Inspectorate
investigating cruelty

RSPCA Tasmania’s Inspectors protect by investigating cruelty reports.

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 2000 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.

Puppy farms,

Tasmanian Labradoodle project

Between 2020 and 2023 RSPCA Inspectors built a case charging the operators of Tasmania’s largest puppy farm with 70 cases of overbreeding dogs without ensuring they had less than two litters in any 18 month period. The business owners pleaded not guilty, resulting in the RSPCA negotiating to close the business through a Deed of Agreement signed on 19/07/2024 after several amendments.

With the RSPCA bearing all costs of the closure, we began a fundraising and foster care campaign, understanding that the collective action of Tasmanian animal lovers was the best way to ensure this business closed and that the animals were rehomed.

The first dogs came off the site on 08/07/2024, as the Deed of Agreement was still being negotiated. We worked with a number of animal sanctuaries and other not for profit animal rehoming organisations to ensure that we could remove the dogs in a timely manner.

The last dogs were taken off the site on the 16/08/2024 and our project shifted from fundraising and transport/logistics to grooming, foster care, veterinary support. The dogs needed many surgeries, mostly desexing, but more complex health needs also needed attention. The grooming regime was intense as many dogs had never been groomed, and others not for many months. We are still working with many foster carers around the state to ensure they have the support they need to continue to transition the dogs into a safe and comfortable family life.

A huge thank you to the individuals and service providers who donated their time and resources to the 239 labradoodles rescued from the puppy farm.

Royal Canin https://www.royalcanin.com/au

Petbarn Foundation https://www.petbarn.com.au

Petstock Foundation https://www.petstock.com.au/pages/foundation

Kong https://www.kongcompany.com/

Nichols Poultry Nichols Poultry

Central Coast Grooming https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fcentral-coast-grooming-salon

North West Veterinary Centre https://northwestanimalhospital.com.au/

Every Dog https://everydog.com.au/

The Knife Shop Hobart (grooming blade sharpening) https://warebroscutlery.com.au/

Southern Pet Grooming https://www.facebook.com/southernpetgrooming/

Woofers Hobart https://www.facebook.com/woofersdoggrooming/

Hobart Community Vet Hobart Community Veterinary Hospital (hobartcommunityvetclinic.com.au)

Sandy Bay Holistic Vet Veterinarian | Sandy Bay, TAS | Sandy Bay Holistic Vet

North Hobart Veterinary Hospital North Hobart Veterinary Hospital – Passionate about Pets and People (nhvh.com.au)

Kingston Animal Hospital Kingston Animal Hospital

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.