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…
Low Atmospheric Pressure Stunning (LAPS) is a form of stunning (inducing unconsciousness prior to slaughter) which may offer significant welfare improvements over the main commercial methods of gas and electrical stunning currently used for poultry. Its use in Australia should be considered. How does LAPS work? In a LAPS system,…
Crustaceans are a group of invertebrate animals, which most notably include crabs, crayfish, lobsters, and prawns. Whether they are protected under State and Territory animal welfare legislation depends upon the definition of ‘animal’ in each jurisdiction. In the majority of jurisdictions, animals are defined as ‘vertebrate animals’. However, in the…
Cephalopods are a group of invertebrate animals, which include octopi, squid, cuttlefish and nautili. The protection of cephalopods under animal welfare legislation is dependent upon the definition of ‘animal’ in the animal welfare legislation of each State and Territory. In the majority of jurisdictions, animals are defined as vertebrate animals….
Scientific evidence that fish are sentient animals capable of experiencing pain and suffering has been building for some years. It has now reached a point where the sentience of fish is acknowledged and recognised by leading scientists across the world. For this reason, RSPCA Australia believes that fishing practices should ensure…
Shark fin soup has been a traditional east Asian dish, symbolic of wealth and prestige, for several hundred years. In recent decades the popularity of shark fin soup has soared and the effect on wild shark populations has been disastrous. Shark fins are sourced from wild shark populations, usually by…