News and Updates

  ADOPTION COSTS WAIVED – EXTENDED TO 22 SEPTEMBER  With 124 of our perfect pups finding homes over the last few weeks, we’re thrilled to announce that adoption costs will continue to be waived. Until this Sunday, 22 September, ALL dogs and puppies will be available for $0*  Thanks to the generosity of one incredibly generous individual and our friends at Royal Canin, Elanco, Kazoo, Dogue, and Pablo and Co, those still waiting will have the chance to find the loving home they deserve.   We’re excited to celebrate International Dog Day in a very special way this year. Thanks to the incredible generosity of a loyal RSPCA NSW dog-loving donor, adoption fees for dogs and puppies will be waived from 29 August to 15 September. During this period, you can welcome a new furry family member for $0* and give them the caring home they deserve.  Everyone knows life is better with a dog, and the best shelter is…

This September, RSPCA’s Cupcake Day is celebrating sixteen sweet years of raising funds to help provide love, care, shelter, and warmth to animals in need. Over 87,000 animals turn to the RSPCA for help each year and Cupcake Day offers a sweet way to support their journey from the moment they enter our doors until they find their forever families. “Cupcake Day is the perfect excuse to share a treat with colleagues, friends, schools, and family members while making an enormous difference to the lives of the animals in our care. Register today to become a host and enjoy some delicious treats for an extraordinary cause,” said RSPCA NSW Community Fundraising Manager, Ben Wilheim. “All funds raised go directly to our vital work in rescuing, rehabilitating, and rehoming animals. Your Cupcake Day can be held any time in September, so pick a date that suits you.” Check the Dropbox link for more videos of RSPCA NSW Animals eating ‘pupcakes’ supplied by Woof…

This September, RSPCA’s Cupcake Day is celebrating sixteen sweet years of raising funds to help provide love, care, shelter, and warmth to animals in need. Over 87,000 animals turn to the RSPCA for help each year and Cupcake Day offers a sweet way to support their journey from the moment they enter our doors until they find their forever families. “Cupcake Day is the perfect excuse to share a treat with colleagues, friends, schools, and family members while making an enormous difference to the lives of the animals in our care. Register today to become a host and enjoy some delicious treats for an extraordinary cause,” said RSPCA NSW Community Fundraising Manager, Ben Wilheim. “All funds raised go directly to our vital work in rescuing, rehabilitating, and rehoming animals. Your Cupcake Day can be held any time in September, so pick a date that suits you.” Check the Dropbox link for more videos of RSPCA NSW Animals eating ‘pupcakes’ supplied by Woof…

Bring Home a Cat or Kitten: Adoption Costs Waived! To celebrate International Cat Day and the joy of feline companionship, we are waiving our adoption costs from 10 to 18 August. During this period, you can adopt a cat or kitten for $0* to help them find the loving homes they deserve.  Everyone knows life is better with a cat, and the best shelter is a loving home. We hope this promotion will bring more people and pets together through increased feline adoptions.  In addition, to help you and your new friend settle in smoothly, each adoption will go home with a care package from our generous friends and Partners. The care package includes: A 12-month RSPCA veterinary care voucher** One month of Advocate Flea and Tick prevention from Elanco. An enrichment toy from our friends at Kong Company. 2kg of feline food from Royal Canin, our National Nutritional Partners.  With almost 100 adoptable cats and kittens in our care, we…

Bring Home a Cat or Kitten: Adoption Costs Waived! To celebrate International Cat Day and the joy of feline companionship, we are waiving our adoption costs from 10 to 18 August. During this period, you can adopt a cat or kitten for $0* to help them find the loving homes they deserve.  Everyone knows life is better with a cat, and the best shelter is a loving home. We hope this promotion will bring more people and pets together through increased feline adoptions.  In addition, to help you and your new friend settle in smoothly, each adoption will go home with a care package from our generous friends and Partners. The care package includes: A 12-month RSPCA veterinary care voucher** One month of Advocate Flea and Tick prevention from Elanco. An enrichment toy from our friends at Kong Company. 2kg of feline food from Royal Canin, our National Nutritional Partners.  With almost 100 adoptable cats and kittens in our care, we…

Shark nets are installed at 51 beaches between Newcastle and Wollongong annually from September to April. The nets are removed between May to August to allow for the migration of whales.  [1] Their effectiveness in successful shark management has been scientifically disproven. They not only pose a danger to sharks, a species under great threat, but also to a multitude of other marine life and even the swimmers and surfers they are intended to protect.  [2] In FY22/23, 90% of the marine life caught in shark nets in NSW were non-target animals. This means that 204 harmless sharks, rays, turtles, dolphins, and seals were trapped, injured or killed. [3] RSPCA NSW fully supports the NSW Government’s election commitment to phasing out this archaic and cruel program and welcomes this change as soon as possible.       What is the Shark Meshing Program? The Shark Meshing Program (SMP) in NSW was established in the 1930s as a response to increasing…

Bring Home a Guinea Pig: Adoption Costs Waived! Everyone knows that life is better with a pet and no matter how big or small, the best place for any one of our animals is in the comforts of a safe and loving forever home. Despite their small size, Guinea Pigs are just as loving as any other pet. So, to help them find the homes they deserve, from 2-4 August each of our Guinea Pigs will be available for $0.   The goal is to rehome as many guinea pigs as possible over the three-day adoption drive. With length of stay increasing, it’s imperative that we find homes (the right homes) for the hundreds of animals we have currently have available for adoption. Although adoption costs are waived, normal adoption procedures will apply to ensure every animal is matched with the right family. This includes one-on-one meetings with prospective adoptive parents and future fur-siblings. We hope that by gifting these…

The RSPCA NSW Behaviour and Rehabilitation Centre (BARC) at Somersby has seen a surge in black and white felines entering their care since the beginning of the year. Each BARC resident has their own compelling story, but for Daisy and Chewy, the search for a loving home has been longer than most.

The RSPCA is celebrating the 30th annual walk to fight animal cruelty, the Million Paws Walk, on Sunday, 26 May 2024.

Last week, RSPCA NSW held our first Emergency Response Team training day at our Hunter Shelter. Over 12 volunteers from the Hunter region attended the training, with guest speakers from our Inspectorate as well as Red Cross Australia delivering the valuable training. The RSPCA NSW Emergency Response Team is comprised of volunteers and staff members and was recently formed to assist with providing disaster relief to both people and their pets during times of emergency. The training provided was complimentary for participants and included an information session on the work RSPCA NSW does in times of disaster, led by Emergency Response Manager Anne Keyvar, as well as the role of our Inspectorate, led by Northern Region Inspector, Russell Jarman. Participants were briefed on effective emergency response tactics and taught vital skills such as how to assist at evacuation centres, set up safe animal spaces during disasters and how to provide comfort and advice to animal owners in times of stress. Instructions on…

RSPCA NSW launched an Emergency Response Team in November 2023. This team will play a critical part in assisting and supporting both animals and pet owners affected by bushfires, floods, and other emergencies in NSW.   There are a variety of roles available including Vets, Nurses, In the Field Volunteers and Transport Officers.   In-the-Field volunteers are pivotal in setting up and assisting at evacuation centres and RSPCA Relief Points, distributing essential pet supplies and offering invaluable support to pet owners in distress. Vets are on-site to administer animal health checks and deliver basic first aid to animals in need.  We are seeking volunteers from all over NSW to join the initiative so that we can assist as many animals as we can during times of emergency.   Apply Now to Join the Team  RSPCA NSW conducts regular training days throughout the year, with upcoming sessions scheduled at various locations. Volunteers will receive access to comprehensive online training modules and opportunities for…

At RSPCA NSW, we consider it a privilege to play a role in the lives of countless animals in need. On National Pet Day and every day, we want to take a moment to celebrate the profound love, companionship, and joy that rescue animals, or as we fondly call them, Rescuoodles, bring into our lives. To honour the remarkable bond between humans and animals, we thought we would share a few of our recent heart warming stories of animals finding their forever homes.   Tanza After finding herself in our shelter, Tanza’s life took a remarkable turn as she embarked on a new adventure after being adopted by a loving family. Today, she thrives in her forever home, embracing every moment with boundless energy and infectious enthusiasm. Her owners say, “She loves going to the dog park every day. She had her first beach day last week and found her passion for digging!” They love her very much, describing her…

RSPCA NSW has offered to transfer ownership of the Mort Street Animal Care Facility and land to Blue Mountains City Council (BMCC) for the nominal sum of $1 after reaching an agreement that includes a 20-year covenant to protect the site’s ongoing use as a local animal care and rehoming shelter. This agreement to transfer ownership follows months of constructive discussions between RSPCA NSW, BMCC, and the Member for Blue Mountains, Ms Trish Doyle MP, following RSPCA NSW’s decision not to renew council pound management contracts and close the facility by 5 July 2024. RSPCA NSW has delivered Australia’s largest animal law enforcement agency for over 90 years. This transition is part of a major strategic shift for our organisation, enabling us to apply greater focus on our core function of preventing cruelty, while increasing investment in programs to educate and help pet owners in times of need. “We have been in favour of the Council operating the Mort Street…

The Animal Research Amendment (Prohibition of Forced Swim Tests and Forced Smoke Inhalation Experiments) Bill 2023 was officially passed in the Legislative Assembly (NSW Lower House) yesterday, 14th March 2024. The historic win will see two inhumane testing methods used on rodents, the forced swim test and nasal smoke inhalation procedure, banned in NSW. The Hon Emma Hurst MLC first tabled the bill in September 2023, after which it was introduced in the NSW Legislative Council on 7 February 2024 and passed with support from the Minns government. The forced swim test is a widely criticised experimental procedure in which rodents, typically mice or rats, are placed in an inescapable container filled with water, forcing them to swim until they become exhausted or exhibit signs of helplessness and despair. This test is unreliably used to study depression and has faced criticism for its cruelty, as it subjects animals to severe fear and stress and can result in drowning. The nasal…

RSPCA NSW’s Rescue Centre was officially opened today, Friday 2 February 2024, by NSW Premier the Hon Chris Minns MP, the Minster for Agriculture the Hon Tara Moriarty MLC, Member for Auburn Ms Lynda Voltz MP,  Chief Animal Welfare Officer of the Department of Primary Industries Kim Filmer and RSPCA NSW CEO Steve Coleman. The Rescue Centre has been jointly funded by the NSW Government and RSPCA NSW’s community of animal lovers, with the State Government committing $912,000 towards its establishment. The purpose-built centre will act as a hub for coordinating RSPCA NSW’s state-wide disaster response efforts and will house vital equipment such as vehicles, horse floats, animal trailers and multiple inflatable tents that will allow us to increase our emergency response capacity. “Today is a momentous day for RSPCA NSW, as we celebrate the opening of our brand-new Rescue Centre here in the heart of our Sydney Adoption and Education Centre, in Yagoona,” said RSPCA NSW CEO, Steve Coleman….

For many, a brand new year opens the door to new beginnings. As we reflect on the past twelve months and lay out our intentions for the year to come, it’s important to remember the hundreds of rescues awaiting adoption in RSPCA NSW shelters. With so many animals on the lookout for their own fresh start in 2024, your perfect forever friend could be right around the corner. At RSPCA NSW, we believe that rescues are a breed of their own. That’s why, late last year, we introduced the world to the Rescuoodles! The newest breed sweeping hearts across the state, no two Rescuoodles are the same. They can meow, squeak, chirp or bark, but something else sets them apart from other animals: an irreplaceable personality that you will adore for the rest of your life. So why shop for the perfect breed when you can adopt the perfect friend? Indeed, whether you’re pledging to embrace new opportunities or committing…

RSPCA NSW visited Coffs Harbour to host their annual community ‘Healthy Pet Day’. The event was hosted in collaboration with local partners Pete's Place, Vets Beyond Borders, TAFE NSW, Pacific Vet Care and Coffs Shelter, with additional support provided by Animal Rescue Cooperative, Petbarn Foundation and Coffs Harbour City Council.

Shelter life can be a struggle for many of the canines in our care.  The sudden change to the environment with the sounds and smells associated with lots of other dogs in close proximity, together with the separation from the previous home, can be highly distressing. Dogs unaccustomed to kennels or even domestic life in a home must adjust to the busy environment with animals, staff and visitors nearby throughout the day. At RSPCA NSW, we understand that it is important to recognise that allowing time to decompress is vital in maintaining the emotional well-being of our dogs during their stay in care.  We do this by optimising their environment with allocated quiet times during the day and the provision of enrichment to meet needs like chewing, social interactions and rest.  These simultaneously help to support our dogs in the shelter environment. Quiet Time Earlier this year our Hunter Shelter implemented 1 hour of mandatory ‘quiet time’ in the middle…

In a bid to keep up with the rise of the most popular oodle breeds, RSPCA NSW are today introducing a very unique and special breed, the ‘Rescuoodle’. Pronounced res-kyoo-dle, this new breed gives rescue pets an all-inclusive, celebratory identity built around the unwavering belief that rescue animals are in a breed of their own. With a decrease in adoption interest leading a 30%1 decline in adoptions across all RSPCA NSW shelters, and adult dogs in particular waiting five times longer than they were two years ago to find their forever home, the launch of Rescuoodles hopes to raise the profile of rescue animals. With hundreds of Rescuoodles ready for adoption at RSPCA NSW, and many more across the state in shelters and pounds, the aim of the campaign is to drive more adoptions in NSW, encouraging people to open their hearts and homes to the new breed.     Fronting the campaign as Rescuoodles Ambassador, is Dr Lisa Chimes….

RSPCA NSW is on a mission to ‘Find Forever Homes’ this weekend (3-5 November 2023) with adoption fees reduced to $29 for all animals available for adoption, across the state. The goal is to rehome as many animals as possible over the three-day adoption drive.