Chief Inspector Michelle Green said, while malicious animal cruelty still occurred, it paled in comparison to the impact of the drought and ongoing cost-of-living pressures.
“While it’s frustrating to see malicious animal cruelty still occurring, our Inspectors are seeing basic animal neglect much more often,” Chief Inspector Green said.
“In particular, reports of animals with insufficient food, water, or shelter skyrocketed compared to the previous year, along with seeing people really struggling to provide for the number of animals they have, including animals in hoarding situations (reports of hoarding up 48%).
“Mental health concerns can also impact someone’s ability to provide the for basic needs of their pets, further adding to the complexity of our Inspectors work.”
Animals in rural areas, especially horses, have been hit particularly hard as the drought impacts feed availability.
“Our Inspectors are spending more time working with rural animal owners, especially horse owners, as drought conditions have worsened,” Chief Inspector Green said.
“Feed simply can’t grow well in these conditions, making it far more expensive and difficult to source than in previous years.
“We have seen a 32% increase in cruelty reports involving horses (1,197 reports) and a 23% increase in the number of horses seized or surrendered this year (209 horses).
“When they can, our Inspectors help with emergency pet food to struggling households.
“We also offer a range of other supports, including donated kennels or bedding for pets and preventative flea and worming treatments.”
RSPCA Victoria’s Inspectors are working with the community to prevent animal cruelty before it begins, and when needed, providing a safe place for the animals most in need.
Anyone with concerns about the welfare of animals is urged to make a report to RSPCA Victoria at rspcavic.org/who-to-call or by calling 03 9224 2222.
To view Victoria’s cruelty hotspots, check out the interactive cruelty map.
View the 2023/24 Animal Cruelty Report here.
