Section C ANIMALS USED FOR SPORT, ENTERTAINMENT, RECREATION AND WORK

List of policies

C1	Animals in sport, entertainment, recreation and work – general principles (adopted 01/08/08)
1.1	RSPCA Australia is opposed to the use of animals for any form of sport, entertainment, recreation, work, or training associated with such use, where injury, suffering or distress is likely to be caused.
1.2	Those in charge of the care and management of captive animals used in sport, entertainment, recreation or work must be aware of their responsibilities and legal obligations to ensure the welfare of the animals in their care at all times and must act accordingly.
1.3	Facilities for the housing and transport of captive animals used in sport, entertainment, recreation or work must be designed and maintained to provide a clean, comfortable and safe environment and to meet the behavioural, social and physiological needs of the particular animal.
1.4	Training methods for animals used in sport, entertainment, recreation or work should be based on techniques using natural instincts and positive reinforcement. Aversion therapy and physical punishment must not be used because of the potential for cruelty.
C2	Performing animals (adopted 01/08/08)
2.1	RSPCA Australia is opposed to the use of animals for any kind of entertainment, exhibition or performance where injury, suffering or distress is likely to be caused. Animals used in performances must be treated with respect and not objectified or subjected to indignity or ridicule.
2.2	Circuses
2.2.1	RSPCA Australia is opposed to the use of non-domesticated animals in circuses or similar travelling menageries, as the requirements of circus life are not compatible with the physiological, social and behavioural needs of these animals.
2.2.2	Where any animals are kept in circuses, RSPCA Australia advocates the adoption of compulsory registration and licensing of circuses. Compliance with national standards for the management, housing and transport of circus animals must be made a condition of licensing.
2.3	Film, television, advertising and theatre
	Animals used in the making of films, television programmes or advertising must not be caused any injury, suffering or distress for the purpose of their performance or associated training.
C3	Competitive sporting events involving animals (adopted 01/08/08)
3.1	Organisations or individuals responsible for organising competitive sporting events must act to ensure the safety and well-being of participating animals. Organisers must ensure that animals are fit and appropriately trained and events are supervised by experienced officials and do not place unreasonable demands on competing animals.
3.2	Greyhound and hound racing
3.2.1	RSPCA Australia advocates the comprehensive regulation of greyhound and other dog racing (including breeding, rearing, training and competition) to eliminate practices that cause injury, suffering or distress.
3.2.2	RSPCA Australia is opposed to hurdle races for greyhounds because of the potential for injury associated with this activity.
3.2.3	RSPCA Australia is opposed to the use of live animals as a bait or lure for the purpose of training, baiting and blooding of greyhounds or other racing dogs. Non-animal devices and products should be used for training purposes.
3.2.4	RSPCA Australia supports initiatives to reduce overbreeding and rehoming problems within the greyhound racing industry.
3.3	Pigeon racing
	RSPCA Australia advocates the regulation of pigeon racing competitions to prevent races from being held over excessive distances, in adverse weather conditions or over unsuitable terrain.
C4	Horses in sport, entertainment and recreation (adopted 01/08/08)
4.1	RSPCA Australia advocates the licensing of all competitive horse events with a compulsory code of practice that would:
	require courses to be designed and maintained such that fit and trained horses can complete them uninjured     exclude the use of performance enhancing/reducing techniques or devices such as spurs, whips, drugs, surgical husbandry procedures, and the use of medication which would enable an injured horse to compete     require the cancellation of an event if conditions were such that the welfare of competing horses would be compromised     require assessment by a competent person of horses’ fitness to perform and continue to perform in the event     require the attendance of a veterinarian for the duration of events where there is the potential for injury or stress to competing horses.
4.2	Racing
4.2.1	RSPCA Australia supports initiatives to reduce overbreeding and rehoming problems in the horse racing industry
4.2.2	Two-year-old horses
	RSPCA Australia is opposed to the racing of immature horses and supports the requirement that veterinary certification verifying that the animal has matured satisfactorily be obtained before training for riding is permitted to commence.
4.2.3	Endurance and bush races
	Endurance races must only be held under regulated circumstances where the animals are well trained and certified fit to participate. Competing horses must be regularly checked by experienced veterinarians and withdrawn at the first sign of distress.
4.2.4	Jumping races
	RSPCA Australia is opposed to jumping races (steeplechasing and hurdling) because the rate of injury associated with these sports is unacceptable.
4.3	Devices used to control behaviour or performance
4.3.1	Whips and spurs
	The RSPCA is opposed to the use of traditional contact whips and spurs due to their potential for inflicting pain and injury.
4.3.2	Stereotypic behaviours
	RSPCA Australia does not support the use of devices to prevent stereotypic behaviours in horses (such as wind sucking and crib biting) that are likely to cause injury, suffering or distress. Management of stereotypies should aim to address the underlying cause of the behaviour rather than the symptoms.
4.4	Surgical husbandry procedures
4.4.1	RSPCA Australia is opposed to any surgical husbandry procedure carried out on horses for which there is no established need or that is performed to overcome the adverse effects of selective breeding
4.4.2	Caslick’s procedure
	Caslick’s procedure (caslicking) is the surgical closing of the upper part of a mare’s vulva to avoid problems associated with vulval conformation. RSPCA Australia encourages responsible breeding practices to address conformation problems rather than repetitive use of this invasive surgical procedure.
4.4.3	Firing
	Firing is a procedure used to treat tendon injuries in horses where a hot iron is used to burn lines around the lower limb (bar firing) or to penetrate the tendon (pin firing). RSPCA Australia is opposed to the firing of horses as this procedure is associated with considerable pain and tissue damage.
C5	Hunting of animals for sport (adopted 01/08/08)
5.1	RSPCA Australia is opposed to the hunting of any animal for sport as it causes unnecessary injury, suffering, distress or death to the prey animal. The term ‘hunting for sport’ includes hunting with hounds, coursing, pig hunting, bow hunting and all forms of recreational shooting (e.g. kangaroo shooting, duck, quail and other game shooting).
5.2	RSPCA Australia advocates the use of cruelty-free alternatives to hunting sports such as lure coursing and drag hunting, where dogs chase a non-living lure or scent.
	See also: E2 Control and commercial use of native animals   E3 Control and commercial use of introduced animals
C6	Animal fights (adopted 01/08/08)
	RSPCA Australia is opposed to the use of animals in any form of fighting as animals are placed at significant risk of pain, injury, suffering or death for the purpose of entertainment. The term ‘animal fights’ refers to bull fighting, cock fighting, dog fighting or any sport where an animal is provoked to fight another animal or human.
C7	Rodeos (adopted 01/08/08)
7.1	RSPCA Australia is opposed to rodeos because of the potential for significant injury, suffering or distress to the animals involved. The use of devices such as flank straps, spurs and electric prods contributes to the pain and suffering associated with this sport.
7.2	Where rodeos are permitted to be conducted, RSPCA Australia advocates the adoption of compulsory registration and licensing. Compliance with national standards for the management, housing and transport of rodeo animals must be made a condition of licensing.
C8	Angling (adopted 01/08/08)
8.1	RSPCA Australia considers that the available scientific evidence demonstrates that fish are capable of experiencing pain and suffering. Anglers should therefore treat fish humanely and avoid practices that have the potential to cause pain, injury or suffering during capture, handling, killing or release.
8.2	RSPCA Australia believes that angling should only be conducted in waterways where free-running fish can escape and the fish is either immediately released (provided the hook injury is minimal and will not compromise survival) or humanely killed.
8.3	RSPCA Australia supports the compulsory regulation of a code of practice for the welfare of fish caught by angling which is based on current evidence regarding the capacity of fish to experience pain and suffering. Compliance with this code must be a condition of recreational fishing licences.
	See also: B2.2 Aquaculture   E10 Aquatic wildlife   Position Paper G3.2 Humane killing and processing of crustaceans
C9	Live animals as prizes (adopted 01/08/08)
	RSPCA Australia opposes the practice of animals being given as prizes (e.g. in raffles, competitions or as fundraising objects) as it promotes irresponsible use and management of animals.
C10	Petting zoos and animal encounters (adopted 01/08/08)
10.1	Petting zoos and animal encounters are areas in zoos, agricultural shows, city farms and other locations where animals are kept for close or ‘hands-on’ contact with children and adults. Such areas must be closely managed to ensure that the handling and feeding of animals by visitors is properly supervised and controlled. Animals must be chosen for their suitability for handling and not be subjected to injury, suffering, distress or excessive disturbance.
10.2	RSPCA Australia advocates the adoption of compulsory minimum standards for the welfare of animals in petting zoos and animal encounters.
C11	Use of animals for work (adopted 01/08/08)
11.1	RSPCA Australia is opposed to the use of any animal for the purpose of work where this may cause injury, suffering or distress to the animal.
11.2	The definition of work in this context includes policing or defence activities (e.g. warfare, crowd control, apprehension of suspects) substance detection (e.g. for customs, quarantine or pest control purposes), guarding, therapy, farm animal control, transport or agricultural work (e.g. ploughing).

 Return to Policies Introduction