Learn how you can take action to protect animals and prevent cruelty.
At RSPCA NSW, we know that ending animal cruelty requires a proactive and comprehensive approach. Our mission-driven work goes beyond rescuing and rehabilitating animals, focusing additionally on prevention and early intervention.
For nearly a century, we have been the leading agency enforcing the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979, with the largest animal welfare unit in the country. Our dedicated RSPCA NSW Inspectors are at the forefront of investigating over 17,000 cruelty complaints each year. These complaints range from instances of abandonment and unintentional neglect to cases of deliberate cruelty and a lack of basic care.
In many cases, especially where financial hardship or mental health challenges are impacting both people and animals, we take a preventative approach. This includes offering practical support, education, and referrals to our crisis programs. Our goal is always to preserve the human-animal bond whenever it is safe for both the animal and the person, working toward solutions that keep families together.
Education plays a critical role in preventing cruelty before it occurs and here at RSPCA NSW, our Education and Training Teams are committed to fostering a society that values and protects animals through targeted education programs and training courses. We offer a wide range of resources and programs for all ages. These include interactive workshops, games, and presentations help build empathy, respect, and a sense of responsibility towards all living creatures.
As we work to educate and prevent cruelty, advancing animal welfare is at the core of what we do. At RSPCA NSW, we continuously advocate for stronger laws and policies that protect animals and ensure they are treated with dignity and respect. Through research, policy work, and collaborations with other organisations and agencies, we help shape a society where animal welfare is a priority, and cruelty is not tolerated.
If you witness animal cruelty or neglect, it’s vital to speak up. At RSPCA NSW, our cruelty phone number or online reporting makes it easy for the public to report cases of abuse or mistreatment. Every report we receive is carefully assessed; and triaged accordingly. It’s important all details are provided, including the information you have witnessed and supporting documentation like videos or images.
Our dedicated inspectors are on the front line in the fight against animal cruelty. Trained to handle a wide range of situations, no two reports are the same, with RSPCA NSW Inspectors responding to an array of welfare concerns, from deliberate acts of animal cruelty to cases of unintentional neglect.
When necessary, we take legal action to ensure that those responsible for harming animals are held accountable. With an in-house legal counsel, RSPCA NSW have been prosecution These prosecutions are a powerful tool in preventing future cruelty and promoting animal welfare across the state.
At RSPCA NSW, we are constantly working to advance animal welfare standards. We advocate for stronger laws and policies that protect animals and ensure they are treated with dignity and respect. Our research, policy work, and collaborations with other organisations help shape a society where animal welfare is a priority, and cruelty is not tolerated.
RSPCA NSW rehomes a range of different animals, from dogs, cats, and birds to horses, rabbits, and sheep! We believe that all creatures, great and small, can bring joy to our families and homes. Begin your adoption journey today and make an adorable lifelong friend!
By providing temporary homes for our animals, we can ensure they get the care they need until they are ready to be adopted. Join our network of foster carers for an incredibly rewarding experience; with your help, we can change the lives of some of the state’s most vulnerable animals.
We rely on our generous supporters to continue assisting the thousands of animals turning to RSPCA NSW for help. No matter how small your contribution, every gift makes a lifesaving difference for animals in need.
By raising funds and lending a hand to communities and their pets, our volunteers play a pivotal role in our work throughout NSW. If you have a genuine concern for animals and enjoy meeting like-minded people, consider becoming an RSPCA NSW volunteer today!
If you witness animal cruelty or an emergency involving an animal, please contact RSPCA NSW immediately. You can reach us through our animal emergency hotline at 1300 CRUELTY or at 1300 278 3589. You can also report animal cruelty via our dedicated webpage here.
RSPCA NSW Inspectors enforce the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979, as well as regulations and associated Animal Welfare Codes of Practice. They also educate communities by giving presentations and targeted animal welfare advice, the latter of which is given when cooperating with pet-owning individuals who are the subject of animal cruelty complaints. Where possible, our Inspectors work with animal carers to improve the health and welfare of animals in their care. RSPCA NSW Inspectors also sit on advisory committees, perform animal rescues, and assist agencies such as the NSW Department of Primary Industries, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, NSW Police, local councils, and more.
There are approximately 53 Inspectors throughout Sydney and regional NSW at any given time, providing education, supporting pet owners, and investigating animal cruelty.
At RSPCA NSW, jobs are given one of three classifications – urgent, ASAP, or routine.
Urgent jobs arise when RSPCA NSW is informed that an animal has suffered serious physical injury. They may have been attacked by a person or another animal and may require urgent veterinary treatment. Animals may be exposed to a life-threatening situation or be in immediate physical danger. RSPCA NSW Inspectors either attend within 24 hours of the complaint having been received or plan for another agency (such as NSW police) to attend within the same time frame.
ASAP complaints are viewed as serious but not life-threatening. RSPCA NSW Inspectors will endeavour to attend or take appropriate action within 48 hours of the complaint being received. ASAP complaints may involve animals in poor body condition, animals not receiving proper or sufficient nutrition, animals in need of veterinary treatment for non-life-threatening conditions (such as skin conditions and ear infections).
Routine jobs are attended when urgent and ASAP complaints have been managed or attended to. Dogs being given small enclosures, being continually tethered, or not receiving enough exercise are examples of routine matters. Inspections of pet shops and animal breeding facilities would be classified as routine jobs, as well as investigations into historic animal cruelty offences (cases where no animals are currently at risk).
The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979 authorises Inspectors to enter land to examine animals when there are reasonable grounds to suspect an offence is, has, or is going to be committed with respect to an animal.
With respect to a dwelling, an Inspector can enter, with the consent of the occupier of the dwelling, the authority of a search warrant or if the Inspector has reasonable grounds to believe that an animal has suffered significant physical injury, is in imminent danger of suffering significant physical injury or has a life-threatening condition that requires immediate veterinary treatment.
This is why we require you to provide your name, address, and contact information when lodging complaints of alleged animal cruelty.
When animal cruelty offences or breaches of the animal welfare codes of practice are detected, Inspectors may seize animals and items connected with offences. As part of the investigation into alleged animal welfare or cruelty offences, our Inspectors will offer an alleged offender an opportunity to participate in a record of interview. At the completion of an investigation, the matter will be reviewed and depending on the nature, duration, significance, and ongoing impacts of the alleged offending there are a number of possible outcomes.
An alleged offender could be:
Animals seized by RSPCA NSW Inspectors in connection with alleged animal cruelty offences, may be held in RSPCA care until court proceedings are finalised.
When an animal cruelty offender is convicted by a Court, RSPCA NSW can seek the costs associated with the care of the animal(s).
We can also seek an order from the Court awarding custody of the animals to RSPCA NSW and further orders requiring convicted people with animals to rehome animals in their care. This can also include prohibition from purchasing, acquiring, or having any animals under their care, control or supervision for specific periods of time.
We promise to uphold the highest ethical standards. Your personal information has never been, and never will be sold or traded to other charities. This is our promise to you.
We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the lands on which we live and work. We recognise and respect the enduring relationship they have with their lands and waterways, and particularly acknowledge the vital role animals have played in Indigenous life, stories and culture for tens of thousands of years.
The RSPCA is an independent, community-based charity providing animal care and protection services across the country.
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The RSPCA is an independent, community-based charity providing animal care and protection services across the country.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
