Is desexing mandatory for cats and dogs? In Australia, animal management legislation is a state or territory responsibility rather than a federal or national one. Unfortunately, not...
How is the pet food industry regulated in Australia? Pet food is essentially self-regulated with voluntary industry standards applied through the Pet Food Industry Association of Australia (PFIAA). In...
Are curfews for domestic cats mandatory? The following table shows details about curfews for domestic cats in each state or territory. The information presented here is...
What is the RSPCA’s view on breed-specific legislation? The RSPCA does not support breed specific legislation, also known as BSL. RSPCA Australia considers that any dog of any...
Are fish protected by animal welfare legislation? The status of fish under State and Territory animal welfare legislation depends on whether they are included in the definition...
Should pet greyhounds have to wear muzzles? In some Australian jurisdictions, there is a compulsory requirement for pet greyhounds to wear a muzzle in public. Greyhound muzzling...
Are there laws that require companion animal breeders to meet certain standards of care? Laws relating to the welfare of animals vary in different states. In some states, companion animal breeders have to be...
Why can’t the RSPCA prosecute farmers for performing painful husbandry procedures without anaesthetic or pain relief? The RSPCA can only prosecute farmers for cruelty if they have broken laws relating to animal welfare that apply in...
Why can’t the RSPCA prosecute farmers for keeping animals in intensive systems? Intensive farming methods involve removing animals from their natural environments and keeping them housed or confined for all, or a...
Is it legal to sell exotic animals such as monkeys or tigers as pets in Australia? RSPCA Australia receives many enquiries about exotic animals such as monkeys, tigers and lions for sale over the internet. These animals...
Are crustaceans protected by animal welfare legislation? Crustaceans are a group of invertebrate animals, which most notably include crabs, crayfish, lobsters, and prawns. Whether they are protected...
Are squid and octopi protected by animal welfare legislation? Cephalopods are a group of invertebrate animals, which include octopi, squid, cuttlefish and nautili. The protection of cephalopods under animal...
Is eating cats or dogs legal? RSPCA Australia is opposed to the use of dogs and cats for fur or food as these animals have a...
Which States allow recreational hunting in National Parks? Recreational hunters are, or have been, permitted under strict controls in specified national parks in Victoria, Western Australia, Queensland and...
Is it legal to have unrestrained dogs on ute trays or trucks? As outlined in the table below, legislation in most states and territories specifically prohibit people from transporting dogs unrestrained on...
How is the live export trade regulated in Australia? Exporting livestock for slaughter in foreign countries poses significant and unavoidable risks to animal welfare. These risks are inherent to...
Is it legal to keep native animals as pets? The keeping of wildlife as pets is subject to specific licensing requirements – please contact your State or Territory government...
Is religious slaughter legal in Australia? Religious slaughter, also known as ritual slaughter, is the slaughter of livestock according to specific religious principles. There are two...
Is the tail docking of dogs legal in Australia? In 2004, the cosmetic tail docking of dogs was banned nationwide. This means that a veterinary surgeon must not dock...
Is the use of electronic dog collars legal? The information presented here is not intended to be relied on for legal advice and you should seek advice from...