RSPCA Australia's Great & Small Talk RSPCA Australia

For some Australians, a day at the races is a tradition, a national pastime for people to have a punt and watch their favourite horse race along the track in hope of that big win. But behind the celebratory air, is a dark side riddled with animal welfare issues.From the oversupply of racehorses, questionable training techniques, the use of whips and the physical toll racing takes on the horses involved, it's an industry that is in urgent need of improvement.The animal welfare science and...

Growing awareness of animal welfare has led many caring Australians to actively seek more conscious choices with the products they buy. For some products this is easy, with clear labels on the packaging that identify higher-welfare practices. But when it comes to dairy these labels are largely absent, making it nearly impossible for the average shopper to know if the cheese or milk they select is from a producer with good standards of welfare for their cows. Join Dr Natalie Roadknig...

We know cat caregivers want to provide the very best life for their feline companions, so they are happy and healthy and live a long time. And we know that to give cats the best change at this, the RSPCA’s position is that cats should be kept at home. But why is keeping cats at home important? And what does that look like?How do we provide an environment at home that meets all a cats needs including enrichment and the ability to express natural cat behaviours while making them safe...

Farmed ducks need our attention ... Ducks are truly remarkable birds, curious and vocal; and it’s a delight for many to watch groups of these inquisitive animals waddle about their local parks and waterways. But what about farmed ducks? What is life like for them on a farm? What are the welfare issues we need to start quacking on with? Join Dr. Sarah Babington - Scientific Officer at RSPCA Australia to answer these questions (and more!) in this episode of RSPCA's Great & Small T...

Squishy faces, bulging eyes, curled tails ... Unfortunately, these features can represent serious health and welfare issues for certain breeds of dogs and cats (like Pugs, French Bulldogs, British/English Bulldogs and Scottish Fold cats). On this episode of Great & Small Talk, we chat with RSPCA Australia's Chief Science Officer Dr Suzie Fowler, to uncover the daily struggles experienced by these breeds as a result of the very features they’re known for, and what we can do help ...

Mulesing is a painful surgical procedure that affects millions of Aussie sheep every year, but it's also a practice that many Australians know little about. One thing is for certain - mulesing is a welfare issue worth discussing, especially for those of us that choose to purchase products made from wool. In this episode, join RSPCA Australia Senior Scientific Officer Melina Tensen to get the facts.