1 week Ago By Anna Houlahan
Inspectors who investigate on behalf of the RSPCA have reported frightening abuse and threats of physical violence. or signup to continue reading One inspector was checking on the welfare of a farm owner's dogs when he allegedly stopped her from leaving by lifting her car on a forklift. Her vehicle was allegedly only returned to the ground when she told the man that she was wearing a body camera and threatened to call the police.
RSPCA Victoria CEO Dr Liz Walker has called for the alleged abuse to end. She said inspectors were "on the frontline investigating animal cruelty offences across the state. The last thing they need, when trying to help animals who are suffering, is to be abused in the process".
"It's already tough enough investigating severely neglected, injured or abused animals," she said. "This often involves attending properties riddled with animal faeces, unsafe ammonia levels due to animal urine, pests, vermin, and often crowded with mountains of rubbish sometimes as tall as they are. "We understand it can be distressing to have an animal cruelty report investigated.
"Our inspector's focus is always on the wellbeing of the animals and, in the majority of cases, helping animal owners meet their pet's needs." More than a quarter of reports were flagged with 'violent person of interest' in 2024 and the RSPCA expects that figure to grow in 2025. "Sadly, it's not just animals being abused, and this kind of behaviour will not be tolerated," Dr Walker said.
The RSPCA said Victoria's Inspectorate "currently has only 28 Inspectors on the road, and at times, this can be as low as 15". The international animal welfare charity said ongoing Victorian Government funding only covered around 21 per cent of operations and animal care costs. Victoria's RSPCA estimated that operation costs would exceed $10.
8 million in the financial year. "As cost-of-living pressures continue to affect people, their pets will continue to be impacted, and our Inspectorate services are needed more than ever before," Dr Walker said. Anna Houlahan reports on crime and social issues affecting regional and remote Australia in her role as national crime reporter at Australian Community Media (ACM).
She was ACM’s Trainee of the Year in 2023 and, aside from reporting on crime, has travelled the country as a journalist for Explore Travel Magazine. Reach out with news or updates to anna.houlahan@austcommunitymedia.
com.au Anna Houlahan reports on crime and social issues affecting regional and remote Australia in her role as national crime reporter at Australian Community Media (ACM). She was ACM’s Trainee of the Year in 2023 and, aside from reporting on crime, has travelled the country as a journalist for Explore Travel Magazine.
Reach out with news or updates to [email protected].
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