While the outbreak of novel coronavirus disease COVID-19 is having an impact on many aspects of our lives, sadly, animal cruelty has not stopped.
The health and safety of our staff, volunteers, and the people with whom we interact is our main concern at this time.
We will still need your support to help fight cruelty: We still need to keep inspectors on the roads; we still need to provide medical treatment and care for animals suffering cruelty and neglect; and we still need to provide food and shelter for animals in need.
We have prepared the following information to help you understand how RSPCA WA will remain operational to continue to provide animal protection services to the community, and continue to treat the animals in our care.
Inspectorate
The RSPCA WA Cruelty Hotline remains open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to take your calls about legitimate, urgent animal cruelty and animal welfare concerns in your community. Call 1300 278 358 to make a report, or you can make a report online.
RSPCA Inspectors will follow-up on cases based on priority as long as it remains safe to do so.
Inspectors are already equipped with specialist tools to enable them to carry out their important work, and biosecurity management forms part of their training. They will be relying on this training to keep you, your animals and themselves safe.
Please do not be offended if Inspectors do not shake your hand when introducing themselves. This is one of the common sense measures they are taking to protect your health and theirs.
If you have concerns about lost or stray animals, or nuisance cats and dogs, please contact your local government rangers. These matters do not fall under the Animal Welfare Act 2002 and as such, RSPCA WA is unable to respond to these types of calls.
Adoptions
Our Shelter remains open for our usual trading hours: Weekdays 10am-5pm, Weekends 10am-4pm, closed on public holidays.
You can search for animals waiting to find their permanent loving homes on our adoptions website: www.adoptapet.com.au.
Our adoptions policy and procedures remain unchanged. This means that if you are interested in adopting an animal, your current pets and your family may be required to attend a meet and greet. If anyone in your family is self-isolating, or is showing symptoms, or has been tested positive for Coronavirus COVID-19, please do not come to the Animal Care Centre. You will need to delay your adoption until you all have the all clear.
If you are thinking about surrendering your pet, please call the Shelter on 08 9209 9323. There is no evidence that COVID-19 can be transmitted between humans and animals – there is no need to surrender your pets for fear of contracting the disease from them.
Please do not come to the Shelter if:
- you have returned from overseas in the last 14 days
- you have had contact with anyone who has returned from overseas in the last 14 days
- you are feeling unwell
- you or someone in your family are self-isolating
