Opening Hours

Animal Viewing Hours:
Monday - Saturday: 10am - 3pm

General Hours: 
Most Days: 9am - 5pm
Wednesdays:  10am - 5pm
CLOSED: Sundays and Public Holidays

Our Shelter will be closed to the public the first Wednesday of each month.

Animal Welfare

RSPCA ACT welcomes passing of new Animal Welfare Laws

RSPCA ACT welcomes the passing of the Animal Welfare Legislation Amendment Bill 2019 which was debated in the Legislative Assembly Today. RSPCA ACT CEO Michelle Robertson said that the organisation is in favour of many amendments in the bill, and she thanked the members of the Assembly for their support towards continuous improvement in animal welfare outcomes. “The team at the RSPCA ACT want to see the absence of cruelty to animals. We need strong laws to help protect animals and to deter animal cruelty. We also need strong sentencing to be passed down for animal cruelty offences that will

RSPCA ACT Supports new Bill with pets to be recognised as sentient beings in Canberra

RSPCA ACT has provided significant input into the Bill and we are very encouraged by the ACT Governments push to have animals recognised as sentient beings. The RSPCA in the ACT believes that most Canberrans are responsible and loving pet owners, and foresee very little impact that the proposed changes to the Animal Welfare Legislation will have on them on a daily basis. The proposed changes could, however, have a significant impact on pet owners who continuously do the wrong thing. The RSPCA ACT Inspectorate’s ability to take punitive and corrective measures will also be strengthened by a

YEAR OF THE CAT

Discounted desexing will run from July to October 2018
The Lunar calendar might say that this is the year of the dog, but at RSPCA ACT it has been the year of the cat. Some of you may be aware that we had made a deliberate investment into prevention programs a few years ago. Specifically for cats, we started a three-year, free cat desexing program that we named, “Frisky Tom.” The program was launched on the back of consecutive years of growth rates and the sheer number of unwanted kittens that were coming into the RSPCA ACT Shelter. With some help from a grant from the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation, we aimed to desex 1,500 cats for free for

Woman Found Guilty of Breaching Animal Ownership Ban

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

RSPCA ACT Domestic Violence Program - ‘Project SAFE’

RSPCA ACT is calling upon the Canberra public for their help to support our domestic violence program ‘Project SAFE’. For over a decade, RSPCA ACT has been helping victims of domestic violence fleeing unsafe home situations by providing emergency boarding to their beloved pets. We have been providing this service at no cost as we recognise the financial and emotional strain that comes from leaving a domestic violence situation. Furthermore, we are also concerned that if the pet does not leave a violent household, it too could become the victim of domestic violence. Unfortunately, the longer

INSPECTOR CASE: CANBERRA WOMAN FOUND GUILTY OF ANIMAL CRUELTY TOWARDS FIVE DOGS

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

UPDATE: Additional CCTV Camera Helps RSPCA ACT Inspectors

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 Asking the Public for Information

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

Oakes Estate man pleads guilty to starving six dogs

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

RSPCA ACT continues to reach significant milestones in 2017 for animal welfare

RSPCA ACT has continued to achieve significant animal welfare outcomes in 2017. We received 3,562 domesticated animals in need of our help through the Shelter with another 499 incoming non-native species and injured wildlife. For domestic animals, it was the first year ever that RSPCA ACT has achieved a 90% rehoming rate across all species. Notably, canines reached 94.5% and felines a considerable 90.7%. Significantly, in December 2017 RSPCA ACT recorded a significant milestone of 97.62% of kittens rehomed. A substantial achievement given the delicate disposition of young kittens. RSPCA ACT
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