Our Inspectorate

The RSPCA ACT is committed to preventing harm to animals in any practical manner. Should you or someone be experiencing circumstances within your life that will impact the welfare of an animal, please contact RSPCA ACT on 6280 8100 to discuss how we may be able to assist you.

RSPCA ACT offers limited Emergency Boarding to animals whose owners are experiencing trauma, crisis and hardships. Please contact 6287 8100 to discuss your circumstances further.  The inspectorate is unable to automatically accommodate such requests. 

We understand that noisy animals, animals such as excessive barking by dogs, can be distressing to hear.  Our Inspectors are not authorised to deal with animal noise complaints, and we recommend that you visit ACT Domestic Animal Services where instructions on making a noise complaint can be found.

There are also resources on the ACT Government website for being a good neighbour. Read more

As Canberra experiences an increase in multi-story units being built, Inspectors are seeing a considerable increase in reports connected with animals being kept in units or on balconies. Whilst this practice is not a breach of Animal Welfare legislation, animals should be provided with the opportunity to exhibit their natural behavior and be exercised on a regular basis. 

Should you experience noise issues connected to animals being kept in such an environment, please contact Domestic Animal Services 13 22 81 or your body corporate. Where the animal is being kept in an unhygienic environment, all reports should be referred to your body corporate in the first instance. 

If you have witnessed what you think is animal cruelty. Click here and complete the entire report form. It is important to provide all your complete details, this will enable Inspectors to contact you should more information be required. 

Alternately, you can contact Inspectors on 02 6287 8116 Monday – Friday 9 am – 4:30 pm, or 

If the matter is urgent and after-hours, contact Domestic Animal Services on 13 22 81 or ACT policing on 131 444. Police are authorised to enforce animal welfare in the ACT. 

Your identity will remain strictly confidential to the RSPCA ACT Inspectorate and will only be shared with law enforcement and other agencies when necessary or required by law.

Immediately, as soon as an Inspector has been assigned your report, enquires will be made to ensure the quickest response is provided based on the information provided. Therefore, you must complete the online form in its entirety including your full name, address, and contact number. This will assist Inspectors should they need to call you for further information.

The assigned Inspector will reach out to you if they have questions or need additional information. Inspectors cannot provide any information or updates during an active investigation to protect the integrity of the case and comply with privacy legislation. 

If you come across a stray animal, please contact Domestic Animal Services or if you are confident in capturing and transporting the animal, you may bring them to RSPCA ACT in Weston or Domestic Animal Services located at Mugga Lane, Symonston. Due to conflicting duties, Inspectors are not able to deal with stray animals. 

If you find a pet in a hot car, please call ACT Policing on either 000 or 131 444 in the first instance, as police are generally equipped to dispatch officers to the location faster than Inspectors may arrive as they may be attending to other calls on the opposite side of the ACT. 

If you are unable to obtain police assistance immediately you should contact Inspectors, who will attend to the location ASAP. 

If you require assistance with wildlife, please contact ACT Wildlife on 0432 300 033.

If you witness an injured kangaroo, please contact Access Canberra on 13 22 81, who will direct your call to ACT Rangers. 

If you have concerns for a sick or injured animal, please make a formal report with the Inspectorate by clicking here to report online. If you believe an animal’s life is at immediate risk, please call Inspectors directly on 02 6287 8116

Prior to reporting an animal as underweight or emaciated please refer to the following charts, which provide advice on the body condition of each animal. Generally, Inspectors are more concerned about animals that would be classified as body condition scores of one, two, eight, and nine. However, if in doubt please make a formal report with the Inspectorate by clicking here to report online. If you believe an animal’s life is at immediate risk, please call Inspectors directly on 02 6287 8116.

Inspectors conduct unannounced inspections of animal-related businesses to ensure compliance and to ensure the welfare of any animal within is maintained. 

The unlawful/unlicensed breeding of animals is regulated by Domestic Animal Services. Inspectors may become involved where an animal's welfare concern is identified or has been referred by Domestic Animals Services.

In the first instance please contact Domestic Animal Services 13 22 81 about such matters. 

Prior to reporting an animal as abandoned, it is important to understand an animal will not be regarded as abandoned if it has been left unattended for a short period e.g. overnight or during the day. Inspectors must follow certain procedures prior to determining if an animal has been abandoned. This means an animal will not be removed from a premises based solely on suspicion of being abandoned in the first instance. 

If you still believe an animal has been abandoned, please make a report by clicking here. In the event the animal has been tethered please contact Domestic Animal Services 13 22 81.