RSPCA Australia’s position is that pet food should not be irradiated. According to the Department of Agriculture, irradiation of pet food for cats presents a unique case and because of detrimental nutritional changes in cat food, irradiation has not been used for this commodity since 2009. This followed the ‘Orijen’…
Concerns regarding the use of whips in Thoroughbred racing have increased in recent years but there has been less focus on their use on standardbred horses for harness racing. Compared to Thoroughbred racing, harness racing authorities have been more active in tightening their whip rules to help improve animal welfare…
Birds and wildlife can be attracted to backyards in a way that creates harmony for plants, people and animals. The key considerations are ensuring that wildlife you attract to your garden are safe from harm and nutritional problems, and that their behaviour is not modified in a way which is…
Welfare issues for sheep in feedlots, particularly where sheep are housed indoors in sheds, include social stress, limited space allowance and ability to express natural behaviours, lameness and other health problems. The RSPCA believes that sheep must be provided with freedom of movement and the ability to satisfy their behavioural,…
Turkeys raised for meat production (e.g. whole turkey or drumsticks) are bred to grow and gain weight very rapidly, with birds ready for processing at around 10 weeks old. Once they arrive at the abattoir, turkeys are removed from their transport crates and shackled by their legs in preparation for…
Commercial turkeys raised for meat production may at times need to be euthanased on-farm because they are weak, sick, injured or unable to walk, and will not recover with treatment. As with all euthanasia of animals, it is important that the method used is humane, meaning the method chosen either…
For turkeys in commercial production systems to experience good welfare, it is important that their environment is stimulating, enriching and allows them to exhibit natural behaviours. Environmental enrichment can improve the bird’s environment by increasing the complexity of surroundings and by providing opportunities to engage in natural and rewarding behaviours….
(adopted 21/05/2023)
Animal hoarding, although recognised by human and animal services, is generally poorly understood in terms of its prevalence, causes, influencing factors and response to intervention. However, it is an important issue which results in the suffering, sometimes extreme, of many animals and causing strain on animal welfare agencies. Furthermore, those…
In recreational duck and quail hunting people use a shotgun to shoot the birds; this causes inevitable pain and suffering as not every bird is killed outright. While no recent studies have been conducted, one historical report showed that on average nearly a quarter of ducks were wounded and not…