RSPCA Australia
Encyclopedia
RSPCA Australia is an Australia
n organisation that promotes animal welfare. It is funded in part by the Australian Government
but relies on corporate sponsorship, fundraising events and voluntary donations for its income.
RSPCA Australia defines its purpose as being the leading authority in animal care and protection, and to prevent cruelty to animals by actively promoting their care and protection.
RSPCA Inspectors are Special Constables, and often attend prosecutions of animal mutilators and abusers. Being Special Constables means that Australian RSPCA Inspectors are also police officers with full police powers.
The Australian based RSPCA societies owe their origins to the SPCA
movement in England and Wales
. Although no formal link exists between the RSPCA in both countries it is the UK experience that lead to the formation of societies in the Australian colonies.
The first Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
(SPCA) in Australia was formed in the colony of Victoria
in 1871. This was followed by Tasmania
in 1872; New South Wales
in 1873; South Australia
in 1875; Queensland
in 1883; Western Australia
in 1892; Australian Capital Territory
in 1955 and Northern Territory
in 1965.
The Royal Warrant
was given to all the SPCAs in 1932.
The national Council of RSPCA Australia meet three times a year. Each affiliate RSPCA has two members on the national Council. The Council meets to formulate new policies and offer advice to government and industry bodies on animal welfare
issues.
named Fizo on 25 September 1996. It was implemented to recognise the actions of animals, particularity if they have risked their life to save a person from injury or death. The award was named after the Purple Cross Society, which was established after the Second World War to provide equipment for the Light Horse Brigade.
district property in June 2008. Some of the cows that were shot left calves motherless.A Walgett veterinarian, Dr Enid Coupé gave evidence that blood tests from the cattle indicated levels of the protein albumin and globulin were within normal levels and did not indicate starvation.
In another controversial case RSPCA inspectors raided a wildlife park in Gunnedah, New South Wales
where they sedated and seized eight koala
s before taking them to Port Macquarie, New South Wales
. Also present was a camera crew from Seven Network
’s show RSPCA Animal Rescue
who captured footage of the seizure. Waterways Wildlife Park had an Improvement notice issued to them, but the RSPCA did not publicly indicate what the problems were. The NSW Government has pledged up to $5,000, in addition to the tens of thousands of dollars already contributed, to support the park and plan for its future.
The RSPCA has since euthanized one of the seized animals.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n organisation that promotes animal welfare. It is funded in part by the Australian Government
Government of Australia
The Commonwealth of Australia is a federal constitutional monarchy under a parliamentary democracy. The Commonwealth of Australia was formed in 1901 as a result of an agreement among six self-governing British colonies, which became the six states...
but relies on corporate sponsorship, fundraising events and voluntary donations for its income.
RSPCA Australia defines its purpose as being the leading authority in animal care and protection, and to prevent cruelty to animals by actively promoting their care and protection.
RSPCA Inspectors are Special Constables, and often attend prosecutions of animal mutilators and abusers. Being Special Constables means that Australian RSPCA Inspectors are also police officers with full police powers.
History
The first meeting of the RSPCA was held in February 1981. During 1980, two meetings were held to determine the formation of a national RSPCA body. The objective of RSPCA Australia is to provide a national presence for the RSPCA movement and to promote unity and a commonality of purpose between the state and territory based bodies.The Australian based RSPCA societies owe their origins to the SPCA
Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is a charity in England and Wales that promotes animal welfare. In 2009 the RSPCA investigated 141,280 cruelty complaints and collected and rescued 135,293 animals...
movement in England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales is a jurisdiction within the United Kingdom. It consists of England and Wales, two of the four countries of the United Kingdom...
. Although no formal link exists between the RSPCA in both countries it is the UK experience that lead to the formation of societies in the Australian colonies.
The first Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is a non-profit animal welfare organization originally founded in England in 1824 to pass laws protecting carriage horses from abuse. SPCA groups are now found in many nations, where they campaign for animal welfare, assist in cruelty to animals...
(SPCA) in Australia was formed in the colony of Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
in 1871. This was followed by Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
in 1872; New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
in 1873; South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
in 1875; Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
in 1883; Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
in 1892; Australian Capital Territory
Australian Capital Territory
The Australian Capital Territory, often abbreviated ACT, is the capital territory of the Commonwealth of Australia and is the smallest self-governing internal territory...
in 1955 and Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
in 1965.
The Royal Warrant
Royal Warrant
Royal warrants of appointment have been issued for centuries to those who supply goods or services to a royal court or certain royal personages. The warrant enables the supplier to advertise the fact that they supply to the royal family, so lending prestige to the supplier...
was given to all the SPCAs in 1932.
The national Council of RSPCA Australia meet three times a year. Each affiliate RSPCA has two members on the national Council. The Council meets to formulate new policies and offer advice to government and industry bodies on animal welfare
Animal welfare
Animal welfare is the physical and psychological well-being of animals.The term animal welfare can also mean human concern for animal welfare or a position in a debate on animal ethics and animal rights...
issues.
Mission statement
The objectives of the Society are:- To prevent cruelty to animals by enforcing the existing laws.
- To procure the passage of such amending or new legislation as is necessary for the protection of animals.
- To sustain an intelligent public opinion regarding animal welfare.
- To take whatsoever steps are necessary to educate the community with regard to the humane treatment of animals.
- To diffuse information about the care, protection and treatment of animals by publishing and circulating literature and conducting lectures, seminars and competitions.
- To conduct, manage, operate or encourage clinics, hospitals, homes or shelters for the care, treatment, maintenance and protection of animals, and to acquire and conduct ambulance and/or other means of relevant animal transport.
Purple Cross Award
The RSPCA Purple Cross Award was first awarded to an Australian Silky TerrierAustralian Silky Terrier
The Australian Silky Terrier is a small breed of dog of the terrier dog type. The breed was developed in Australia, although the ancestral types and breeds were from Great Britain. It is closely related to the Australian Terrier and the Yorkshire Terrier...
named Fizo on 25 September 1996. It was implemented to recognise the actions of animals, particularity if they have risked their life to save a person from injury or death. The award was named after the Purple Cross Society, which was established after the Second World War to provide equipment for the Light Horse Brigade.
Criticism
The RSPCA has received severe criticism over its handling of several cases especially when its officers shot 48 cattle on a Pilliga, New South WalesPilliga, New South Wales
Pilliga is a village 105 km west of Narrabri in the North West Plains section of the New England region of New South Wales, Australia. The village is within Narrabri Shire Local Government Area....
district property in June 2008. Some of the cows that were shot left calves motherless.A Walgett veterinarian, Dr Enid Coupé gave evidence that blood tests from the cattle indicated levels of the protein albumin and globulin were within normal levels and did not indicate starvation.
In another controversial case RSPCA inspectors raided a wildlife park in Gunnedah, New South Wales
Gunnedah, New South Wales
Gunnedah is a town and Local government area in north-eastern New South Wales, Australia. 7,542 people lived in the town of Gunnedah in 2006, including 931 indigenous people ....
where they sedated and seized eight koala
Koala
The koala is an arboreal herbivorous marsupial native to Australia, and the only extant representative of the family Phascolarctidae....
s before taking them to Port Macquarie, New South Wales
Port Macquarie, New South Wales
Port Macquarie is a city on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, Australia, located about north of Sydney, and south of Brisbane. The city is located on the coast, at the mouth of the Hastings River, and has an estimated population of 44,313....
. Also present was a camera crew from Seven Network
Seven Network
The Seven Network is an Australian television network owned by Seven West Media Limited. It dates back to 4 November 1956, when the first stations on the VHF7 frequency were established in Melbourne and Sydney.It is currently the second largest network in the country in terms of population reach...
’s show RSPCA Animal Rescue
RSPCA Animal Rescue
RSPCA Animal Rescue is an Australian reality television series screening on the Seven Network. The program follows RSPCA inspectors rescue and protect Australian animals. The program is hosted by The Wiggles' Anthony Field....
who captured footage of the seizure. Waterways Wildlife Park had an Improvement notice issued to them, but the RSPCA did not publicly indicate what the problems were. The NSW Government has pledged up to $5,000, in addition to the tens of thousands of dollars already contributed, to support the park and plan for its future.
The RSPCA has since euthanized one of the seized animals.