Does the funding mean you don't need donations anymore? Expand No. The increase in funding is only for the costs associated with enforcing the Animal Welfare Act 2002. Until now, RSPCA WA has been topping up the amount to enforce the Act by millions of dollars each year. That’s like the police using donations to help enforce the law. This new funding arrangement addresses that and will cover all costs associated with operating our inspectorate, as well as around 50 per cent towards the care of animals that come to RSPCA WA through our enforcement work. We still rely on donations for the other 50 per cent of what it costs to care for those animals, and 100 per cent of care costs for animals who come to us via non-inspectorate surrender, as strays or by other means. Donations are also needed to meet the growing demand for our community outreach work. This includes helping keep pets and their struggling owners together through programs like our Community Action Days where we provide free health checks, pet food, flea treatments, microchipping, education, and other needs to over 1,000 pet owners a year. Generous contributions from donors, fundraisers and people who leave us a gift in their Will also help fund other critical services like vaccination drives and education programs in schools as well as advocacy for improvements to the Animal Welfare Act, which was last updated in 2002, and better treatment of all animals.
Other animal welfare groups rehome more animals than RSPCA WA, why don’t they get funding? Expand At RSPCA WA we see the worst of the worst of animal cruelty in WA. Most of our animals come to us having suffered some form of traumatic abuse or neglect which means their physical and behavioural rehabilitation can take weeks or months. Also, unless animals are surrendered to us, we cannot legally rehome them until any prosecution is finalised and the court forfeits their ownership. Sometimes, this can take years. Because of these factors, we currently only have 37 animals available for adoption, but we have around 400 animals in care (as at 6 March).
RSPCA WA doesn’t need the money, but we do! Expand RSPCA WA has been subsidising the cost of enforcing the Animal Welfare Act 2002 for many years. In the last financial year, when including purchasing key equipment such as vehicles, the cost for enforcing the Act reached over $5m, meaning RSPCA WA contributed around $3.7m against the State Government’s contribution of $1.3m. During the last financial year, over 10,000 calls for help went unanswered and our inspectors operated alone in the field. Addressing both of these issues means the cost of enforcing the Act is expected to swell to over $9m per year, and we welcome the Labor State Government’s commitment to contribute $7m toward that cost.
Why should I still donate to RSPCA WA when you’re trying to end live export and kill off WA’s sheep trade? Expand RSPCA WA is, and always has been, a leading advocate for farmers in Western Australia. Despite what you may have heard from some groups, RSPCA WA has consistently advocated for farmers to be adequately compensated for the impact of ending the Long-Haul Live Export of Sheep by Sea, and has called for Federal Government support and investment to increase the slaughtering and processing industry in Western Australia This will ensure there is capacity and, importantly, competition in the WA market place after Live Export ceases, meaning the survival and growth of the sheep industry. We believe, and economic studies have shown, that good animal welfare is good for farmers. Many progressive producers in Western Australia have already seen this and proactively moved away from the Live Export trade.
Why should I donate to you - I reported an animal cruelty case to RSPCA WA and you did nothing. Expand RSPCA WA inspectors operate within boundaries and constraints. Firstly, they are constrained by the resources available to RSPCA WA to support them in doing their job. The announcement of a historic investment of $7 million per year will help remove this constraint and enable us to better meet community expectations. Secondly, RSPCA WA inspectors must work within what the legislation - the Animal Welfare Act 2002 - defines as suffering, ill treatment, and cruelty. These definitions may not always align with how the community, or an individual defines these things. This is why RSPCA WA’s advocacy work is so important to help ensure that underlying legislation meets community expectation and is fit for purpose. Having a well-resourced enforcement function, underpinned by contemporary legislation, is the solution to meeting the community’s expectations in relation to animal welfare. We applaud the Labor State Government’s commitment to better resource the enforcement function, and we call on the next State Government to deliver the improvements to the Animal Welfare Act as recommended by the Linda Black led independent review, back in 2019/2020.
Now you're getting all this money, what will you use donations for? Expand Your donations will help us to not only support the ever-increasing number of animals surrendered directly to us but also deliver so many amazing programs that improve the lives of animals and prevent cruelty occurring in the first place. The funding announced by State Government means we will be better funded to help after cruelty has occurred, but your donations will continue to deliver meaningful and lasting change to the lives of animals across Western Australia by preventing cruelty occurring in the first place. This will be achieved through expanding programs such as our Community Action Days, where pet owners are offered free vet checks, pet food, microchipping, flea treatments and more for their animals, through education in schools and the community, through specialised programs such as vaccination drives, and through continued advocacy efforts.
Why should I still donate to RSPCA WA when other shelters receive nothing? Expand We are more than just a shelter. The funding is solely to pay for costs associated with enforcing the Animal Welfare Act 2002 on behalf of the State Government – just like the State Government funds WA Police to enforce people-related laws. Up until now, RSPCA WA was subsidising those costs – last year to the tune of $3.5m. We still rely on donations for care costs of all other animals, including vet care, medications, surgeries, behaviour training, as well as our community outreach work offering free pet food, health checks, microchipping and vaccinations to struggling pet owners.
I volunteer at a rescue organisation, and we get nothing – how is this fair? Expand Many other rescue groups solely exist to rescue and rehome certain species, or certain breeds, of animals. RSPCA WA exists to help all creatures great and small. Yes, we do rehome animals, but we do so much more as well. The funding is to pay for costs associated with enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act 2002. We are the only animal welfare organisation in WA that has this responsibility. This is State Government legislation that we enforce on their behalf – that’s why State Government has recognised their responsibility to pay for it. We will still be funding, through generous donations, around 50 per cent of the costs to care for the animals that come to us through our inspectors, as well as 100 per cent of costs for the animals that come to us as strays or non-Inspectorate surrenders. In addition, donations fund our vital community outreach, education and advocacy work that helps improve the lives of all animals across WA.