10 September 2020



Neglect continues as Victoria’s most reported animal cruelty concern

Reported concerns 19/20 18/19 Instances of animals with insufficient food, water or shelter 6,044 6,672 Concerns about hygiene, grooming and housing conditions 3,887 3,706 Reports of underweight animals 2,862 3,274 Sick and injured animals not receiving veterinary treatment 2,559 2,799 Concerns about animals being beaten or wounded 1,467 1,310 Instances of abandoned animals 1,172 1,232

Neglect continues to be the most commonly reported animal cruelty concern across Victoria, according to RSPCA Victoria’s analysis of the 10,745 animal cruelty reports – averaging 29 per day - made to its Inspectorate during 2019-2020.For the fifth year in a row, RSPCA Victoria CEO Dr Liz Walker is disappointed and concerned about the welfare of Victorian animals knowing that basic neglect continues to make up the highest proportion of reports.“I am disheartened to see the overwhelming issue continues to be neglect, indicating many animals in Victoria are not receiving the most basic standard of care, such as sufficient food, water and shelter.“It is heartbreaking to know so many animals continue to suffer across our state due to a lack of basic care and these statistics clearly illustrate the need for our Inspectorate’s important work,” Dr Walker said.“Additionally we are concerned for all animal welfare in the year ahead as the economic impacts of the pandemic are yet to be fully experienced.“The 2019-20 animal cruelty report statistics clearly indicate the need for further education and for people to seek help if they are having trouble providing basic care for their animals.” Dr Walker said.These numbers are a return to the historical average of the past six years, with the high level of reporting seen in 2018-2019, similar to the high levels of reporting in 2015-2016 that were associated with particularly dry seasonal conditions.Offences in these reports included:

Note: Many of the reports received by RSPCA Victoria in 2019-20 included allegations of multiple offences involving multiple animals, hence the total number of concerns exceeding the 10,745 reports.

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Dr Walker noted that RSPCA Victoria relies heavily on the public to report concerns regarding animal cruelty and neglect.“Unfortunately we know that cruelty continues and that Victoria’s animals need us to continue our work to end animal cruelty so I encourage people to continue reporting to our Inspectorate.“Without the caring Victorians who take animal welfare seriously and make the time to report cruelty to our Inspectorate, many animals in need would go without the care and attention they deserve.“There is no shame in asking for support so we also encourage people to seek advice or assistance if they have concerns about properly caring for their animals.Dr Walker also emphasised the hard work and persistence of RSPCA Victoria’s Inspectors, who investigate cases of animal cruelty and enforce animal welfare law.“While our inspectorate importantly investigates matters of cruelty, the inspectors also work directly with the public to provide support by helping people to improve the care they provide to their animals.“Our Inspectorate performs a vital function for the Victorian community and RSPCA Victoria is thankful for the support of the Victorian Government as we work toward our vision of ending cruelty to all animals.”In 2019-20, RSPCA Victoria Inspectors:issued 492 notices to complylaid 120 charges against 44 peoplefinalised 51 prosecutions, with facts proven in 49 casesAt the end of the financial year, 62 cases were still before the courts.While the Inspectorate continues its important work, court cases have been adjourned due to COVID-19, meaning the length of stay in shelters for animals involved in court cases has increased. Currently there are 106 animals in care under Protective Custody Hold while RSPCA Victoria awaits revised court dates.Welfare concerns for dogs, cats and horses continued to make up the majority of the 10,745 cruelty reports in 2019-20:6,723 reports involved dogs and puppies (an increase of approximately 4% from 6,445 reports in 2018-19)1,886 reports involved cats and kittens (an increase of approximately 7% from 1,756 reports in 2018-19)1,236 reports involved horses (a decrease of approximately 28% from 1,712 reports in 2018-19)Reports by local government area

Reports by local government area

Rankings by number of reports

2019-20 ranking 2019-20 reports Local government area 2018-19 ranking 2018-19 reports 2017-18 ranking 2017-18 reports 1 581 Casey City Council 2 561 2 462 2 561 Greater Geelong City Council 1 617 1 559 3 374 Hume City Council 3 410 3 376 4 344 Whittlesea City Council 5 383 10 311 5 338 Melton Shire Council 6 375 7 325 6 338 Frankston City Council 10 315 4 350 7 333 Latrobe City Council 12 310 11 305 8 328 Wyndham City Council 7 364 13 291 9 320 City of Greater Bendigo 4 393 6 333 10 303 Mornington Peninsula Shire Council 13 300 9 322



Neither Yarra Ranges Shire Council, which ranked 8 for 2018-19 with 362 cruelty reports, or Cardinia Shire Council, which ranked 9 for 2018-19 with 351 cruelty reports, appeared in the 2019-20 top ten ranking for the highest number of cruelty reports.



Rankings by Reports per capita

2019-20 Ranking 2019-20 Per capita Area 2018-19 Ranking 2018-19 Per capita 2017-18 Ranking 2017-18

Per capita 1 1:144 Pyrenees Shire Council 1 1 : 101 5 1: 223 2 1:179 Hepburn Shire Council 3 1 : 180 1 1 : 157 3 1:208 Loddon Shire Council 2 1 : 139 11 1 : 289 4 1:223 Corangamite Shire Council 15 1 : 274 7 1 : 248 5 1:227 Latrobe City Council 8 1 : 243 6 1 : 247 6 1:263 Mitchell Shire Council 16 1; 277 12 1 : 290 7 1:265 Rural City of Wangaratta 19 1 ; 288 26 1 : 388 8 1:283 Moyne Shire Council 12 1 ; 260 18 1 : 345 9 1:289 Yarriambiack Shire Council 31 370 23 1 : 370 10 1:290 Wellington Shire Council 13 260 24 1 : 370

For further details regarding cruelty statistics for a specific council area, please contact RSPCA Victoria’s Media Team.





About this data

· Many of the 10,745 reports received by RSPCA Victoria in 2019-20 included allegations of multiple offences involving multiple animals.

· Not every report contains a substantiated offence. Some reports involve concerns that do not meet the threshold for an offence in Victoria, and others were not substantiated through investigation.

· Not every offence results in a charge or a prosecution. Many offences are resolved quickly by the owner or person in charge of an animal after they have been contacted by an RSPCA Victoria Inspector.





About RSPCA Victoria’s Inspectorate





R SPCA Victoria has 28 Inspectors authorised to enforce Victoria’s

Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (POCTAA). The other authorised organisations are the Department of Jobs, Precincts & Regions; the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning; Parks Victoria; Victoria Police and many local councils.

RSPCA Victoria investigates reports of animal cruelty involving companion animals (including horses), livestock in herds of less than 10 and poultry in flocks of less than 50. Reports involving larger herds of livestock or wildlife are referred to other agencies for investigation.