If you believe an animal is experiencing cruelty or neglect, you can help by reporting the situation to RSPCA WA. Reports enable us to identify animals whose welfare may be at risk and enforce the Animal Welfare Act 2002.
If you have reasonable grounds to suspect that someone is directly responsible for seriously harming, neglecting, or mistreating an animal, report this online or over the phone and RSPCA WA will take action accordingly. For other animal-related matters and emergencies, find out who to contact here.
If a person or an animal’s life is in immediate danger, please call the WA Police on 131 444 or 000.
Contact RSPCA WA for:
Contact your local council for:
Contact the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888 to report suspected emergency animal diseases, including H5 bird flu.
Call WA Police on 131 444 or 000 if a person or animal is in immediate danger.
Our goal is always to improve outcomes for animals and ensure their welfare needs are being met. Our inspectors assess reports, investigate concerns that fall within our legal powers, and take action in-line with the Animal Welfare Act 2002.
When you submit a report online, our contact centre reviews the information provided. We may contact you if additional information is needed before we can investigate the matter. This is why we strongly recommend including your contact details when making a report.
All valid reports are then assessed by an RSPCA WA Inspector to determine whether there are reasonable grounds to suspect an offence under the Animal Welfare Act 2002 or whether an animal’s welfare may be at risk.
Not every report results in an investigation. Some matters may fall outside RSPCA WA’s legal powers or responsibilities and are better managed by local government, WA Police, or another organisation. In these cases, we refer the matter to the relevant agency or organisation.
Our inspectors investigate more than 7,000 animal welfare reports across Western Australia each year. Because of the volume of reports we receive, we are generally unable to provide updates on the progress of individual cases.
Reports are prioritised according to the level of risk to the animal.
Where an investigation is required, an inspector may conduct a site visit and gather information to assess the animal’s welfare and determine whether action is needed under the Animal Welfare Act 2002.
RSPCA WA inspectors enforce the legislation as enacted by the Western Australian Government. While we advocate for high standards of animal welfare, our legal powers are limited to those provided under the Act.
Depending on the circumstances, inspectors may:
If an animal is seized, they are provided the necessary veterinary treatment, rehabilitation and ongoing care through RSPCA WA.
Certain information collected by RSPCA WA Inspectors may be released under the Freedom of Information Act 1992 in response to an FOI request.
In serious cases involving confirmed offences, RSPCA WA may commence legal proceedings under the Animal Welfare Act 2002.
RSPCA WA investigates alleged offences and may prosecute matters before the courts. Decisions regarding penalties and sentencing are made by the courts, not RSPCA WA.
Penalties for offences under the Act may include:
