Prosecutions


In addition to investigating cruelty, RSPCA Inspectors spend a significant portion of their time preparing animal cruelty cases and attending court.

The RSPCA has an excellent prosecution record but the financial penalty of losing a case can be extremely high. Court cases and potential appeals can be extremely costly and difficult to anticipate. Fines imposed by the court are allocated to the State Government and while costs can be awarded to the RSPCA, these are often difficult to recover from the offenders.

Animal welfare legislation

Inspectors protect animals from cruelty and neglect by enforcing the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (POCTAA) 1986 and Part 4 of the Domestic Animals Act (DAA) 1994 in Victoria. These pieces of legislation govern the circumstances where our Inspectors can investigate or intervene, and we are lawfully bound by these Acts.  Victoria’s Inspectorate is the only not-for-profit agency with the power to lay charges under POCTAA.

Prosecution outcomes

In addition to investigating cruelty, RSPCA Inspectors spend a significant portion of their time preparing animal cruelty cases and attending court. RSPCA Victoria Inspectors are authorised to investigate animal cruelty reports defined by the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (POCTAA) 1986 as well as investigate illegal Domestic Animal Businesses (DABs) defined by the Domestic Animals Act (DAA) 1994. The RSPCA has an excellent prosecution record but the financial penalty of losing a case can be extremely high. Court cases and potential appeals can be extremely costly and difficult to anticipate. Fines imposed by the court are allocated to the State Government and while costs can be awarded to the RSPCA, these are often difficult to recover from the offenders.

You can read about some of our recent prosecutions below:

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Croydon South couple plead guilty to ‘traumatic’ animal cruelty

June 27, 2025
A 58-year-old man and a 64-year-old woman from Croydon South were convicted of two charges…

Melton woman pleads guilty to horse cruelty

June 26, 2025
A 41-year-old Melton woman pleaded guilty to two charges of animal cruelty at the Bacchus…

Campaspe man pleads guilty to horse cruelty

May 8, 2025
A 60-year-old Campaspe man has been convicted of two charges of animal cruelty and one…

South Melbourne Man guilty of animal cruelty

April 22, 2025
A 38-year-old South Melbourne man has been convicted of two counts of animal cruelty at…

Melton South man jailed for animal cruelty

March 28, 2025
A 51-year-old Melton South man pleaded guilty to three charges of animal cruelty at the…

St Albans woman pleads guilty to breach of animal control order

February 14, 2025
A 57-year-old St Albans woman pleaded guilty to breaching her animal ownership disqualification conditions at…