Greater Geelong shows horror animal cruelty record

Greater Geelong’s topped a list not to be proud of.

The city had 547 animal cruelty reports in the last financial year, with 42 animals seized or surrendered.

This is a decrease on the year before where 450 cases were reported.

Wyndham also made the top five for cruelty reports with 384 while 98 animals were taken.

The RSPCA Acting Chief Inspector Michelle Green says they are seriously concerned by the numbers.

“It’s incredibly disappointing to still see malicious cruelty still occurring in the community,” she said.

“It’s an increasingly challenging environment out there following the pressures of the pandemic, and the cost-of-living crisis is only compounding this.

“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.”