Inspectorate Updates

On Friday, 12 December 2025, a team of RSPCA NSW Inspectors executed a search warrant at a property in South-West Sydney after receiving information that a person previously prohibited by the NSW Local Court from purchasing, acquiring, taking possession or custody of animals for ten years was in possession of a large number of animals.  A total of 52 animals were seized from the property, five of which were deceased. The surviving animals, including 23 cats and kittens, ten rabbits, seven chickens, six quails and one dog were admitted into our care, where they are undergoing veterinary assessments and receiving treatment as needed.  This is part of an ongoing cruelty investigation. If you have animal welfare concerns, please call RSPCA NSW to investigate on 1300 CRUELTY (1300 278 358). 

On Tuesday 14 October 2025, at a property in the Hawkesbury region, a team of RSPCA NSW Inspectors executed a search warrant. A total of 46 animals were seized including 15 dogs and puppies, three roosters, eight chickens and 20 chicks. All animals remain in our care, where they are undergoing veterinary assessment and treatment as required. RSPCA NSW Inspectors previously seized a chicken from the same property in July 2025. The chicken was transported to a veterinary hospital but unfortunately died in care before receiving treatment.   This is part of an ongoing cruelty investigation. If you have animal welfare concerns, please call RSPCA NSW to investigate on 1300 CRUELTY (1300 278 358).

On 10 September 2025, RSPCA NSW Inspectors executed a search warrant at a property in the Blue Mountains region, resulting in the seizure of 16 dogs. This attendance marked the latest visit made by Inspectors over a three-week period, during which a total of 41 animals were seized from the property. Among those seized during this period were 37 dogs suffering from heavy matting and varying health issues, three roosters living in unsuitable living conditions, and one injured chicken in poor body condition and suffering from mites. All animals were transported to our veterinary hospital for urgent treatment. Two animals, a chicken and a dog, were deemed cruel to be kept alive and were humanely euthanised. On Tuesday, 16 September, another dog linked to the property was identified and accepted into our care, bringing the total number of animals admitted to 42. All surviving animals remain in our care, where they are undergoing veterinary assessments and receiving treatment as needed….

On Wednesday, 25 June 2025, at a property in the Illawarra Region, a team of RSPCA NSW Inspectors and members of the NSW Police Force executed a search warrant, in response to animal welfare concerns. A total of 18 animals were seized, including nine rabbits, seven dogs, two ferrets and one guinea pig. All animals have been admitted into the care of RSPCA NSW, where they are undergoing veterinary assessment and receiving treatment as needed.   This is part of an ongoing cruelty investigation. 

Yesterday, Tuesday 17 June 2025, a team of RSPCA NSW Inspectors executed a search warrant at a property in the Greater Western Sydney region.  A total of 15 animals were seized, including 12 dogs and three cats. All animals remain in RSPCA NSW care, where they are undergoing veterinary assessment and treatment as required.  This is part of an ongoing cruelty investigation. If you have animal welfare concerns, please call RSPCA NSW to investigate on 1300 CRUELTY (1300 278 358).

On Friday 17 January 2025, at a property in the Greater Western Sydney region, a team of RSPCA NSW Inspectors executed a search warrant. A total of 29 animals were seized, including 28 cats and kittens and one dog. All animals remain in RSPCA NSW care, where they are undergoing veterinary assessment and treatment as required. RSPCA NSW Inspectors previously seized 30 animals from the same property in September 2024. This is part of an ongoing cruelty investigation. If you have animal welfare concerns, please call RSPCA NSW to investigate on 1300 CRUELTY (1300 278 358) or make a report online at: www.rspcansw.org.au/report-a-cruelty-case    

On Tuesday 10 December 2024, at a property in the Northern Tablelands, a team of RSPCA NSW Inspectors, members of the NSW Police Force, NSW Fire Brigade Hazmat Unit and Glen Innes Local Council executed a search warrant, in response to animal welfare concerns. An RSPCA NSW Veterinarian and two Animal Transport Officers were also in attendance. A total of 206 animals – 205 guinea pigs and one kitten, were removed from the property. All animals have been surrendered to RSPCA NSW, where they are undergoing veterinary assessment and receiving treatment as needed. This is part of an ongoing cruelty investigation. We are urgently calling on the community to help us with the hundreds of guinea pigs currently in our care. If you have the capacity to become a foster carer, please click here to sign up: https://rspcansw.org/3VIbcnD If you have information or concerns about an animal in NSW, please call RSPCA NSW on 1300 CRUELTY (1300 278 358) or…

RSPCA NSW is appealing for public assistance after the deceased, burnt body of a Chihuahua was discovered in the suburb of Kingscliff, Tweed Heads. The dog had gone missing on 16 November 2024 from her owner’s property and was reported to Tweed Council. On 26 November, the body of the deceased dog, which had been severely burnt, was found on a grass area on Oxford Street, Kingscliff. RSPCA NSW Inspectors are urging members of the public with any information, including potential CCTV footage to please come forward. Anyone with information is urged to contact RSPCA NSW at 1300 CRUELTY (1300 278 3589) or online via www.rspcansw.org/reportcruelty.

RSPCA NSW is urgently appealing for public assistance after two Staffordshire Terrier cross puppies were found abandoned on Sunday 27 October, in Appin. The puppies were allegedly dumped between 10am- 1pm and were found near the fence line of a property in Toggerai Street, facing Kennedy Street. A member of the public walking by noticed a tiny create moving alongside the road, and upon closer inspection, discovered two puppies inside. The crate was directly in the sun and had been duct taped together. After spending a night with the member of the public who found the puppies, RSPCA NSW Inspectors collected and transported the animals to our Sydney Veterinary Hospital for urgent assessment. The puppies are safe under the care of RSPCA NSW, where they will remain. RSPCA NSW Inspectors are encouraging any members of the public who live on Toggerai Street or Kennedy Street, Appin to check their CCTV cameras for any additional information. Anyone with information is urged…

Today, at a property Northwest of Sydney, a team of RSPCA NSW Inspectors and members of the NSW Police Force executed a search warrant following a cruelty complaint that two people previously disqualified from purchasing, acquiring, taking possession or custody of animals for five years were in possession of many animals. In total, 71 dogs of varying breeds were seized from the property. All 71 dogs remain in RSPCA NSW care, where they are undergoing veterinary assessment and treatment as required. This is part of an ongoing cruelty investigation. If you have animal welfare concerns, please call RSPCA NSW to investigate on 1300 CRUELTY (1300 278 358) or make a report online at: www.rspcansw.org.au/report-a-cruelty-case

On Wednesday 16 October 2024, at a property in Western Sydney, a team of RSPCA NSW Inspectors and members of the NSW Police Force executed a search warrant after concerns for the wellbeing of the animals within the home was received.   A total of 13 animals were seized, including seven puppies, five adult dogs and one cat. The animals were found to be in poor body condition and living in inadequate conditions.   All animals have been admitted into the care of RSPCA NSW, where they are undergoing veterinary assessment and receiving treatment as needed.   This is part of an ongoing cruelty investigation.  If you have animal welfare concerns, please call RSPCA NSW to investigate on 1300 CRUELTY (1300 278 358) or make a report online at: www.rspcansw.org.au/report-a-cruelty-case. 

A 31-year-old Singleton man has been convicted of committing an act of aggravated animal cruelty in relation to a charge that he used a whipper snipper to injure a nesting plover (a native bird), thereafter stomping on it, and finally killing it. The plover was familiar to the owners of the property, as it had been coming to the area to nest for several years. On 17 September 2024, the defendant pleaded at Maitland Local Court and was subsequently convicted and sentenced to a six-month Intensive Correction Order (ICO), to be served in the community An ICO is a sentence of imprisonment which is to be served in the Community subject to certain conditions. Following the conviction, the Local Court Magistrate disqualified the defendant from purchasing, acquiring, taking possession of or custody of an animal for a period of 5 years. In taking the defendant’s financial situation into account, the Magistrate declined to impose a fine or award costs to…

A 55-year-old man and 52-year-old woman from Moree have been convicted of seven animal cruelty offences, including committing an act of cruelty on 79 cats, failing to provide veterinary treatment to multiple cats for various veterinary conditions, and confining eight  cats in cages that were inadequate for exercise. Both defendants pleaded guilty at Moree Local Court. The female defendant was sentenced to concurrent 12- month and 6-month Conditional Release Orders and the male co-defendant was sentenced to one 6-month Conditional Release Order. The pair were disqualified from purchasing, acquiring, taking possession or custody of animals or keeping or participating in keeping animals for a period of five years and each were ordered to dispose of any other animals in their care within 28 days. In addition, the defendants were required to forfeit five cats not previously surrendered into the care of RSPCA NSW and vet treatment and shelter costs totalling $23,937.17 were also awarded to RSPCA NSW. One of the…

A 36-year-old woman failed to appear at Picton Local Court in relation to three offences contrary to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979 (NSW) including one charge of failing to provide veterinary treatment for severe matting, one charge of failing to provide veterinary treatment for emaciation and one charge of failing to provide proper and sufficient food for a five year old Maltese Terrier. In her absence from court, the woman sent an email in which she indicated a plea of guilty but asked not to be convicted. The Magistrate accepted the plea of guilty but determined to sentence her in her absence (as they are permitted to do under the Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW)). As a result, she was convicted in relation to all offences, and fined a total of $1750 for the failure to provide veterinary treatment for severe matting and failure to provide proper and sufficient food. There was no additional penalty for the…

WARNING – GRAPHIC AND DISTRESSING IMAGES   A 70-year-old man and 61-year-old woman have pleaded guilty to committing one act of aggravated cruelty for permanently deformed fly-bitten ears in relation to four dogs and four acts of failing to provide veterinary treatment to eight dogs suffering from multiple veterinary conditions, including ear infections, entropion, conjunctivitis, ulcerated wounds and fly bite in another dog. On 14 December 2023, RSPCA NSW Inspectors attended a Padstow property in response to a cruelty complaint regarding multiple dogs on site. Upon entering the property, Inspectors noticed a heavy presence of flies, and found several dogs in a dirt yard, all of which appeared to have fly bitten ear wounds. It was evident that there had been no change in the dogs’ condition or environment, despite previous engagement by the RSPCA NSW Inspectorate earlier that year, including: Education about compliance with the Animal Welfare Code of Practice for Breeding Dogs and Cats (the Code) 24N Prevention…

On Wednesday 10 July 2024, a team of RSPCA NSW Inspectors attended a South Coast property after receiving information that a person previously prohibited by the NSW Local Court from purchasing, acquiring, taking possession or custody of animals for ten years was in possession of several dogs. A total of 16 dogs were seized from the property, including 11 puppies between the ages of 8-12 weeks old. All 16 dogs remain in RSPCA NSW care, where they are undergoing veterinary assessment. RSPCA NSW and NSW Police have previously seized 90 animals from the convicted person on three separate occasions since 2018, when the Prohibition Order was granted. These animals included exotic parrots, birds, guinea pigs, rabbits, dogs, and puppies. This is part of an ongoing cruelty investigation. If you have animal welfare concerns, please call RSPCA NSW to investigate on 1300 CRUELTY (1300 278 358) or make a report online at: www.www.rspcansw.org.au/report-a-cruelty-case.

On Friday 5 July 2024, at a breeder’s property in the Macarthur Region, a team of RSPCA NSW Inspectors, in company with RSPCA NSW vets and members of the NSW Police Force executed a search warrant, resulting in the seizure of 24 dogs. The dogs were found to be suffering from a range of veterinary issues, including poor body condition, ear infections, intestinal worm burden, dental disease, conjunctivitis, and matting. In addition, there was evidence of breaches of the Animal Welfare Code of Practice in relation to the living conditions and general standards of husbandry in the breeding establishment. Eight puppies and two heavily pregnant females were among the 24 dogs taken into RSPCA NSW care. On Saturday 6 July 2024, seven puppies were born after both pregnant females gave birth, bringing the total number of dogs in care to 31. We are pleased to confirm that both mothers and their puppies are safe and doing well. All 31 dogs…

RSPCA NSW is aware of a matter circulating online, regarding a dog in Wagga Wagga, named Soot. We can confirm that our Inspectorate conducted several lines of investigation in relation to this matter, which has now been referred to NSW Police, for further investigation. For further information, please reach out to NSW Police directly.

A 41-year-old woman has been convicted of animal cruelty at Singleton Local Court after failing to provide proper and sufficient food for four emaciated horses in her care, as well as failing to provide them with veterinary treatment for multiple health conditions. On 23 August 2023, RSPCA NSW Inspectors attended a property in the Putty region in response to a report concerning several horses. Upon examination, welfare concerns for four of the horses were raised. The owner of the animals was not home at the time of inspection. The following day, RSPCA NSW Inspectors returned to the property, accompanied by a veterinarian. The attending veterinarian noted that the paddocks the horses were kept in were mostly dirt, with little to no grass growth, and confirmed that four of the horses were severely underweight. The horses were seized and transported to an RSPCA NSW veterinary hospital for medical treatment and care, where the following was observed: Two horses were assigned body condition…

RSPCA NSW is aware of images of a dog named Bruce that are circulating online in Facebook groups, community notice boards and a petition on change.org.   It is essential to clarify the following:  On 11 July 2023, RSPCA NSW Inspectors attended Bruce’s owners’ property in relation to welfare concerns. Bruce had access to clean water and was not tethered, however did present as underweight. Bruce’s owner explained that he had reduced the dog’s food intake under the guidance of his veterinarian. Our Inspector educated the owner about increasing Bruce’s food intake so that he could resume a healthy body condition.  Since this initial visit, Inspectors have attended Bruce’s owners’ property a further six times. This includes as recently as Sunday 16 June and yesterday, Monday 17 June 2024.   During each of these visits, Bruce has been found in good body condition, free roaming, with access to food, water and indoor and outdoor access.   Over the course of many months, our…