10 Non-Negotiables What RSPCA Inspectors Would Never Do To Their Pets

Picture a league of pet protectors, unsung heroes in the realm of responsible pet parenting. These are the RSPCA QLD Inspectors, custodians of a silent code—a creed that embodies the essence of compassionate care and unwavering dedication to our furry companions. Their playbook isn't just a set of rules; it's a testament to the heart and soul poured into safeguarding the well-being of our beloved pets.

We reveal the cardinal rules they uphold—ten sacred vows never to be broken in the special bond between humans and their animal companions.

10 Things NEVER To Do To Your Pets

1. Tether a dog where it can get tangled

Inspectors are inundated with calls every year around summer for animals that have been tethered and become tangled and are suffering with heat stress. If an animal requires tethering, care should be taken to ensure it is for short periods and the animal cannot tangle itself. Sadly, Inspectors often arrive too late to save tangled animals.

2. Treat an animal without consulting a vet

Vets can be expensive, however, all too often Inspectors come across people who have begun treating injuries at home and often with human medications. Most human medications are not suitable for animals and can even be fatal. If your animal is sick or injured then a vet should always be consulted before starting treatment.

3. Purchase poor quality flea and tick products

Inspectors come across animals suffering from tick paralysis or flea allergy dermatitis (a secondary condition causing inflamed skin and hair loss from flea bites) when owners have been treating their pets with flea and tick products purchased from supermarkets. Owners often spend a lot of money on inferior products which do not work.  It is best to purchase good quality flea and tick products from a vet to ensure your pet is appropriately protected.

4. Feed a cat a vegan diet

Cats are carnivorous animals and rely on meat in their diet to survive. Inspectors are coming across more and more animals being fed vegan diets, which in cats can be fatal. Cats absolutely must have a carnivorous diet to survive. Human nutrition is vastly different to cat nutrition and what might sustain a human will not necessarily be appropriate for a cat.

5. Not desex a pet

We say it repeatedly, please de-sex your pet. Inspectors are often dealing with situations where owners become inundated with too many animals after they breed. Cats especially breed very readily and owners become trapped in a continuous breeding cycle where one animal quickly turns into 20 or more. Desexing also has many health benefits to animals and can reduce certain types of cancers or health issues down the track. There is also the work that goes into caring for puppies and the expense of vaccinations, microchipping and health checks and the possibility of not being able to re-home the puppies. To protect your pet please de-sex!

6. Walk a dog in the middle of the day especially on hot concrete or bitumen

Animals can suffer from heat stress easily during hot weather. Even if their owner is not feeling heat stressed, an animal with a fur coat can become heat stressed very quickly if exercised during hot weather. Dogs can also burn their feet if walking on hot ground. As a general rule if you cannot hold your hand on the ground for 5 seconds then it is too hot to walk your pet on it.

7. Adopt a puppy from an unreliable source

Buying a pet from a third party where the parents cannot be sighted and the living conditions the animals are kept in cannot be assessed is risky business. When considering purchasing a puppy or kitten to add to the family people should seek out responsible breeders who allow you to view the parents as well as where the animals live day to day. People often assume if they are purchasing from a pet shop that the pet shop has done their due diligence and that the breeders must be responsible, however, often animals are dropped off at pet shops and no one has been able to see the parents or the living arrangements.  

8. Leave a dog in a hot car

This is a message we put out annually and yet every summer Inspectors are inundated with calls for animals left in hot vehicles. Dogs can die in a hot vehicle within 6 minutes. Even if the car is in shade and there is water, animals can still overheat quickly. A pet is much happier at home where they can seek shade and water than in a hot vehicle.

9. Acquire a pet without considering the long-term financial commitment

Inspectors are often having to manage people who have acquired an animal which has become sick and they are unable to afford veterinary care and the animal suffers. Another concern is people being unable to continue to feed their animals. An animal is often a long-term commitment, with some birds outliving their owners for example.

10. Physically discipline their dog

Research has shown physical punishment does not get results when training a dog. Sadly media personalities like Cesar Milan have given the public a misconception that dominance-based training will get results in training their animal. Similar to children, causing fear in an animal does not breed a healthy animal-owner relationship.