RSPCA WA inspections in Kimberley with FIFO model

The RSPCA is urging the public to report animal welfare concerns to allow inspectors to plan their visits.

The animal cruelty prevention charity confirmed there were no plans for a permanent inspector to return to the North West as staff made one of their regular fly-in. fly-out pilgrimages to the Kimberley last week.

The animal cruelty prevention charity’s decision last year not to base inspectors in regional areas came just two years after the Kimberley had welcomed its first permanent officer.

The decision was said to be based on financial constraints after a two-officer model was adopted across the State over safety concerns.

Instead, the RSPCA moved to a fly-n, fly-out model, which it says allows flexibility to address urgent animal welfare concerns in remote areas while balancing the need for regular visits.

RSPCA WA inspectors Hayley Wirth and Sarah Jones were on the ground in the Kimberley this week undergoing a series of inspections, responding to 12 animal welfare cases across Broome and Derby.

However, with no plans for a permanent presence on the ground, they said the success of their visits relied heavily on animal welfare concerns being raised by the community.

“We’re trying to encourage members of the public to report, because that’s where the shortfall is, if we don’t get the reports, we don’t know what’s happening, so can’t help. So we really need people report, even if it’s minor,” Ms Wirth said.

The inspectors said common welfare issues in the Kimberley included malnourishment, tick infestations, overbreeding and skin conditions like mange.

In the 2025 fiscal year, 87 cases of cruelty were reported across the Kimberley, a number that is significantly lower compared to other WA regions such as the South West which reported closer to 700 cases.

“We know there’s welfare issues here (the Kimberley), we know there’s a lot going on, and we can come up more regularly, but it’s just we need those reports to warrant the trips,” Ms Jones said.

Cruelty reports can be made by calling 1300 278 358 or visiting rspcawa.org.au/report-cruelty..