On the 12th of June, 2024, RSPCA NSW took in 'Kevin' a stray 8-month-old kitten with a deformed paw. Despite being mobile, independent, and showing no signs of pain, discomfort or illness, Kevin was euthanised within hours of being collected.

Kevin was inhumanly cornered and caught by an RSPCA NSW inspector using a dog pole snare, a wire noose on the end of a pole (only ever used for catching dogs) which acts like a snare around a dog’s neck. Once ensnared the wire noose would have tightened around Kevin’s neck choking him and he would have struggled violently not being able to breathe and would have fought for his life thinking he was about to die.

It is extremely cruel practice and not recommended to ever catch a cat using a dog pole. Because he was traumatised by this experience Kevin was deemed ‘feral’ once back at the RSPCA and once he escaped whilst in the consultation room they immediately euthanised him. They set him up to fail.

The RSPCA justified their hasty actions by citing Kevin's lack of a microchip or registration and displaying signs of fear as the reasons for this action stating it was 'cruel to keep him alive'.

Kevin had a number of local no-kill cat rescue groups ready to rescue and treat him, but they were unable to get to him before RSPCA NSW intervened.

Although RSPCA NSW is exempt from the following legislation, their decision does not sit within the spirit or the public expectation of existing NSW law, which stipulates that "stray/seized dogs and cats must be held for a minimum of 7 days if they are not identified (microchipped)" (NSW Companion Animals Regulation 2018). Furthermore, it demonstrates a blatant disregard for the Companion Animals Amendment (Rehoming Animals) Bill 2021, which prohibits the convenience killing of animals.

This calls into question the operational ethics of the RSPCA NSW and demands immediate investigation.

Even though RSPCA NSW acted within their own operational guidelines, Kevin's plight does not meet the 'pub test' and we must ensure such actions do not go unnoticed and are not allowed to be repeated in future. 

We are therefore, calling for a prompt, comprehensive investigation into the operations of the RSPCA NSW to protect countless Kevin's from meeting the same, unjust fate. Sign our petition to pressure the relevant authorities to take immediate action. Your signature can make a difference and bring about the justice that Kevin and countless others like him deserve.