7 - March 2008

Welcome to the first edition of RSPCA Australia E-News for 2008

This year has already been extremely busy for the RSPCA with more than 100 poodles seized from a property in Brisbane, RSPCA staff assisting animals affected by flooding and the annual RSPCA Australia Scientific Seminar.

In a world-first, the RSPCA has joined a global Coalition of animal welfare organisations calling for an end to the long distance transport of animals for slaughter.

2008 will be an important year for the RSPCA, not only for our major fundraising events like the Million Paws Walk and Happy Tails Day, but also in terms of our national campaigns to improve the welfare of farm animals be they sheep, pigs or poultry.

You can now register to take part in the 15th Million Paws Walk at the brand new event website. Make sure you don’t miss this popular fundraising event.

RSPCA Animal Rescue is back on our screens with season two. If you missed season one of this heartwarming, top rating and Logie Award nominated show make sure you catch it on Wednesday at 7.30pm on Channel Seven.

Whether you are a regular donor, attend one of our fundraising events, support our campaigns or volunteer at your local RSPCA we look forward to your continued support in 2008.

In this issue…

Million Paws Walk

Live Exports

RSPCA Accreditation Standards

How well trained is your dog?

RSPCA Animal Rescue receives Logie nomination

RSPCA to the Rescue: 100, 101, 102...140 poodles

Million Paws Walk

The place to be on Sunday 18 May is at Australia’s premier pet event - the Million Paws Walk.

Million Paws Walk is a fun day for any animal lover. Whether you’re a pet owner or not, it’s a great day out and an important fundraising event for the RSPCA.

Each year, the RSPCA in Australia accepts around 138,000 animals from the public, and investigates more than 42,000 complaints of animal cruelty and neglect.

Every dollar counts! Taking part in the Million Paws Walk is a great way to help animals in need.

You don’t need a dog to join in the fun. Enjoy the walk with your pet, family or friends dressed in the latest Million Paws Walk gear. Fantastic new merchandise is available to purchase online. Order early so you can wear it on the day.

As well as the walk you can spend the day browsing the stalls and displays, enjoying the entertainment, entering competitions and taking part in a host of other activities in a fun and relaxed atmosphere.

You can save time and money by registering online before Friday 9 May via the new look Million Paws Walk website.

The event website also boasts an exciting new feature where registered participants can create a fundraising page to raise money and generate support from friends, family and colleagues.
The Million Paws Walk will again be supported by Hill’s Pet Nutrition, the RSPCA’s major national sponsor.
This year’s event will be held in about 70 locations across Australia with a walk  in every state and territory.

So, brush off your walking shoes, pull out your pet’s leash and bring along your “best friend” to Australia’s premier pet event for lovers of all animals.

To register online or for more information visit www.millionpawswalk.com.au.

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Live exports

The RSPCA’s campaign against live exports intensified this month with the formation of a global Coalition and the annual RSPCA Australia Scientific Seminar.

Something fishy about long distance transport

You don’t often think about fish hitting the road to get from A to B but that’s exactly the case for millions of juvenile trout and salmon every year in Australia.

The welfare of all animals in transit, from sheep to salmon, was the subject of robust debate between industry, government, welfare groups and the academic community at the 2008 RSPCA Australia Scientific Seminar.

This year’s seminar – Animals in Transit: the journey ahead –attracted an impressive line-up of speakers, including keynote speaker, Julia Wrathall, from RSPCA UK, who talked about livestock transport throughout the European Union.

RSPCA Chief Scientist, Dr Bidda Jones, said while fish were on the agenda, the sheer number of animals involved and distances travelled made the livestock sector the primary focus of this year’s seminar.

“In Australia it is estimated that more than 967 million farm animals are transported within Australia every year, with four to six million of these being exported live on journeys that can take up to several weeks,” Dr Jones said.

“Transportation is an inherently stressful process for all animals, be they pigs, sheep, cows, goats, horses, farmed birds or fish. It’s important that all welfare impacts are understood and properly managed.

“The Scientific Seminar provides an excellent forum for stakeholders in the transport process to be updated on recent developments as well as to identify opportunities for improvement and future research.”

RSPCA Australia’s involvement in the review of livestock land transport standards as well as the recent launch of a global Coalition to end the cruel and unnecessary live export trade (Handle with Care), made this year’s Scientific Seminar a very timely and topical event.

RSPCA joins global Coalition to end live exports

RSPCA Australia has joined a global Coalition of animal welfare organisations to demand an end to the long distance transport of animals for slaughter. In Australia, the Coalition’s main focus will be on ending the live export of sheep to the Middle East.

The Handle with Care campaign is a world-first alliance of animal welfare groups coming together to send a clear message to industry and government that this inhumane and unnecessary trade will no longer be tolerated.

The Handle with Care Coalition has launched a call for action and is asking all Australians to register their opposition to live exports by visiting www.handlewithcare.tv/au.

Please let your family, friends and work colleagues know about the Handle with Care campaign by forwarding this newsletter.

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RSPCA Accreditation Standards

The welfare of layer hens has made news headlines recently.  Therefore, we thought that you may be interested to know a little more about the RSPCA’s national egg accreditation program .

Firstly, it’s important to assure consumers that the RSPCA wouldn’t allow the use of its logo on cartons of accredited eggs if we weren’t confident of the welfare of the animals.  The RSPCA is one of Australia’s most trusted charities and we work hard to earn and grow that trust.

The RSPCA supports producers that provide good welfare standards in non-cage commercial production, that is, barn-laid and free-range. We are opposed to the use of battery cages and would like Australia to follow the European Union’s lead and ban battery cages all together.  There are currently around 10.5 million hens that live a life behind bars in Australia.

RSPCA Accreditation standards have been developed based on the latest animal welfare science and are far superior to national regulations. The RSPCA standards for accredited egg production ensure that hens are given the freedom to exhibit natural behaviours. That is, the hens are not kept in battery cages, have litter in which to dust bathe, space to flap wings, stretch and socialise and nests in which to lay their eggs.  

The RSPCA’s accreditation program involves a process of stringent and regular inspections – every eight to twelve weeks - to ensure standards are being met. If we are not satisfied that a producer is adhering to standards we will take immediate action.

The reality is that as consumers in Australia we demand around 2.5 billion eggs/year which necessitates large scale commercial production. Chickens are far more complex creatures than the average person would probably realise and the RSPCA’s goal is to attain the right balance between commercial realities and achieving the best possible animal welfare outcomes.

It’s important for the RSPCA to be involved in this process, helping to improve the welfare of animals in these situations. Consumers can have confidence that when they see the RSPCA logo on any food product, the welfare of the animal has been paramount in its production.

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How well trained is your dog?
Does your dog need some refresher training?

Dog training is not just for puppies. Training courses are available for adolescent and adult dogs.

Maximise the enjoyment of pet ownership by teaching your dog basic home manners and how to behave in public.

Courses may include: teaching your dog how to walk nicely on a lead, to sit, lay down and stay when asked; showing your dog that being handled and groomed are pleasant experiences to be enjoyed in a relaxed and calm state; and learning how to provide your dog with appropriate exercise, chew toys and games to ensure that behavioural problems such as barking, digging, jumping fences and destructive chewing do not develop.

Dog training classes are available at the RSPCA in most states and territories. Contact your local RSPCA for details on 1300 777 221 (1300 RSPCA1) or via the website www.rspca.org.au.

Talk to your local RSPCA about where to find books and other information about training your pet.

Dog attacks

Recently there have been a number of media reports about dog attacks.

In some of these incidents the dog was provoked and in others it was unexpected.

It’s an interesting fact that around half of all dog bites occur because a dog has been taken by surprise or unintentionally hurt or frightened by a person.

From the typically gentle Golden Retriever to an active Jack Russell, any dog has the potential to bite under certain circumstances. 

A dog’s behaviour can be determined by a combination of genetics, life experience, (including training and socialisation with other dogs and humans), and their environment.

There are ways you can minimise the risk of dog bites and look after your own dog to avoid such incidents. There are also some things you can do to protect yourself and your family from someone else’s dog.

All dogs, regardless of breed and temperament, should be given a stimulating environment and should not be allowed to wander. 

Most importantly, just like a child should never be left alone near a pool, a child should never be left unattended with pets.

Education is key

Education plays a key role in the effective management of dogs in the community.

This includes both the education of dog owners and the education of the general public, particularly children.

Everyone should understand dog behaviour and human-animal interactions.

RSPCA Societies in each State and Territory of Australia are strongly engaged in community and school based humane education programs. Each year the RSPCA visits hundreds of schools and community groups.

The RSPCA believes it is crucial for children of all ages to learn respect towards all animals and to understand that they feel pain and fear just like humans do.

Our specialist staff and volunteers are devoted to teaching children to develop empathy towards animals and become responsible pet owners. We hope that our lessons will inspire and encourage students to make kind, informed choices about the way they treat animals and each other. 

For more information about the RSPCA’s humane education program contact your local RSPCA on 1300 777 221 (1300 RSPCA1) or via the website www.rspca.org.au.

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RSPCA Animal Rescue receives Logie nomination

RSPCA Animal Rescue has returned for 2008 with a Logie nomination.

The success of RSPCA Animal Rescue has been recognised with a Logie Award nomination in the Most Popular Factual Program category.  Sixteen shows are nominated for this category including Border Security, Choir of Hard Knocks, Medical Emergency, RPA and Saving Babies.

The first series of RSPCA Animal Rescue premiered on Channel Seven last year and went on to become the top rating new program of 2007 and the seventh most watched series of the year, with an average national audience of 1.709 million viewers each week.

The second season has begun and is once again presented and narrated by Anthony Field. Viewers of series two of RSPCA Animal Rescue can expect to see some more extraordinary rescues - from a cat stuck in a concrete wall and a dog stranded in a house fire to an abandoned racehorse and an injured goose.

RSPCA Animal Rescue is an observational documentary series featuring the tough daily assignments and high pressure work faced by the RSPCA's inspectorate, veterinary and shelter staff; men and women who work tirelessly to fight animal cruelty.

It's a fierce and sometimes emotional journey for the inspectors as they confront cases of horror and heartbreak during their job to rescue the lost, neglected, abandoned and abused animals of Australia - a country with one of the highest pet populations per capita in the world.

RSPCA Animal Rescue gives viewers a close-up look at the work of the RSPCA. It's often a high drama environment where frontline staff make life and death decisions, occasionally risking their own safety for the life of an animal.

The stars of RSPCA Animal Rescue – RSPCA Inspectors

Throughout Australia, RSPCA Inspectors investigate more than 42,000 complaints of cruelty and neglect every year. RSPCA Inspectors investigate complaints of cruelty against all kinds of animals including farm animals, companion animals, pets and native animals, in all kinds of situations.

The most common complaint is about people who don’t feed their animals properly, do not provide them with veterinary treatment, leave them without water or allow them to suffer extremes of temperature without adequate shelter.

Inspectors also investigate pet shops, the treatment of animals at saleyards, people who abandon their animals, the suffering of farm animals during drought, people who have more animals than they can look after (animal hoarders) and those who intentionally harm animals.

RSPCA Inspectors are also on the frontline in times of emergency – saving animals from floods, bushfires and other natural disasters.

Increasingly, the RSPCA’s Inspectors are working with police and other organisations on the link between deliberate cruelty to animals and subsequent violent crimes committed against people.

Inspectors also have a strong educational role in the community, visiting schools and talking to community groups. Their daily work has a strong emphasis on educating people about responsible pet ownership.

RSPCA Inspectors come from various backgrounds including police, defence, wildlife care, veterinary nursing, zoo keeping, farming, local Government and feral animal control.

RSPCA Inspectors play a vital role within the RSPCA and maintaining their presence is essential in providing continuity of animal welfare services to the community.

Unfortunately the cost of maintaining this service is great. The associated costs of funding just one RSPCA Inspector can be as much as $100,000 each year, which constitutes a large part of each Society's annual budget. Whilst each state and territory RSPCA struggles to raise enough funds for its existing Inspectors, the sad reality, is that more Inspectors are desperately needed.

Your donation will help the RSPCA prevent cruelty to animals across Australia, and will make a direct difference to those animals that need a helping hand.

To donate contact your local RSPCA on 1300 777 221 (1300 RSPCA 1) or via the website www.rspca.org.au.

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RSPCA to the Rescue: 100, 101, 102...140 poodles

RSPCA Queensland has received an outpouring of public support in response to the seizure of more than 100 dogs in appalling conditions from a property south of Brisbane in January.

Several of the poodles were pregnant when seized and have since had puppies. The 101 dogs originally taken into care by the RSPCA is now nearly at 140 and is putting an enormous strain on RSPCA Queensland’s Fairfield Shelter.

Thank you to everyone who has offered support - from community members who have called and written to express their outrage to volunteers who have donated their time to wash and clip the animals. The filthy conditions in which the dogs were found and forced to live in has touched us all.

Since the dogs came into RSPCA Queensland’s care volunteers from poodle breeders and clubs in Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast, as well as volunteers from Aussie Pooch Mobile, have generously donated their time to help wash and clip the dogs.

Despite confusion and discomfort, the dogs were fairly placid and seemed very relieved to be rid of the kilos of matted, putrid hair. The ones with injuries were obviously sensitive in those areas and are now receiving veterinary treatment.

The RSPCA Queensland Inspectorate is continuing its investigation into this case to ensure all appropriate action is taken in accordance with the Animal Care and Protection Act 2001 and that the dogs receive the care they need and the respect they deserve.

The delay in laying charges is due to the large number of animals involved and the veterinary reports that have to be compiled for each individual animal. In the meantime, the animals have been forfeited to the RSPCA after  the case was submitted to the Queensland Department of Primary Industries (DPI).

The owner had three weeks to appeal, which she has now done. This will then be reviewed by the Department and it’s expected that the Department will uphold the forfeiture. That is the good news. The bad news is that she can then appeal to the Magistrates Court and the whole procedure can drag on indefinitely. This is not only unfair for the dogs but frustrating for RSPCA Queensland as donors’ money is being used to look after them when they could have been re-homed. Sadly RSPCA Queensland is bound by the law as it now stands. RSPCA Queensland is lobbying to get the laws regarding forfeiture changed.

In the meantime the poodles are receiving the very best of care and a lot of TLC.

From the volunteers who donated their time to help wash and clip the dogs to the supporters who donated much-needed funds towards their care and the RSPCA’s continuing investigation – thank you for helping RSPCA Queensland to make a difference to all creatures great and small and in particular 101 dogs and puppies.

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