Inspectorate

Yesterday I decided to tag along with our RSPCA ACT Inspectors for the afternoon. They investigated seven different complaints within a two-hour period and all but one was related to what we would call a ‘nuisance’ complaint – most frequently that of dogs barking. Barking dogs are not actually covered by the Animal Welfare Act which is the legislation that our Inspectors enforce. The majority of the time we will turn these types of calls over to the Rangers at Domestic Animals Services (DAS). However on occasion, the person lodging the complaint will describe other welfare issues which we will

On Monday 16th April, Kambah resident Stephanie Clarke was found guilty of breaching a court-ordered Animal Ownership Ban and was sentenced to 200 hours community service, 12 months good behaviour order and 12-month animal ban commencing from 16th April 2018. This is the second time that RSPCA ACT Inspectors have brought a breach by Ms Clarke to the attention of the courts. Ms Clarke is well known to the RSPCA ACT Inspectorate with them having had at least ten interactions with the Defendant in the past three years. This is also the first time that an animal ban breach has been successfully

Local Kambah resident, Stephanie Clarke, 22, has been found guilty in two cases of animal cruelty under the Animal Welfare Act 1992 for failing to provide appropriate and adequate food, exercise, water, shelter as well as failure to take reasonable steps to alleviate pain for some dogs in her care. On Tuesday, December 9, 2014, Stephanie purchased a Pitbull cross named Max from a local Canberra residence after it was sold over ‘Gumtree’ due to his original owners relocating to NSW. From 9 until 22 December the previous owners maintained contact with Stephanie who stated that everything was

Yesterday, RSPCA ACT Inspectors called on the public for information regarding an injured dog that was abandoned in Fyshwick on the morning of Monday 29th January 2018. Additional CCTV footage and witnesses have provided further information on the female Border Collie found in the cubby house. RSPCA ACT Inspectors are still asking for anyone who was in the vicinity of Canberra Outlet Centre in Fyshwick on Iron Knob St, between 12am - 9 am Monday 29th January, to come forward to assist with the investigation. Inspectors have good reason to believe that there may have been witnesses in the area

RSPCA ACT Inspectors are calling on the public for information regarding an injured dog that was abandoned in Fyshwick on the morning of Monday 29th January 2018. The female, black and white Border Collie* approximately aged 1 ½ - 2 years was found locked in a cubby house at the Stirato Bakery Café at 9 am. The bakery and other nearby businesses have been fully cooperating with the investigation, and not considered to have prior knowledge of the dog or her owners at this time. The Border Collie was taken to a veterinary clinic by a concerned member of the public and presented underweight and

Darren Hawkes pleaded guilty to failing to provide appropriate and adequate food and water to six dogs in his care. He was sentenced to two 12 month good behaviour orders including nine months of supervision, ordered to pay $100 in court costs and has been disqualified from keeping any animal for two years under section 138A of the Domestic Animals Act 2000. In 2016, RSPCA ACT Inspectors visited the premises of Mr Hawkes after receiving a complaint regarding the condition of the animals living at the home. Upon arrival, RSPCA ACT Inspectors sighted multiple dogs, all malnourished and with

Last week RSPCA ACT Inspectors obtained their 30th successful Animal Ownership Ban and the second prison term for animal cruelty charges in three years. RSPCA ACT is welcoming the sentence handed down by Magistrate Boss last week regarding a Staffordshire Terrier named ‘Cooper.’ Cooper was hit by a car and his owner, Ms Charie O’Reilly, neglected to seek medical treatment for his injuries. A friend of Ms O’Reilly’s took it upon themselves to bring Cooper to a vet in the Woden area. The vet then got in contact with Ms O’Reilly regarding the dog’s injuries. On examination, the dog had a

A local Kambah resident Kelly Allen pleaded guilty after a number of dogs in her care were found to be starving, dehydrated and in very poor condition by RSPCA ACT Inspectors. On March 10, 2015 RSPCA ACT Inspectors received a complaint about the condition of a number of animals at a Kambah residence. RSPCA ACT Inspectors attended the household where they spoke with Allen about the complaint. Allen allowed Inspectors to access the rear yard where they found two dogs. The female Cattledog Cross, Matilda was quite thin while the Bull Mastiff cross, Bandit was extremely thin with hips, ribs and

A local Isabella Plains man, Bryan Bell has plead guilty and been sentenced in the ACT Magistrates Court for abusing and failing to provide shelter for two dogs RSPCA ACT Inspectors attended a house in Isabella Plains after a complaint relating to the condition of two dogs. At the time it was raining heavily, cold and windy when Inspectors sighted a female Pitbull named Honey and a male Pitbull named Hank tethered by a wire to the clothesline with no shelter and surrounded by faeces. Inspectors spoke with a member of the public who said that they had witnessed Mr Bell punching and hitting the

A local Kambah resident named Ashley Jansen has been found guilty and was sentenced for three offences under the Animal Welfare Act 1992 for failing to provide appropriate and adequate food for three dogs in her care. During March of 2015, RSPCA ACT Inspectors received a number of complaints in relation to three dogs that were skinny and currently living at a Kambah residence. On 24 March 2015, Inspectors attended the residence where they found the three dogs, a small mixed breed named Crumble, a Jack Russell Terrier named Sue and a Staffordshire Bull Terrier named Pipper living in a small