Great Southern pet owners will have access to free supplies and advice at the RSPCA WA community action day later this month.
Local volunteer vets, nurses and RSPCA WA staff will be on hand at the Albany eastern pavilion in Centennial Park from noon to 3pm to offer advice, health checks, microchipping, worming and flea treatments and food, all for free.
The following day, RSPCA will visit Mt Barker fire station from 10.30am to 12.30pm.
Aside from critical care, staff can offer behavioural advice, training tips and answer any other behaviourial or health-related questions.
RSPCA WA inspectors, dog behaviourists and City of Albany and Shire of Plantagenet rangers will be available for welfare-related, training and registration queries.
RSPCA WA chief operating officer Hannah Dreaver said the organisation was continuing to see the impact of rising costs for goods, services and housing on people’s ability to look after their pets.
“There is a very real concern that the issues we’re already seeing will be compounded by the current fuel crisis with household budgets being stretched even further,” Ms Dreaver said.
In 2025, RSPCA WA received the highest animal cruelty reports in the Great Southern from the shires of Albany and Plantagenet. There’s been a rising trend in the region in recent years.
In 2023-24, there were 158 cases of animal cruelty in Albany, making the city tied in a joint second place with Bunbury as the worst regional offenders, under Greater Geraldton’s 214 cases.
Albany also previously held the number one position in 2022-23.
Ms Dreaver said the research is stark, especially concerning dogs.
“We received 221 cruelty reports from the Great Southern last year with over 93 per cent generated from the City of Albany and Shire of Plantagenet,” she said.
“More than half of the reports received were about dogs so I encourage dog owners in particular who may need some help to come along.
“Our community days offering free support are designed to ease some pressure on family budgets and help stop small health problems for pets from becoming big and expensive ones.
“When you look at the problems our staff deal with there are definitely patterns.
“Untreated skin conditions, often caused by fleas, that have become chronic; underweight animals; strays with no microchip to identify their owner; and animals surrendered because they’ve become too much of a handful.
“We can address all of these issues at days like this one.”
The event is open to leashed, social, and vaccinated dogs and puppies.
If the puppy has outstanding vaccinations, owners must carry their animal at all times.
Due to welfare concerns, cats cannot attend but owners can come for free supplies and advice.
To attend, pet owners can register at www.rspcawa.org.au.
