Animal cruelty reports and surrenders soar by 20pct

The authority investigated more than 10,000 reports of animal cruelty and took more than 2569 animals from their owners in the 2022/23 financial year.

That's a jump of more than 20 per cent compared with the previous 12 months.

If cases keep rising at the current rate, the number of animals being cared for in 2027 will have more than doubled in a decade.

It is a worrying trend and there are many factors behind the jump, according to RSPCA Victoria's chief inspector Michael Stagg.

The most common type of cruelty report is about a lack of water, food or shelter, followed by other welfare concerns such as sanitary living conditions.

"Cost-of-living pressures may be impacting people's ability to care for their pets, whether it be their ability to provide suitable food or their ability to pay for necessary medical care," Mr Stagg said.

"Many people also became first-time pet owners during the pandemic and may need further information or support to help them understand how to care for their animals, such as providing sanitary living conditions, grooming or preventative health measures."

He said that over the past year there had also been many large-scale seizures or surrenders, making it even harder to find room and resources to care for animals in shelters already near capacity.

The local government area with the highest number of surrenders or seizures was Melton in Melbourne's west with 260 animals taken, followed by Latrobe Council in Gippsland with 116, and Ararat in western Victoria with 81.

The highest number of cruelty reports was in Greater Geelong in western Victoria with 550, then Casey in Melbourne's southeast with 508, and Hume in Melbourne's northwest with 414.

Australian Associated Press