News and Updates

RSPCA NSW’s new Animal Welfare Response Unit is making its way down the NSW south coast this week to revisit communities affected by the recent bushfire crisis. Launched in Braidwood on 1 June 2020, the mobille unit is checking in at some of the of the 129 bushfire affected communities RSPCA NSW provided assistance to, including Batemans Bay, Moruya, Cobargo and Eden, before making its way inland to Cooma and Goulburn. The state-of-the-art mobile command centre, procured from the RSPCA NSW Bushfire Appeal, is part of the organisation’s $2.6 million investment in emergency response infrastructure. The organisation also acquired two animal transport trailers, to carry injured animals, and two community outreach vehicles, which will provide immediate animal welfare assistance and education across the state. RSPCA NSW staff, including the Inspectorate, will be better equipped to immediately respond to calls for help with the acquisition of emergency communication equipment including satellite phones, disaster PPE such as breathing apparatuses, and other vital equipment. “RSPCA NSW was established 147 years ago to help animals in need and now we…

Red on the mend When the fires came through Jeremadra, Claire and her family loaded up their cars and evacuated with their guinea pig, two budgies, two cats and eight dogs between them. When they returned to survey the damage, their curious dog Red was eager to sniff out his bed when suddenly the burnt building collapsed on top of him. With Red unable to walk, Claire turned to RSPCA NSW for help. RSPCA NSW immediately organised for Red to receive vital surgery on his leg, at no cost to Claire and her family. Red’s story is one of 1,076 stories from households who received a helping hand through the RSPCA NSW Bushfire Assistance Form. 80 towns received immediate aid in response to calls for assistance, 32 pop-up community relief points were established in bushfire-ravaged communities, and we spent 15,930 face-to-face hours and $1.3 million on the ground helping families and animals in need. We were the first emergency response organisation to arrive in Towamba. As part of our commitment to ensure the money raised has a meaningful impact on all…

Have you ever wondered what would happen to your pet if something happened to you? Pets are much loved family members and it’s important to safeguard their future. That’s why RSPCA NSW created the Home Ever After Program, a trusted, tailor-made future care plan for your beloved pet, should you ever need it. We have been receiving lots of enquiries about the Home Ever After Program (HEA) lately so, to answer all those important questions clearly and quickly, we have rounded them up here. What does HEA entail? Once you enquire (ways to enquire are listed at the end), one of our HEA coordinators will call to find out basic information about your pet and then either email or post enrolment documents to you.  You will be asked to tell us lots of information about your pet – all those unique details that only you would know. We then use this information to create a pet profile which we keep on…

The RSPCA is on a mission to ‘Clear the Shelters’ this weekend (21-23 February 2020) with adoption fees reduced to $29 for all animals great and small in care across the country. The organisation aims to rehome as many animals as possible over the three-day adoption drive starting this Friday. Last year, a whopping 2,654 animals, totalling 90% of any animals in our care, found their furever homes across the country. “This weekend we want people looking for a new family member to consider adopting, not shopping, for their newest family member,” says Ashley Stephenson, RSPCA NSW General Manager Animal Care Services. NSW has over 700 animals available for adoption, including puppies, dogs, kittens, cats and pocket pets like bunnies, guinea pigs and tiny mice, turkeys, duck and chickens, Charlie the Miniature Horse and Sheepy the sheep will be looking for their forever homes. “Some animals, such as Kevin the Great Dane, did not find a forever home last time….

As the bushfire crisis unfolds across the state, RSPCA NSW is continuing to work tirelessly to provide relief and recovery assistance to animals and owners in fire-affected communities. Our presence in the field has included assistance at emergency evacuation points, veterinary care and support to impacted wildlife, companion animals and livestock, inspector welfare checks on livestock, as well as the distribution of pet food, medication and supplies, to paint a small picture. The community response to our recent work in the field has been overwhelming. Our entire organisation is blown away by the incredible support both in Australia and overseas, whether that be through hands-on help in local communities or through generous monetary donations from around the world. As we continue our direct work in the field, alongside other aid and wildlife organisations, we are committed to to ensuring the money raised for RSPCA NSW has the most meaningful impact possible for all creatures great and small. As part of…

Each shelter will offer information on our Aged Care Program, how to care for elderly pets, travel advice and long-term pet plans. On the day, there’ll also be shelter tours, raffles, RSPCA NSW merchandise to purchase and delicious refreshments. Even better, to help our older animals (affectionately dubbed ‘golden oldies’) find forever homes, we will be offering a new adoption promotion — Seniors for Seniors! As part of this promotion, people aged over 65 can adopt an animal eight years or older for a reduced adoption fee: If you’d like to come along, here are the locations, dates and times: Illawarra Shelter – Wednesday 12 February, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.Hunter Shelter – Friday 14 February – CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHERBlue Mountains Shelter – Tuesday 18 February, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. We look forward to seeing you there!

We are truly saddened by the catastrophic bushfires that continue to rage across Australia. The unwavering commitment of NSW Rural Fire Service and the many other organisations helping on the frontline is nothing short of heroic.  The loss of animal lives to these fires is particularly close to our hearts and is truly heartbreaking. We are so grateful to those of you who have been reaching out to us, asking how you can help support our inspectors on the ground in affected areas. We have seen passionate and deeply caring community members going above and beyond to provide aid, shelter and assistance to animals in need. RSPCA NSW is doing all we can to protect the animals in threatened or affected areas.  With conditions constantly changing, we are sharing the following information in an effort to keep you updated on current action being taken, as well as to provide advice in seeking support and offering care to animals affected by…

Welcoming a furry fostered friend into your home is so flippin’ fun! Their sleepy, burpy, silly selves are going to make you smile every single day and teach you so much about being a better pet parent.  Fostering is a great way to bond with a sweet kitten, cat, dog, puppy or pocket pet without making a long-term commitment. If you’re ready to take on the responsibility of being a foster carer, here’s what you can expect. There’s an application process and induction Before you become a foster carer, you need to apply by filling out this quick form on our website. After you do, you’ll be invited to attend a quick induction with our expert staff, who’ll give you the lowdown on everything you need to know about fostering. Prior experience not needed! Fostering will teach you so much about animals Taking in foster animals will make you realise just how much there is to know about animal care….

As you may or may not know, RSPCA NSW is a not-for-profit, non-government organisation. With only two per cent of our funding coming from the state government, we rely heavily on the generosity of our like-minded supporters to donate money to help the animals in our care. Every little bit helps too — just $5, $10 or $15 goes so far to help a neglected animal receive the love and care they deserve. And now, from August 26 to November 3, Return and Earn are partnering with RSPCA NSW to give our supporters another way to help the animals! Return and Earn is a NSW-based litter reduction scheme that incentivises residents to deposit their single-use drink containers into Reverse Vending Machines or collection points to prevent them from ending up in our oceans and parks. Each container gives you a refund of 10 cents and — at the Reverse Vending Machines only — you can donate your refund instead of…

Bonded pair animals are best friends forever. They exercise together, sleep together and go up for adoption in a package deal. Many animals are social, just like us, and are comforted in the company of other creatures. In Switzerland, it’s even illegal to only own one guinea pig, as studies have shown that guinea pigs become chronically lonely without a companion. If you’ve perused our adoption website before, you may have noticed some animals who must go home with others. Jasper and Cola, a Whippet and German Shorthaired Pointer, are an example of an adorable bonded pair looking for their forever home. Cats Gabby and Evie are too, and so are rabbits Sunny and Aladdin. But sadly, it takes longer for bonded animals to find their forever home. Many people looking for a pet are after one, not two, so our cute couples get left behind. And while the idea of taking home not just one, but two, animals seems…

Desexing is part of responsible pet ownership. Whether you have a cat, dog, ferret, guinea pig, rabbit or rat, there’s no better time to get your much-loved pet desexed. As well as preventing countless unwanted litters being born, your pet will be happier, healthier and live longer because of it. Need a little convincing that desexing is right for your pet? It can take just two years for one female cat and her offspring to produce around 20,000 kittens. And in only five years, one female dog and her offspring can produce approximately 20,000 puppies. Many don’t end up finding their forever homes. Some are dumped, left to fend for themselves on the streets. They become targets for cruelty, suffer from disease and starvation, and have to fight every single day for their survival. Others end up in pounds and shelters, putting incredible strain on their resources. For more information on the importance on desexing your pet, please read through…