RSPCA Australia acknowledges that, in certain circumstances, it is necessary to manage populations of wild animals in order to reduce adverse impacts on human activities, health and wellbeing or the environment and also to protect the welfare of individual animals. When undertaken, the RSPCA believes management activities must use methods…
RSPCA Australia acknowledges that, in certain circumstances, it is necessary to manage populations of wild animals in order to reduce adverse impacts on human activities, health and wellbeing or the environment and also to protect the welfare of individual animals. When undertaken, the RSPCA believes management activities must use methods…
For emergency advice on poisoning please go straight to this article: What should I do if suspect my pet has eaten a poison bait? RSPCA Australia has campaigned strongly for research into alternatives to 1080 poison for the control of pest animals so that it can be replaced with a…
All fish that are caught for eating must be handled carefully to reduce stress and humanely killed as soon as possible after capture. Humane killing requires that the fish is stunned (rendered instantaneously insensible) before being bled out. Fish should remain in water until immediately prior to stunning. There are…
An abattoir is a facility that slaughters animals to produce meat and meat products for human consumption. A poultry processor is a facility that slaughters specifically poultry to produce meat and meat products for human consumption. State and territory governments regulate animal welfare in Australia. Animal welfare regulation at Australian…
RSPCA Australia is opposed to the use of dogs and cats for fur or food as these animals have a specific place in Australian society as companion animals and close working partners of humans. In most states and territories it is not an offence to eat cats and dogs. South…
Closed circuit television (CCTV) and similar technologies can be excellent additional animal welfare monitoring tools at facilities where large numbers of animals are received and handled daily, such as slaughtering establishments, saleyards, and other commercial facilities. However, CCTV cannot replace in-person monitoring, nor can it replace well-trained staff with good…
The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) is first and foremost an international reference point for matters relating to animal health. However, in 2001, animal welfare was identified as a priority and a decision was made to develop standards for a range of animal welfare practices. The standards in the…
RSPCA Australia considers that the available scientific evidence demonstrates that fish are sentient animals capable of experiencing pain and suffering. Fish must therefore be treated humanely and practices that have the potential to cause pain, injury or suffering avoided. Live fish and shellfish may be held in aquaria in restaurants…
Crustaceans show responses consistent with signs of pain and distress [1–5]. They also have the cognitive capacity to remember and learn to avoid unpleasant stimuli [6–8]. The RSPCA considers that, where crustaceans capable of experiencing pain and suffering are captured, handled, transported, stored and killed, that this must be done…