Another picture of Spotty, it seems to have survived another winter. Undoubtedly one tough cat. If any animal deserves a happy retirement it is this one. This cat has survived about 6 winters and summers locked up all by itself, sub zero temperatures to blazing hot summers!

When I first started this petition I wrote to many organisations, one being the Animal Justice Party. At the time Mark Pearson was standing for the Senate and he was elected. There is another NSW Representative as well now, Emma Hurst. I recently had notification from them regarding a Legislative Council Select Committee on Animal Cruelty Laws in NSW.

The first term of reference is to inquire into and report on the effectiveness of the charitable organisations currently approved under section 34B of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act…. (1) to prevent cruelty to animals (2) to promote the welfare of animals by requiring a person in charge of an animal to provide care for the animal, to treat the animal in a humane manner, and to ensure the welfare of the animal.

Other parts of this inquiry ask questions such as the adequacy of the standard of care and kill rates for stray, surrendered or seized animals under the control or supervision of the approved charitable organisations. Also, whether it is effective and appropriate for non government charitable organisations to be granted investigative and enforcement powers for animal prosecutions under the Act?

There are about 60 pages to this Inquiry, so a lot of reading!

Finally I think a spotlight is being shone on the dreadful behaviour of the RSPCA NSW and it’s lack of care and enforcement of POCTA.

The Report is due to be published as of now.

I thank the Members of the Select Committee who have brought this subject into the public arena, and for undertaking the tremendous amount of work that goes into preparing these reports.

Others I want to thank publicly are those that have provided me with so much information, have undoubtedly given financial support for this petition, and work so diligently behind the scenes to get answers!

Remember that there is a good home waiting for Spotty, the cat just needs to be legally rescued. Just one phone call and a driver would come and take her to a happy life. Thanks everyone, Keith.

Important email addresses:-

(Mark Pearson) mark.pearson@parliament.nsw.gov.au

(Emma Hurst) emma.hurst@parliament.nsw.gov.au

(RSPCA NSW) mail@rspcansw.org.au and telephone 029770 7555