Hume is the worst municipality in the state for the number of animals seized by or surrendered to the RSPCA with animal welfare groups warning pet owners are under pressure from the cost of living crisis.
In the 12 months to the end of June, 227 animals were seized or surrendered in Hume. In 2022/23 74 animals were seized or surrendered.
The total number of cruelty reports decreased in Hume from 414 reports in 2022/23 to 369 last financial year.
In Whittlesea the number of animals seized or surrendered more than doubled, from 25 animals seized in 2022/23 to 53 last financial year.
The number of cruelty reports received in Whittlesea dropped from from 357 in 2022/23 to 325.
According to the RSPCA cost of living pressures is one of the main drivers of animal surrenders across the state.
CEO and founder of Second Chance Animal Rescue in Craigieburn Marisa Debattista said many pet owners were struggling to provide for their animals.
“The urgent needs of our community are continuing to increase drastically, whilst the resources available to pet owners are critically strained and limited. Local families and their pets are in desperate need of more assistance than ever before,“ she said.
“At Second Chance Animal Rescue our emergency pet support services are over run and we can not keep up with the amount of need in our community. We are not only supporting the needs of our local community, we are assisting pet owners all throughout Melbourne as so many people feel the strain of financial hardship as well as social and family challenges.“
RSPCA acting chief inspector Michelle Green said animal cruelty was often due to outside pressures.
“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,“ she said.
“We’re also seeing people struggling to provide for the number of animals they have, whether that be households caring for unplanned litters from un-desexed pets, or people whose circumstances have changed and they’re no longer able to support their pets.“
To report animal cruelty of neglect go to rspcavic.org/cruelty-report/ or call 9224 2222.
