If you suspect animal cruelty, or that animals are not being properly cared for, you should make an animal welfare report.
Reporting animal cruelty and non-compliance with the regulations is important to help an animal at risk, to alert law enforcement agencies to incidents so they can be investigated, to document a pattern of behaviour for repeat offenders, and to prevent future violence to animals.
This page discusses when to call, who to call, what information to report, and how the complaint will be handled.
If you believe that someone has caused harm to, mistreated or been cruel to an animal, or is about to, you should contact the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Western Australia to report it.
If you find a sick or injured native animal, call WILDCARE on +61 (0)8 9474 9055 (24-hour service).
If you believe that someone has caused harm to, mistreated or been cruel to an animal, or is about to, you should report it. Acts which could be the subject of a complaint of cruelty against an animal include (but are not limited to) the following examples:
- animals which are abused
- animals which are abandoned or neglected
- animals suffering from sickness or an injury that are left untreated
- animals which are not provided with adequate and appropriate food and water
- animals trapped in jawed traps
- animals in immediate danger of death or harm, for example, locked in a hot car
- animals which are used in an illegal activity, for example dog or cock fighting
- animals which have been intentionally or recklessly poisoned
- animals that are not provided with adequate shelter and protection
Suspected animal cruelty and non-compliance with animal welfare regulations
If you believe that someone has caused harm to, mistreated or been cruel to an animal, or is about to, you should contact the RSPCA WA to make a cruelty report. This includes if you suspect that someone has breached the Animal Welfare Act 2002 (Animal Welfare Act) or any of the regulations.
Or you can:
- Call the RSPCA WA on 9209 9300
- Call 1300 278 358 (emergencies only)
Online cruelty reports are not monitored over weekends or public holidays. If an animal’s life is in immediate danger, you are encouraged to call WA Police.
Alternatively, you can call the RSPCA Cruelty Hotline on 1300 CRUELTY (1300 278 358), however, wait times may occur.
To ensure a coordinated approach to animal cruelty reports, the RSPCA WA is the agreed single point for all public reports of cruelty to animals in Western Australia. The RSPCA WA may refer some reports of cruelty that relate to commercial livestock to the department for appropriate follow-up.
Welfare concerns involving the scientific use of animals
Any concerns regarding the welfare of animals used for scientific purposes should be referred to the department's Scientific Licensing team at scientific.licensing@dpird.wa.gov.au.
Welfare concerns involving animals where public safety may be at risk
In the case of road accidents and other incidents involving animals where public safety may be at risk, call the WA Police on 131 444.
Animal welfare concerns, other than acts of cruelty and non-compliance with the regulations
For complaints regarding animal welfare, other than cruelty and non-compliance with the regulations, such as wandering or stray animals, please contact your local government authority to confirm whether it will deal with your report. If you are unsure which local council you fall under, visit the WA Local Government Association and type in your address.
WA Local Government Association website
Animal welfare of native animals, other than acts of cruelty
For complaints regarding the welfare of native animals, other than acts of cruelty, please contact the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions on 9219 9000.
If you find a sick or injured native animal, call WILDCARE on 9474 9055 (24-hour service).
When making a report, it is important to have the following information available.
Your name, address and telephone number
These details are required so that an inspector can contact you for further information. Your name and contact details will be kept confidential. If the complaint leads to a prosecution, a court may require that you be identified.
The location of the animal/s
If this is at a fixed location you need to provide address details. If the animals are located within a vehicle, you will need to provide the location of the vehicle, the registration details and a description of the vehicle.
The reason for the complaint
You will need to provide information about the type and number of animals involved, the problem, and a description of the condition of the animal/s.
The time and date of the alleged cruelty
You will need to provide details of the date and time that you became aware of the problem.
The details of people involved
If you know the name, address and contact details of the animal’s owner or the person/s involved, those details should be provided. If the information is not known to you, a description of the person or people involved should be provided.
Any other information
Other information may assist the inspector investigating the complaint, for example, information regarding the presence of potentially dangerous dogs at the location and information that a person involved may become abusive or violent.
Please be aware that it is an offence under the Animal Welfare Act to knowingly provide false or misleading information to an inspector or a person assisting an inspector.
Reports of cruelty are assessed and may be investigated by inspectors that are appointed under the Animal Welfare Act. The inspector will determine on the available evidence whether an offence under animal welfare legislation is likely to have occurred or not. The inspector will then make a decision on the action to be taken, based on his or her findings.
Inspectors have the power to take the following actions:
- Take no further action – the inspector may find that an offence has not occurred and/or appropriate action is being taken to address the welfare issues in relation to the animal/s.
- Provide education – an inspector may provide education or advice on the appropriate care of the animal/s.
- Issue a direction notice – the inspector may issue a formal written direction to a person requiring that person to do specific things within a specified time to rectify animal welfare problem/s. The inspector will check to ensure the direction has been followed. It is an offence to not follow a lawful direction.
- Removal of animals – the inspector may decide that an animal should be seized and removed from its present situation to protect the welfare, health and safety of the animal. The Animal Welfare Act requires an inspector who seizes an animal to ensure that it is properly treated and cared for.
- Issue an infringement notice – infringement notices can be issued for some specified offences. The inspector may collect evidence and may issue an infringement notice if the inspector reasonably suspects that the person has committed one of these offences.
- Collect evidence to prosecute an offence – the inspector may decide that an offence has occurred. The inspector will collect evidence for a prosecution case. This may lead to a person or persons being charged with an offence and the matter proceeding to court.
Visit the Animal Welfare Legislation page for more information on enforcement.
After making a report, you may not know whether a site visit or other action has taken place. You can contact the investigating agency for general feedback on the outcome of the report. However, due to legal constraints, only limited information can be provided.
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Animal Welfare Policy