RSPCA reveals worst cruelty hotspots over past financial year as one local government tops list again

The worst hotspots for animal cruelty across WA have been revealed as RSPCA inspectors seized shocking numbers of beaten and malnourished animals from abusers in the past year. WARNING: DISTRESSING CONTENT The West Australian can reveal the City of Swan — the largest local government area in the metropolitan region — recorded the highest rate with 662 animal cruelty reports across the 24-25 financial year. The City of Swan recorded a 3.1 per cent drop in the number of cases compared to last year, but still topped the list for a second year running. Swan was followed the City of Wanneroo (572), Rockingham (433), Stirling (417) and Gosnells (412). Rockingham recorded a 25 per cent increase in the number of reports compared to last, with hundreds of recent cases relating to abuse and cruelty towards animals. The City of Greater Geraldton topped the regional list with 212 reports. Next was Bunbury (190), Albany (118), Busselton (108) and Kalgoorlie-Boulder (101). A total of 7195 cruelty reports were received involving a total of 9230 animals according to RSPCA WA’s annual cruelty report. The metropolitan area recorded the highest number or reports with 5377, followed by the South West (673) and the Wheatbelt (291). There was a jump of 57 reports across the WA compared to the previous year. Chief operating officer Hannah Dreaver said inspectors had seized three times as many animals than the prior year. “Seized animals are often victims of large-scale cruelty such as puppy farms or hoarding and many seized animals have endured severe neglect meaning they need to stay much longer in our care than animals that are surrendered or strays,” she said. “They generally need more intensive vet treatment and behaviour support, while our inspectors and legal team spend longer amounts of time on more complex prosecutions. All of this adds up to more pressure across the organisation.” The majority of the reports investigated across the RSPCA inspectors involved dogs and puppies, with 5813 individual cases recorded. There were 1252 relating to cats and kittens, 761 regarding livestock and 709 involving birds. Of all the cases, 4421 related to abuse and cruelty and 3423 were categorised as involving “insufficient care”. More than 1100 cases involved the abandonment of animals. More than 2000 animals came into the RSPCA’s care in the period, with a total number of days spent caring for animals rising by 21 per cent to 144,261. Vet consultations and surgeries for abused animals grew by 35 per cent to 12,271. Shocking examples of cases probed by RSPCA inspectors involved dodgy breeders who neglected and subjected vulnerable animals to cruel conditions. This includes an alleged puppy farm where 105 dogs were found in an house and in urgent need of veterinary care. One of dogs — a golden retriever puppy — allegedly had a bulging eye and about 20 golden retriever poodle crosses were found in an enclosure with overgrown coats. A Canning Vale man is before the courts facing 36 counts of animal cruelty over the disturbing case. Another alleged puppy farm operating of a Southern River property saw a couple, both in their 60s, charged with a total of 46 offences in late 2024. Pomeranian puppies were found confined to kennels in harsh conditions which smelt of faeces at the address. Some dogs at the property were observed to have been spinning in their kennels, a trait of exhibited by an animal with a deteriorating neurological state. Others exhibited “abnormal psychological behavioural reactions” to the inspectors when they were rescued. In June this year, a 53-year-old woman and her two sons, aged in their 20s, were charged after chickens and 38 cats were found in alleged appalling conditions at a Gosnells’ home. The cats were allegedly found in cages, stacked on top of each other. At least one litter tray in the cat’s cages was overflowing with faeces and diarrhoea, spilling onto the floor. Other cages with cats had no bedding or water. The chickens were allegedly found without water, with their only food source mouldy vegetables. Ms Dreaver said the seriousness of the recent cases, and their complexity, had placed “unprecedented pressure on the organisation” despite a slight increase. “The rise in seized animal numbers was a major factor in making 2024-25 one of the busiest and most complex years we’ve ever faced,” she said. Anyone who is aware of animal abuse is urged to contact the RSPCA.