Sweet treats to fight animal cruelty will take centre stage at the RSPCA shelter in Unanderra on Saturday.

The annual RSPCA Cupcake Day will be held nationally on Monday, August 18, but staff at Unanderra will start their fund-raising campaign on Saturday, August 16, and continue baking and selling cupcakes on Sunday and Monday.

Illawarra RSPCA shelter manager Judith Wright said Saturday was the Unanderra shelter’s big day.

‘‘We have staff and members of the public bake cupcakes and bring them in and we sell them here,’’ Ms Wright  said.

‘‘Most of our sales traditionally have been on the Saturday,’’ Ms Wright said.

‘‘We hope this year to even it out a bit so we will have people baking and selling cupcakes also on the Sunday and Monday.’’

The annual event was getting bigger and better every year, with more cupcakes  being donated and sold at the Unanderra shelter.

‘‘The aim is to raise about $2000 this year – that’s a lot of cupcakes,’’ Ms Wright said.

 Fund-raising has already kicked off and nationally RSPCA Cupcake Day has raised more than $80,000.

The RSPCA receives less than 3per cent of its funding from the government, so needs to sell as many cupcakes as possible to   fight animal cruelty.  Selling just 50 cupcakes allows the RSPCA to desex a cat or dog; selling 150 cupcakes subsidises the costs of prosecuting a cruelty offender.

Ms Wright said people could help by buying cupcakes from the shelter at 54 Industrial Road, Unanderra, or by baking and selling cupcakes at work, school or home and donating the money to the RSPCA.

Information: www.rspcacupcakeday.org.au