Most precious cargo hits the road
A restructure was the only way to keep RSPCA Tasmania on its feet, so a purpose-built van will transport animals around the state to headquarters, says Andrew Byrne
This vehicle is fitted out to travel anywhere there is an animal in need of protection ... we are on the lookout for volunteer rescue drivers
RSPCA Tasmania is in the process of implementing changes in the way we deliver our important services — but one thing that hasn’t changed is our commitment to ensuring the state’s animals most in need are given the care and attention they deserve.
Following a statewide review of our operations, RSPCA Tasmania identified a need to transition our business model to provide for a more sustainable future for the organisation and a sharper focus on the needs of animals most at risk.
Our new direction was determined with a view of delivering a model that would also secure the financial sustainability of RSPCA Tasmania both now and into the future.
A centralised operating model for RSPCA Tasmania emerged as the key to creating a more effective and sustainable future.
Continuing to operate multiple centres across the state, duplicating services, roles and infrastructure, was inefficient and placed a drain on the organisation’s limited resources.
Our Spreyton facility is currently acting as our central care facility while a suitable location is identified to support our new vision to become a reality.
In finding a conveniently located animal care facility we will be able to consolidate our services, including our shelter, veterinary and animal welfare services, allowing us to maximise our impact while providing the very best care for animals in need across the state.
Coinciding with yesterday’s World Animal Day — which seeks to raise the status of animals in order to improve welfare standards around the globe — we unveiled our latest animal care initiative to support our move to a central care system, the RSPCA Tasmania Animal Rescue Van.
This purpose-built transport vehicle is specially fitted out to travel anywhere in the state there is an animal in need of assistance or protection, and safely and comfortably transport them to the current central care centre located in Spreyton.
The Animal Rescue Van is a very welcome addition to our statewide service delivery capacity and will be used in a variety of situations across Tasmania, including transporting our inspectorate animals as well as in emergency situations.
RSPCA Tasmania recently came into contact with 80 cats that were being kept in a hoarding situation and which required transport.
The Animal Rescue Van would have been incredibly useful tool in this one instance alone.
Having access to this specially designed transport van also allows us to work directly with our inspectors to identify an animal in need anywhere across the state and ensure they are transported in a safe and efficient manner to our facility at Spreyton.
Our inspectorate officers currently respond to about 3500 cruelty reports in Tasmania each year and conduct random unannounced visits to locations where animals are kept for commercial purposes.
These services allow us to be at the coalface of animal cruelty and welfare, assisting animals who need our help the most.
And now the van is on the road, we are on the lookout for Tasmanians interested in helping out as volunteer rescue drivers.
There will be no requirement for volunteers to handle animals, with RSPCA inspectors meeting the volunteer to provide a briefing on the temperament of the animal and any special considerations and to safely help the animal into the van’s specially designed carriers.
When animals are ready for adoption, the Animal Rescue Van will also be used to transport them to our new Invermay Adoption Centre to help them find their forever home.
If you are thinking about how you can make the world a better place for animals, this could be a great place to start.