RSPCA Australia

The RSPCA is one of this country’s most loved and highly-respected animal welfare organisations, and recently celebrated its 135th year of operation in Australia.

With a mission to prevent cruelty to animals by actively promoting their care and protection, the RSPCA is a not-for-profit charity that is firmly based in the Australian community and depends on the support of individuals, businesses and organisations to survive and continue its vital work.

Every year, RSPCA shelters throughout Australia accept around 135,000 sick, injured or abandoned animals from the community.

While the majority of animals received by the RSPCA from the community are domestic pets, the organisation is concerned with all creatures great and small; from livestock to exotic animals in zoos, companion animals to marine creatures, wildlife to animals used in sport and entertainment.

The RSPCA also investigates more than 46,000 complaints of animal cruelty and neglect each year. This responsibility is carried out by RSPCA Inspectors, who are the Society’s uniformed representatives. Their role involves providing advice and guidance to animal owners where necessary, carrying our regular inspections of premises where animals are kept, attending to sick or injured animals and initiating prosecutions for animal cruelty offences.

The RSPCA in various state and territories of Australia provides a wide range of services to the community:

• care and protection of companion animals to wildlife rescue and rehabilitation:
  
• educating children in schools to enforcing animal protection laws;
  
• campaigning to raise awareness of important animal welfare issues as well as running local vet clinics, animal ambulances and training facilities;
  
• liaising with government and industry to improve animal care standards while also providing advice to members of the public everyday on an enormous variety of topics.

With only around 4% of our funding nationally coming from the government, RSPCA Australia depends on the support of the community to continue its important work. There are many ways in which you can help us to help more animals in need

• make a donation;
  
• become a member; take action to get behind RSPCA campaigns on issues such as live export, battery hen farming and intensive pig farming;
  
• support products or services that benefit the RSPCA (such as RSPCA Pet insurance, RSPCA Online Shop or the Bendigo RSPCA Rescue VISA card);
  
• get involved in RSPCA events such as the Million Paws Walk and RSPCA Awareness Week (1-8 October);
  and
  
• volunteer at your local shelter.

You may not be aware of some of the other programmes run by the RSPCA. Some RSPCAs provide accommodation for the pets of people who are elderly, sick or need to be hospitalised. Most RSPCAs have legacy programme to acre indefinitely for the pets of people who have passed away. Many RSPCAs assist with emergency accommodation for people escaping domestic violence and abuse. The RSPCA also helps rural, remote and indigenous communities through, for example, desexing and educational programmes as well as drought relief assistance. And the RSPCA frequently works with other organisations on important initiatives, such as our joint campaign with the National Heart Foundation to promote regular walking with your dog for fitness and health.