RSPCA Victoria is urging the Victorian Government to go the whole hog and keep up the momentum on pig welfare following the release of its response to the parliamentary inquiry into pig welfare in Victoria.

Speaking about the response, RSPCA Victoria CEO Dr Liz Walker, said she was pleased to see pig welfare prioritised but encouraged the Government to maintain a sense of urgency around the implementation of improvements.

“While we’re pleased the Victorian Government has supported many of the recommendations, we’re concerned waiting for the development of nationally agreed standards and guidelines to ban sow stalls, improve stunning methods, and provide enrichment will simply take too long to develop and gain agreement,” Dr Walker said.

“While we understand the need for national consistency, the national Standards and Guidelines for Poultry took nearly a decade to develop.

“The industry has already recognised the need for sow stalls to be phased out, with 80% already making the change^[1].

“Nothing is stopping the Victorian Government from progressing vital improvements like mandating an end to sow stalls, providing enrichment, and pain relief for husbandry procedures right now.

“In order to turn these recommendations into action, we urge the Victorian Government to expedite the release of the Animal Care and Protection Bill and take the lead in the development of the national Standards and Guidelines for Pigs as the current Model Code of Practice is now over 16 years old and long out of date.”

RSPCA Victoria’s submission to the Inquiry made 18 recommendations, focusing on increasing investment into research into alternative stunning methods, phasing out close confinement such as sow stalls and conventional farrowing crates, providing enrichment for pigs instead of barren environments, and ending painful husbandry procedures for piglets.

“Pigs are social and intelligent animals and good animal welfare must be inherent in farm animal production,” Dr Walker continued.

“We’re committed to working with farming communities and other stakeholders to ensure continuous improvement, so pigs have a good life and a humane death.”

RSPCA Victoria gave evidence at the public hearing for the inquiry into pig welfare in Victoria following its submission in January 2024.

RSPCA Victoria believes making these changes can bring Victoria’s pork industry in line with world leaders such as the UK, New Zealand, and Canada, making it more sustainable.

For more information, visit RSPCA Knowledgebase here. Read the RSPCA’s submission to the inquiry here.

RSPCA Victoria has shared its top tips for a pet-friendly Christmas to keep our furry friends safe from festive hazards.

RSPCA Victoria Chief Veterinarian Dr Bronwyn Oke said this time of year is often risky for pets due to multiple dangers being in the home at the same time.

“Many traditional foods eaten this time of year such as fruitcakes, puddings, chocolate, nuts, and alcohol, are dangerous to our pets and can require urgent veterinary treatment if eaten,” Dr Oke said.

“Foods like roast turkey or a leg of ham are also potentially dangerous due to the risk of cooked bones splintering and causing severe internal injuries or high-fat foods potentially causing pancreatitis.

“It can be tough to say ‘no’ when your best mate is begging for a treat at Christmas, so distract them with a long-lasting treat like a raw bone or a treat ball, or even give them their own suitable meal when you start to serve up food for everyone else.

“These small steps can make a big difference on Christmas day and potentially mean you can spend the day at home instead of your local vet clinic.”

Senior Animal Care Manager at RSPCA Victoria, Ms Nadia Peiris, agreed and said having lots of unfamiliar people and items like decorations and gifts in your home can also cause stress in your pet, leading to unexpected behaviours.

“If there are a lot of people in your home who are new or unfamiliar to your pet, they might feel anxious and stressed out,” Ms Peiris said.

“When our animals are stressed, they can react in unexpected ways; these can sometimes be destructive or even dangerous to others.

“Make sure your pet has somewhere safe and quiet they can go if they’re feeling overwhelmed and keep any dangerous gifts or decorations out of reach.

“Younger pets might try to play with decorations or gifts, but these items often contain glass, metal, or hard plastics which can cut their paws or cause choking if eaten, so please keep them out of reach.

“Plants are also a popular gift this time of year, but many pet owners are unaware that some plants like lilies and aloe vera are highly toxic to cats and dogs and are potentially fatal without urgent treatment.”

For more free advice on having a pet-safe Christmas this year, visit rspcavic.org/christmas-safety

A 42-year-old Pakenham woman pleaded guilty to one charge under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986 at the Dandenong Magistrates Court on 21 November 2024.

RSPCA Victoria Inspectors visited the woman’s property after receiving an animal cruelty report from a member of the public concerning a dog at the location.

When the Inspectors attended the property, they found a severely emaciated bull mastiff dog that appeared to have been abandoned.

Due to concerns for the animal’s wellbeing, the dog was transported to RSPCA Victoria’s veterinary clinic for treatment and veterinary assessment.

RSPCA Victoria Veterinarian Dr Yan Wing Ho examined the animal upon arrival and found it was emaciated and starving, weighing only 49kg instead of a healthy 70kg for a dog of its breed and size.

“The animal was suffering from protein-calorie malnutrition [which caused] a gradual loss of lean body mass and fat tissue,” said Dr Ho.

“This dog was suffering on his presentation to the RSPCA, and if the lack of an appropriate amount of food continued, it would have resulted in further emaciation and eventually death of the animal.

“A layperson should have recognised that this dog was emaciated and required veterinary attention and should have sought veterinary help for him sooner.”

The woman was sentenced to a 12-month Good Behaviour Bond without conviction, fined $2,000 and disqualified from owning any animal for 5 years, with $1,508.60 in costs awarded to RSPCA Victoria.

RSPCA Victoria Chief Inspector Michelle Green said the animal was lucky the RSPCA had been notified and said pet owners must make plans for their animal’s care and wellbeing in all situations.

“The initial animal cruelty report submitted to the RSPCA effectively saved this dog’s life,” Chief Inspector Green said.

“This dog was starving over a long period of time and will likely suffer lifelong conditions as a result, but he was able to regain his full weight and make an almost complete recovery in our care.

“Some pet owners will unfortunately face difficult challenges in their life that can affect their pets, and we urge you to reach out to support services for help before it’s too late.”

Anyone found guilty of similar cruelty offences under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986 can face fines of up to $49,397.50 or 12 months’ imprisonment.

RSPCA Victoria urges anyone with concerns about the welfare of animals to make a report at rspcavic.org/cruelty-report or on 03 9224 2222.

It’s estimated it will cost RSPCA Victoria more than $10.7 million to operate the Inspectorate this financial year.

A 61-year-old Reservoir woman has been convicted of two charges of animal cruelty at the Heidelberg Magistrates Court on 16 October 2024.

RSPCA Victoria Inspectors attended the woman’s property after receiving an animal cruelty report from a member of the public, where they found an immobile, emaciated senior Border Collie in urgent need of veterinary attention with visible skin and ear irritations, and an injury on her nose.

When RSPCA Inspectors advised the woman her dog urgently needed veterinary attention, she surrendered the animal to RSPCA Victoria instead.

The dog was immediately transported to RSPCA Victoria for assessment by its expert veterinary team.

RSPCA Victoria veterinarian, Dr Kiki Raghavan, found the animal was unable to stand due to severe osteoarthritis, had visible infections on her nose and lips, severe dental disease, and severe yeast infections in both ears.

Dr Raghavan said the dog’s suffering was obvious and a lack of veterinary care was the primary cause behind the pain.

“It would have been evident to a layperson that the animal could not walk well and was unable to support her weight,” RSPCA Victoria’s Dr Raghavan said.

“She either was not offered enough food, could not get to the food offered her, or had such a severe underlying medical condition that she was losing weight despite eating”

“Lack of veterinary care directly led to the animal’s pain and suffering.”

The accused stated she did not believe the dog was suffering or in significant pain, however the presiding magistrate fined her $1,000 with conviction, and disqualified the woman from owning any dogs for 5 years.

RSPCA Victoria Inspectorate Chief Inspector Michelle Green welcomed the result and said senior pets do not deserve to live in suffering without treatment.

“All pets in Victoria deserve to live free from pain and suffering no matter their age,” Chief Inspector Green said.

“Pet owners must provide their animals with necessary veterinary attention and ensure they are getting the care and nutrition they need at every stage of life.”

“Preventative veterinary care could have saved this animal from extensive suffering during its senior years, and we hope this will remind people to look out for their animal’s needs before it’s too late.”

The relevant offences are covered under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986. Anyone found guilty of cruelty offences can face fines of up to $49,397.50 or 12 months’ imprisonment.

Anyone with concerns about the welfare of animals is urged to make a report to RSPCA Victoria at rspcavic.org/cruelty-report or by calling 03 9224 2222.

It’s estimated it will cost RSPCA Victoria more than $10.7 million to operate the Inspectorate this financial year.