By Luke Voogt
National and local news outlets have labelled Geelong the worst of Victoria’s animal cruelty ‘hotspots’, despite the city only ranking 28th per capita.
Many articles and bulletins failed to mention the per capita ranking after RSPCA Victoria released its most recent report into Victoria’s 79 local government areas.
Geelong recorded the highest number of number of cruelty reports, 584, or one per 400 residents, compared to the state average of one per 581.
But the municipality is the second-most populated in Victoria. Hepburn rated the worst by capita with one report per 183 residents.
RSPCA Victoria chief Liz Walker said understanding the rate of cruelty reporting was critical to directing education, advocacy and enforcement efforts.
“This year, RSPCA Victoria has started working more closely with local councils to understand local animal welfare issues,” she said.
In December 2016 RSPCA inspectors attended a Norlane property in response to a report about a dog with a severely infected wound (pictured).
They issued a notice to comply for veterinarian treatment, which the owner followed.
In May inspectors received a report that a dog in Lara was sheltering under old cars. The owner complied with orders to provide the dog access to a weatherproof kennel.
Of 584 reports received in Greater Geelong 337 involved dogs and puppies, 98 involved cats and kittens and 86 involved horses.
In 2016/17, RSPCA Victoria Inspectors issued 388 notices to comply, 433 advisory letters and 34 warning letters.
They laid 383 charges against 90 people and finalised 90 prosecutions, with facts proven in 83 cases (92 per cent success rate).
At the end of the financial year, 56 cases were still before the courts.
There were 292 reports in Great Geelong of insufficient food, water or shelter, 186 reports about hygiene and 152 reports of underweight animals.
The RSPCA recorded another 124 issues involving sick or injured animals not receiving vet treatment, 69 concerns about animals being beaten or wounded and 65 abandoned animals.
“These kinds of problems are so preventable,” Dr Walker said.
Last year, Greater Geelong ranked second of 79 councils for animal cruelty reports and 40th on a per capita basis.
