contents 02 Objectives, Vision and Values 04 Highlights 07/ 08 08 President’s Report 10 Councillors 12 CEO’s Report 14 Organisational Effectiveness 16 Developing Our People 18 Influencing Public Opinion 20 Animal Welfare Advocacy 22 Shelter Facility Development 24 Enhancing the 5 Freedoms for Animals - shelters 28 Enhancing the 5 Freedoms for Animals - veterinary care 30 Victorian Inspectorate Report 34 Community Presence 38 Income Generation 40 Major Donor Acknowledgments 41 Corporate Partners 42 Bequestors and Trusts 43 Honorary Life Members 44 Financial Report 59 RSPCA Contact Details RSPCA, putting the welfare of animals first for the past 137 years. 1. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Victoria) was established in Melbourne in 1871. The RSPCA is an independent animal welfare charity, which relies on community support to fund the vital animal welfare services it provides. The RSPCA Victorian state office is located in Burwood East, Melbourne. RSPCA Victoria is a member of RSPCA Australia (the federation of the eight state and territory RSPCAs in Australia). The RSPCA National Council is made up of two representatives (CEO and President or their nominees) from each member Society. RSPCA Victoria operates eleven animal welfare shelters, which provide refuge and care for stray, injured and abandoned animals and adoption services for the community. RSPCA Inspectors investigate cruelty complaints, prosecute offenders and rescue animals from dangerous situations. The key objectives of the RSPCA are to raise the knowledge and skills of the community in the care and treatment of animals and to advocate improved legislation. Legislative improvements for animal welfare have been achieved at both state and federal levels through lobbying from the RSPCA. As part of our commitment to gain improvements in animal welfare legislation, the RSPCA (both at a state and national level) participates on numerous committees that review legislation and codes of practice, and lobby for necessary modifications and additions. 2. The RSPCA’s objectives are to promote Accountability and enhance the wellbeing of society Preparedness to be held accountable for and the welfare of its animals by: plans, actions and outcomes. Educating the Victorian community regarding the humane treatment and Professionalism management of animals, and increasing Behaviour and standards that set the public awareness of and support for benchmark for other organisations. animal welfare Integrity Enforcing the existing laws to Soundness of judgement and honesty in prevent cruelty to animals everything we do. Influencing the amendment or Openness development of legislation and standards considered necessary for Transparency in our actions, decisions and the protection and welfare of animals results to all stakeholders. Encouraging and providing a Creativity sustainable, needs based network Willingness to review current operations of animal welfare services across the and implement new and innovative state, for the care, shelter, treatment, approaches that assist in achieving our rehabilitation, and protection of overall objectives. animals within the capacity and strategic directions of the organisation Providing relief programs to assist people within the community who are experiencing adverse circumstances, to enable them to care for or manage their animals. That all animals, great and small, are: Free from hunger and thirst Free from discomfort Free from pain, injury and disease Free to express normal behaviour Free from fear and distress 3. Dr Vadim RSPCA Veterinarian - with five year old cat from Burwood shelter. Since this photograph was taken ‘Lily’ has found a wonderful new home. Lily loves her new life with a brother and a sister and is a very affectionate little girl. increased by 41% this year was a key consideration in the planning of new shelter facilities to ban live animal export worked on specific programs intensified via the national to address the link between animal ‘Handle with Care’ campaign cruelty and human violence income increased 19% investigated 13,507 in net return cases of animal cruelty 7. Influencing governments to improve the legislative framework, enforcement and funding for animal welfare programs. Key Objective: Lobby state government Key Objective: Campaign on a national Key Objective: To improve the animal to improve animal welfare outcomes. level to ban live animal export. welfare standards for Victoria’s dairy cows. Progress: This year the RSPCA was Progress: The ‘Handle with Care’ successful in achieving significant campaign was launched with significant Progress: The development of a dairy improvements to Prevention of Cruelty media coverage and community interest, best welfare standards program was to Animals Act, particularly and included an information session at initiated in 2007/2008. in the area of seizure powers. the Burwood East shelter. What’s Ahead: We will continue to What’s Ahead: The RSPCA will continue What’s Ahead: This campaign is work towards implementation of to work with government to secure on-going and the RSPCA will continue this program, to achieve the longer legislative changes to improve animal to lobby government for changes to term goal of consumers having the welfare outcomes. existing legislation. option of purchasing dairy welfare friendly products. Develop, implement and evaluate influencing and education programs to raise the knowledge, skills and public support for animal welfare. Key Objective: Campaign to encourage Key Objectives: Respond to community Key Objective: Campaign to reduce people to ‘vote with their feet’ to stamp concerns around the growing link the number of unowned cats in out rodeos. between human violence and our community. animal cruelty. Progress: Rodeo numbers have Progress: A ‘Who’s for Cat’s’ campaign continued to decline in 2007/2008. Progress: In partnership with ‘Empathy was developed with other key welfare Education & Training’, we have agencies and funded by the State What’s Ahead: We will continue to developed specific programs to address government to encourage people to campaign to encourage the community this link, working with disengaged take responsibility for unowned cats and corporates to not support children aged between 8 and 12 years. in their area or surrender them to a these events. council or a shelter facility. What’s Ahead: The success of this program will ensure its continuation What’s Ahead: By continuing this in 2008/2009. campaign we hope to make a long- term impact on the number of unowned cats. Increase and diversify the income stream. Key Objective: Grow and diversify Key Objective: To further develop the Key Objective: To continue to grow fundraising activities to support animal bequest program, to secure long term both attendance levels and income welfare services. financial security for the RSPCA. generated from our events program. Progress: This year we achieved an Progress: A record figure of $13,000,000 Progress: Our events program increase of 19% net return in fundraising was achieved in bequest income during continued to achieve record growth income, as well as a 34% increase in 2007/2008, an outstanding result. in 2007/2008. retail sales. What’s Ahead: Continued development What’s Ahead: The events program What’s Ahead: The continuous of the bequest program to ensure we continues to develop with an emphasis development and evaluation of can fund our animal welfare services on expanding key areas such as fundraising programs to ensure we and invest in capital improvements and corporate participation and can fund our animal welfare services. develop our regional shelters. regional growth. Develop, implement and evaluate an integrated program(s) to enhance the five freedoms for animals. Key Objective: To effectively manage the Key Objective: Improve our delivery of Key Objective: To achieve full cases of animal cruelty reported to the animal behavioural services. operational status of the new kennel RSPCA Inspectorate. facility at Burwood East. Progress: Additional client information Progress: This year the RSPCA sessions have enhanced our programs, Progress: The new facility was Inspectorate managed over 13,500 cases. together with a range of one-on-one and commissioned in August 2007 and is now Additional seizure powers assisted to group classes. fully operational. The facility has recently improve animal welfare outcomes. won a “Sustainability” award with the What’s Ahead: Community interest in our Royal Australian Institute of Architects. What’s Ahead: The RSPCA will continue behavioural services continues to grow to work with governments to improve and programs will be further developed in What’s Ahead: We will now begin the animal welfare legislation and educate the 2008/2009. planning phase for the remaining community on key animal welfare issues. master plan. When completed the site will boast new adoption facilities for all animals and new indoor/outdoor behavioural facilities. Project an engaging professional image to a broad audience. Key Objective: Educate the broader Key Objective: Development of targeted Key Objective: To grow corporate community about the work of the RSPCA. de-sexing programs. participation and support for RSPCA Victoria. Progress: The second television series of Progress: Strong partnerships with local Animal Rescue has achieved exceptional councils have seen the development Progress: Corporate volunteering ratings results and has been an effective of schemes aimed at assisting has