Inspectorate
investigating cruelty

RSPCA Tasmania’s Inspectors protect by investigating cruelty reports.

The RSPCA Tasmania Inspectorate receives approximately 3000 cruelty reports per year and is one of Tasmania’s leading animal welfare agencies, authorised to investigate animal cruelty. RSPCA Tasmania Inspectors are authorised to investigate animal cruelty reports in accordance with the Animal Welfare Act 1993 and Cat Management 2009, however some reports are directed to other Government agencies. Please see below for further information:

If you think an animal’s life is in immediate danger, DO NOT make an online report.

Call RSPCA Tasmania on 1300 139 947 or Tas Police on 131 444

CRUELTY AND WELFARE CONCERNS:

RSPCA Tasmania Inspectors are authorised to investigate animal cruelty and welfare concerns including:

Animals with insufficient food, water, and shelter.
Underweight or emaciated animals.
Abandoned animals.
Sick or Injured animals.
Puppy farms (illegal/over breeding)
Cruelty to an animal

DOGS IN HOT CARS:

If you find a companion animal suffering unattended in a hot vehicle, please call Tas Police on 131 444 and the animal cruelty helpline on 1300 139 947.

BARKING DOGS:

If a dog is constantly barking, please contact your local council. It is not an offence under the Animal Welfare Act 1993 for dogs to be constantly barking. Animal Control Officers from your local council have authority to assist with these issues.

STRAY OR ROAMING ANIMALS:

If you come across a stray or roaming animal, please contact your local council. Animal Control Officers from your local council have authority under the Local Government Act 1993 to impound stray animals, RSPCA Inspectors do not have this authority.

WILDLIFE:

Any reports made concerning the welfare of wildlife will be transferred to the Department of natural Resources and Environment (Wildlife Services) for investigation.

NRE: 03 6165 4305 or enforcement 0417 661 234

LARGE NUMBERS OF LIVESTOCK:

Any reports made concerning more than 5 head of livestock or 20 poultry will be transferred to the Department of Natural Resources and Environment (Biosecurity Tasmania) for investigation.

NRE : 1300 368 550

CAT MANAGEMENT:

Any reports made concerning cat management and illegal breeding, including feral or stray cat colonies will be transferred to the Department of Natural Resources and Environment (Invasive Species) for investigation.

NRE: 03 6165 3777

LACK OF ATTENTION AND ENRICHMENT:

RSPCA Tasmania advocates for and recommends that all companion animal owners provide physical and mental stimulation, however, unfortunately lack of enrichment is not an offence under the Animal Welfare Act 1993 and therefore cannot be investigated by our Inspectors. RSPCA Tasmania strives to educate pet owners about the importance of providing enrichment activities to ensure the best outcomes for animals. Many people may not be aware of the importance of enrichment.

If you have any other welfare or cruelty concern not listed above, please make a report to RSPCA Tasmania. Your report will be reviewed by our Inspectorate team for investigation, or if required, transferred to an alternative agency for investigation.

Our Inspectors are Authorised Officers under the Animal Welfare Act 1993 and the Cat Management Act 2009.

The Animal Welfare Act 1993 has provision for the development of guidelines, which are used for education and regulations which are standards for animal welfare, such as the Animal Welfare (Dog) Regulations 2016.

The role of the Inspectors is two-fold, to respond to an average 3000 cruelty reports each year. Every report to our cruelty hotline is investigated.

The outcome of these investigations is varied and includes, no action being required, the provision of advice, issuing of legal instructions, an on the spot fine in the form of an infringement notice, or charges being laid and a summons to appear in Court.

The Second role of our Inspectors is to conduct random inspections of premises or locations where companion animals are kept for commercial purposes, for example, pet shops, breeders, animal shelters and boarding kennels.

An Authorised Officer, including our inspectors, are required to work within the boundaries of the legislation under which they are authorised.

The powers of Officers include entry and search of premises where an officer has reasonable belief that an offence has, is or will be committed against an animal.

Officers can only legally remove an animal from a premise via a legal seizure. The seizure of animal occurs where the officer considers that the animal’s life is in danger or any pain and suffering will be unreasonably prolonged. On a guilty conviction the RSPCA can apply to the court for ownership of an animal. Inspectors will always attempt to work in conjunction with owners of animals to improve the animal’s welfare conditions, utilising prosecution as a last resort.

All reports to our Animal Cruelty Helpline are confidential. The images shown throughout our court results page show the effectiveness of our inspectorate, and how donations to RSPCA Tasmania can help our team continue their important work protecting Tasmanian animals.

RSPCA Tasmania will be visiting facilities to ensure compliance with the Animal Welfare (Dog) Regs 2016.

Resources are made available to provide you a checklist in preparation for our visit.

DOWNLOAD ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS FOR DOG FACILITIES

Please report suspected animal cruelty

Ph 1300 139 947

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2023/2024

RSPCA inspectors welcomed a new Inspector Manager, Jayden Stirrup, in the last financial year. Jayden has the expertise, experience and temperament to be a great leader and is passionate about ensuring our team are supported and safe.

RSPCA Inspectors in Tasmania are one of the last jurisdictions where enforcement officers are expected to go into potentially dangerous situations alone. With a promise from the current government for increased funding to us to enforce the Animal Welfare Act 1993, we will have enough animal welfare inspectors to ensure that there is a buddy system for safe enforcement in line with contemporary work standards.

In the 23/24 financial year, we accepted 2,100 calls through the Animal Welfare Helpline, with 10% of them being forwarded to the Department of Biosecurity Tasmania for investigation because the complaint was directed toward the agricultural sector.

During the reporting period, we successfully prosecuted 4 cases with 5 animal cruelty charges.

One of our huge success stories in this period was the adoption of Archie after 1,182 days in our care. As with many of the animals seized by our inspectors with the owner being charged, a protracted period of legal proceedings saw Archie stuck in limbo, waiting for a court decision. The day that he went home with his new owner was a joyful day for our team.

During the year our inspectors did the groundwork for the largest surrender of animals in our organisation’s almost 150 year history, with 250 labradoodles surrendered from a puppy farm. The court case centring on 70 charges of overbreeding was adjourned as we made the decision to shut down the breeding facility by removing all of the animals with a deed of agreement between the owners of Tasmanian Labradoodles and RSPCA Tasmania.

This surrender is so big that it will straddle two financial reporting periods but with the help of several sanctuaries and other animal adoption agencies, the dogs are on their way to a cosy home and freedom from the mental suffering of overcrowded conditions and lack of enrichment.