Animal welfare improves, report shows

Greater Dandenong ranked 19th of Victoria’s 79 council areas for animal cruelty reports, new RSPCA data shows.
The municipality’s ranking dropped to 59th on a per capita basis, though, the figures released on Tuesday 15 August revealed.
RSPCA Victoria received 10,180 cruelty reports across the state in 2016-17 – about 28 per day.
Of those, 196 were concerns about the welfare of animals in Greater Dandenong.
That equates to one report for every 776 residents in the area.
The state-wide average was one report per 581 residents.
Last year, Greater Dandenong ranked 15th for reports and 50th on a per capita basis.
RSPCA Victoria CEO Dr Liz Walker said understanding the rate of cruelty reporting and the different offences in local areas was critical to ensuring that RSPCA Victoria directed its education, advocacy and enforcement efforts to the places that that needed it most.
As with last year’s data, reports received in 2016-17 about animals not receiving basic care far outnumbered all other offences reported.
“These kinds of problems are so preventable,” Dr Walker said.
“Whether it’s asking family or friends for support, seeking assistance from animal welfare groups, or surrendering animals to be rehomed, we would strongly encourage owners who aren’t keeping up with the basics to seek help to care for their animals.”
Reports received from Greater Dandenong included 67 about animals with insufficient food, water or shelter, 63 concerns about hygiene, grooming and housing conditions, 36 about underweight animals and 51 issues involving sick or injured animals not receiving vet treatment.
There were 28 concerns about animals being beaten or wounded reported and 21 reports of abandoned animals.
“In most cases, concerns reported to us are quickly resolved by our inspectors educating the owner or person in charge of the animals involved and reminding them of their legal obligations to care for their animals,” Dr Walker said.
“In some cases, a stronger response is needed: a notice to comply, seizing and taking an animal into protective custody, or – when all else fails – prosecuting.”
In Greater Dandenong, 126 reports involved dogs and puppies, 43 involved cats and kittens and
10 involved horses.