In addition to investigating cruelty, RSPCA Inspectors spend a significant portion of their time preparing animal cruelty cases and attending court.
The RSPCA has an excellent prosecution record but the financial penalty of losing a case can be extremely high. Court cases and potential appeals can be extremely costly and difficult to anticipate. Fines imposed by the court are allocated to the State Government and while costs can be awarded to the RSPCA, these are often difficult to recover from the offenders.
Animal welfare legislation
Inspectors protect animals from cruelty and neglect by enforcing the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (POCTAA) 1986 and Part 4 of the Domestic Animals Act (DAA) 1994 in Victoria. These pieces of legislation govern the circumstances where our Inspectors can investigate or intervene, and we are lawfully bound by these Acts. Victoria’s Inspectorate is the only not-for-profit agency with the power to lay charges under POCTAA.
Prosecution outcomes
In addition to investigating cruelty, RSPCA Inspectors spend a significant portion of their time preparing animal cruelty cases and attending court. RSPCA Victoria Inspectors are authorised to investigate animal cruelty reports defined by the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (POCTAA) 1986 as well as investigate illegal Domestic Animal Businesses (DABs) defined by the Domestic Animals Act (DAA) 1994. The RSPCA has an excellent prosecution record but the financial penalty of losing a case can be extremely high. Court cases and potential appeals can be extremely costly and difficult to anticipate. Fines imposed by the court are allocated to the State Government and while costs can be awarded to the RSPCA, these are often difficult to recover from the offenders.
You can read about some of our recent prosecutions below.
