RSPCA Victoria Inspectors have rescued 48 cats from an alleged illegal breeder at a residential property in the City of Whitehorse.

Inspectors from RSPCA Victoria issued multiple Notices to Comply earlier this year to seek veterinary care for the cats and to improve the animals’ unsanitary living conditions.

Despite initial improvements, Inspectors found conditions at the property had deteriorated on a follow up visit, with animals found living in confined, unhygienic conditions and exhibiting signs of illness.

RSPCA Victoria Major Investigations Team Leader Shannon Walsh said insufficient veterinary care and poor living conditions enabled the spread of disease.

“The cats were mostly high-value breeds kept in confined and extremely unhygienic conditions,” Team Leader Walsh said.

“Despite making initial improvements to these animals’ overall health and living conditions, they were recently found suffering from illnesses and living in their own filth with insufficient veterinary care.

“Pet owners must provide a clean and sanitary environment for their animals, including fresh food and water, as well as the removal of waste, and provide necessary veterinary treatment.

“If you are looking for a new pet, please ensure you research prospective breeders and verify they are conducting a safe operation with good animal welfare practices in place.”

RSPCA Victoria’s expert team is now providing the necessary medical treatment and care for these cats and kittens, and estimates this will cost more than $160,000^[1] .

This particular investigation remains ongoing, and no further comment is available at this stage.

Reports from the community are vital to ensure animal cruelty and neglect are investigated.

Anyone with concerns for the welfare of an animal, aware of illegal breeding, or an unusually high numbers of animals at one location is encouraged to contact RSPCA Victoria on 03 9224 2222 or submit a report at rspcavic.org/cruelty-report/ immediately.

It’s an offence under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986 (POCTAA) to confine an animal in a manner that causes or is likely to cause unreasonable pain and suffering or fail to provide appropriate or veterinary attention to a sick or injured animal. Anyone found guilty of such an act can face fines of up to $49,397.50 or 12 months imprisonment.

The RSPCA Smart Kitten and Cat Buyer’s Guide is a free online resource available for all prospective cat and kitten buyers.

[1] Based on the average length of stay and average cost of care per day by animal type.

RSPCA Victoria has launched its 2030 Strategy and – as pet owners across the state struggle with the cost-of-living crisis – it’s geared toward preventing animal cruelty and neglect before it happens.

RSPCA Victoria CEO Dr Liz Walker said after 153 years providing shelter and rehabilitation for the state’s most vulnerable animals, it’s time to increase the focus on community outreach and prevention.

“It’s far better to prevent an animal suffering than to simply treat it when it arrives in our care, and that’s what our 2030 Strategy focuses on,” Dr Walker said.

“Caring for animals will always be a part of the work RSPCA Victoria does, particularly caring for the very vulnerable, complex animals that come in through our Inspectorate.

“However, many cruelty cases we see aren’t necessarily malicious cruelty, but rather neglect because people’s circumstances change beyond their control, or people simply don’t know what their pet needs.

“We know people right across the state are struggling, particularly with the cost-of-living crisis, and when people are experiencing vulnerability or disadvantage their animals are also affected.

“We’ll focus more heavily on early intervention by offering more support to those most at risk, people fleeing family violence, people experiencing homelessness and people who our Inspectors believe could care better for their animals with a bit of help.

“Animals make our lives better and where it’s safe, the best outcome is to keep people and their pets together.”

This prevention work will be driven through animal care courses by RSPCA Victoria’s Education team, and Community Outreach initiatives such as low-cost vaccination pop up clinics, means-tested healthy pet clinics, the introduction of pet food banks, a free pet behaviour helpline and more.

RSPCA Victoria also aims to be Victoria’s leading voice for all animals through its advocacy to government and animal organisations to achieve better welfare for animals used in agriculture, sport and recreation, companion animals and wildlife.

To see the full 2030 Strategy visit rspcavic.org/2030strategy/ and to support RSPCA Victoria’s work please visit: rspcavic.org/donate.

Distressing content warning

Three Melton men, aged 19, 20, and 22, have been found guilty of animal cruelty charges after an RSPCA Victoria investigation into live-baiting.

The investigation was opened after the Inspectorate received a cruelty report regarding two dogs attacking a pair of live domesticated rabbits.

The report included footage of the two dogs chasing, attacking, and killing the rabbits the men had procured and released for the specific purpose of being hunted by the dogs.

At one point during the incident, an injured rabbit was almost allowed to escape, however the dogs were encouraged again to attack and kill it.

Magistrates presiding over the different proceedings described the offenses as “outrageous…[and] offensive” and “truly awful behaviour”.

RSPCA Victoria Chief Inspector Michael Stagg said this case was a shocking example of deliberate cruelty the Inspectorate investigate across the state.

“No animal deserves to suffer like this, but unfortunately these cases still occur in Victoria,” Chief Inspector Stagg said.

“These dogs were trained for the specific purpose of hunting and killing live domestic animals with no regard for the overwhelming pain, suffering, and distress these animals experienced.

“We will not allow this type of senseless cruelty to go by unpunished and we urge all Victorians to report acts like this online or by phone so our Inspectors can investigate.”

The first man was ordered to complete an 18-month Community Corrections Order, perform 100 hours of unpaid community work, and was disqualified from owning any animal for 18 months.

The second man was disqualified from owning any animal for five years, was fined $1,000 as part of an aggregate order, with the fine reduced due to time already served, with ownership of his dog transferred to RSPCA Victoria.

The third man received a six-month good behaviour bond without conviction and was fined $500. The man had already surrendered ownership of his dog to RSPCA Victoria.

The relevant offences are covered by the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986. Anyone found guilty of these offences can face fines of up to $49,397.50 or 12 months’ imprisonment and fines of up to $98,795 or 2 years imprisonment.

Anyone with concerns about the welfare of animals to make a report to RSPCA Victoria at rspcavic.org/cruelty-report/ or on 03 9224 2222.

Today RSPCA Victoria’s Major Investigations Team has executed a warrant at a Diggers Rest property related to alleged cockfighting, with the large-scale law enforcement operation finding 48 birds.

The birds were aggressive and allegedly mutilated for the purposes of cockfighting with their combs, waddles and spurs all removed, in addition to a cockfighting pit and other cockfighting related implements being found at the property.

RSPCA Victoria took surrender of all 48 birds.

Major Investigations Team Leader Shannon Walsh said this wasn’t the first cockfighting investigation for the team.

“Over the last few years RSPCA Victoria’s Major Investigations Team has conducted a number of investigations regarding cockfighting and it’s disappointing to see this blood sport continuing,” Team Leader Walsh said.

“Birds used for cockfighting are specifically bred to be aggressive, they’re often pumped full of performance enhancing drugs, and mutilated with their combs, waddles and spurs crudely removed and they’re often housed in sub-standard conditions.”

Speaking about the operation, RSPCA Victoria’s Chief Inspector, Michael Stagg, said cockfighting was a barbaric practice.

“I want to be clear about this, cockfighting is a blood sport. It’s barbaric, it’s illegal for good reason, and RSPCA is absolutely determined to stamp it out, there is no place for cockfighting in this state,” Chief Inspector Stagg said.

“The community are our eyes and ears, and we would urge any members of the community, if they have concerns about cockfighting or any animal cruelty issue, to please report it to the RSPCA where it will be investigated, and offenders will be held to account.”

This investigation remains ongoing.

Under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986, it’s an offence to wound, mutilate, torture, abuse, beat, worry, torment or terrify an animal. It’s also an offence for a person to keep, use or assist in the management of premises for the purpose of causing an animal to fight or for the baiting or maltreating of an animal. Offences under the act carry a penalty of up to 500 penalty units equating to $96,155 or imprisonment for 2 years.

This investigation was the result of an anonymous community tip off, and anyone with concerns for the welfare of an animal or aware of illegal animal fighting is encouraged to contact RSPCA Victoria on 03 9224 2222 or submit a report at rspcavic.org/cruelty-report/ immediately.