RSPCA animal cruelty reports have more than halved in the Indigo Shire over the past year, bucking state trends.
According to RSPCA Victoria's recently released annual Animal Cruelty Report, 14 animal cruelty reports were submitted to RSPCA, down from 30 in the previous financial year.
A total of 2250 animals were seized by or surrendered to RSPCA Victoria's Inspectorate across the state last financial year, placing pressure on the capacity of shelter services.
RSPCA Victoria's inspectors said cost-of-living pressures for households, impacting affordability of pets, had contributed to a rise in surrendered animals.
Across the North East, animal surrenders and seizure numbers varied.
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Fifteen animals were either surrendered or seized in Wangaratta, up from fewer than five animals the previous year
Wodonga and Strathbogie Shire experienced respective decreases from 28 in 2022/23 to 15 in 2023/24 and 43 in 2022/23 to less than five in 2023/24, while Mansfield and Alpine Shire's respective numbers remained consistent with less than five animal seizures or surrenders.
Towong Shire saw an increase from fewer than five in 2022/23 to 11 in 2023/24, but Benalla's numbers fell from nine in 2022/23 to fewer than five in 2023/24.
Almost 10,000 animal cruelty reports were made to RSPCA Victoria by members of the public in the 2023-24 financial year.
The top reasons included husbandry issues such as lack of grooming, poor hygiene or unsanitary living conditions, no farrier attendance, lack of shearing etc, underweight animals and sick/injured animals where there has been insufficient, or no veterinary treatment provided.
Wangaratta had a total of 81 cruelty reports, down from 112 in the 2022-2023 financial year.
Elsewhere in the North East, Alpine Shire had 11 (down from 24 previous year); Benalla had 57 (up from 53); Mansfield Shire had 20 (up from 17); Strathbogie Shire had 44 (down from 58); Towong Shire had 12 (down from 17); and Wodonga had 122 (down from 123).
RSPCA Victoria acting chief inspector Michelle Green, said while malicious cruelty was still occurring, her team was helping struggling pet owners more than ever before.
"It’s an increasingly challenging environment out there following the pressures of the pandemic, and the cost-of-living crisis is only compounding this," she said.
"The majority of what our RSPCA Inspectors are seeing first-hand is just how much people in the community are struggling, and when people are struggling their pets are often affected.
"The majority of the animal cruelty we see is actually neglect as a result of people’s circumstances changing beyond their control, such as hospitalisation, financial pressures, or sudden joblessness, while other animals suffered due to owners simply not understanding how to care for their pets adequately."
Anyone with concerns about the welfare of animals is urged to make a report to RSPCA Victoria at rspcavic.org/cruelty-report or by calling (03) 9224 2222.
