Australia’s rate of animal animal abuse complaints has not gone down since 2000, and it is clear that Tasmania has had the highest rate of animal abuse complaints.

This article explains ACT’s sudden rise in complaints in 2015: https://www.theage.com.au/national/act/increase-in-animal-cruelty-cases-a-concern-for-the-territory-20151212-glm4ai.html

Referring to Tasmania’s spike in complaints prior to 2010, the Acting CEO of RSPCA, Michael Linke claimed that most complaints concerned the mistreatment of domestic animals, giving the brutal example of “a cat with broken hips being left in a person’s backyard for five days” (ABC, 2010-a). However, this does not explain why Tasmania has the most reported incidents of animal abuse per person.

Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital representative Rachel Woodrow states that there is a high correlation between animal violence and other violent crime, and calls to the necessity of public reporting. (ABC, 2024).

(ABC, 2024) Brushtail possum had her eye removed after an air-rifle wound.

Farm animals are highly susceptible to cruelty, due to their distance from the public eye. In 2009, Roderic Neil Mitchell was charged with 200 counts relating to the death, pain and suffering of cows at his former dairy farm in Redpa, Tasmania (ABC, 2010-b).

The following video shows an incredibly disturbing case of violence in a Tasmanian abattoir that was owned by the 2024 Tasmanian of the year, Stephanie Trethewey. https://www.farmtransparency.org/videos?id=b1a2noifd3

While further research is still required to determine whether an increase in complaints is due to actual higher abuse rates, or higher community involvement in reporting, RSPCA is under a lot of pressure to investigate and prosecute thousands of alleged crimes, with minimal funding. There were 69,623 complaints Australia-wide in 2022 (RSPCA, 2024-d).

On average, only 0.6% of all complaints ever lead to prosecution in Australia. The RSPCA does not have resources to investigate every report, and not every report has sufficient evidence to charge.

Most of the seized animals are taken to shelters or pounds, where the decision is made to either rehabilitate and rehome them, or euthanase them.

(RSPCA, 2024-a)

The most common reasons for euthanasia are when behavioural and medical problems become too much of a burden on resources. The RSPCA and other not-for-profit organisations have been dedicated to lowering euthanasia rates in Australia, and finding each pet a home.

Their efforts are reflected in their significant reduction in cat euthanasia from 64% in 2000 to 20% in 2021. It is promising to see that RSPCA is continuing to improve their services across Australia. In 2022-2023 alone, 7,669 dogs and 21,735 cats were rehomed by RSPCA services. (RSPCA, 2024-d).

Unfortunately, the opposite is apparent for wildlife. According to their 2022-2023 Annual Report (RSPCA, 2024-d), they have received a significant increase in the last 2 decades: 8,374 animals in 1998-99 to 26,675 animals in 2022-23. As a result, in 2022-23, they were only able to release 11.1% (2,959) of all incoming wildlife (26,675), transferred 19.8% (5,291) to specialist facilities, and euthanased 56% of wild animals received (15,352).

Most of the animals that are presented are orphans, or have life-threatening injuries, which makes it even more difficult to care for them.

Though it is sad, RSPCA holds that for a lot of the animals they receive, their suffering is best ended with euthanasia than a long, painful battle.

(Greencross Vets, 2024)

For more information on animal cruelty in Australia, follow the links to these articles:

• Greencross Vets (2024). How To Handle Sick Or Injured Wildlife. Retrieved November 2, 2024, from the Greencross Vets website: https://www.greencrossvets.com.au/pet-library/articles-of-interest/how-to-handle-sick-or-injured-wildlife/

• Pulse Tasmania (2024). ‘Worst we’ve seen’: Alleged animal cruelty captured on camera at another Tasmanian abattoir. Retrieved November 2, 2024, from the Pulse Tasmania website: https://pulsetasmania.com.au/news/worst-weve-seen-alleged-animal-cruelty-captured-on-camera-at-another-tasmanian-abattoir/

• RSPCA (2024-a). Home. Retrieved November 2, 2024, from the RSPCA website: https://www.rspca.org.au/

• RSPCA (2024-b). Our History | RSPCA Victoria. Retrieved November 2, 2024, from the RSPCA website: https://rspcavic.org/our-history

• RSPCA (2024-c). Interactive Animal Cruelty Map. Retrieved November 1, 2024, from the RSPCA website: <https://rspcavic.org/interactive-cruelty-data-map-2024/#

• King, D., The Guardian (2024). Undercover footage of violence at dairy farm prompts RSPCA investigation. Retrieved November 2, 2024, from The Guardian website: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/feb/26/undercover-footage-of-violence-at-dairy-farm-prompts-rspca-investigation

• ABC (2024). More wild animal cruelty cases reported as researcher warns of link to other violent crimes. Retrieved November 2, 2024, from the ABC website: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-09-27/vets-rspca-warn-animal-cruelty-cases-rising/102896860

• Four Paws (2022). What To Do if you find injured wildlife in Australia. Retrieved November 2, 2024, from the Four Paws website: https://www.four-paws.org.au/campaigns-topics/topics/animals-in-australia/what-to-do-if-you-find-injured-wildlife-in-australia/

• Tech Alliance (2021). Happy Dog, Happy Life. Retrieved November 2, 2024, from the Tech Alliance website: https://www.techalliance.ca/news/happy-dog-happy-life/

• Legislative Assembly for the Australian Capital Territory (LAACT) (2015). Page 3795 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 28 October 2015. Retrieved November 1, 2024, from the LAACT website: https://hansard.act.gov.au/hansard/8th-assembly/2015/HTML/week12/3795.htm

• ABC (2010-a). Concern over spike in animal cruelty complaints. Retrieved November 1, 2024, from the ABC website: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2010-08-14/concern-over-spike-in-animal-cruelty-complaints/943806?pfm=ms

• ABC (2010-b). Verdict expected in animal cruelty case. Retrieved November 1, 2024, from the ABC website: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2010-01-21/verdict-expected-in-animal-cruelty-case/1216818

Reference Data:

• Australian Bureau of Statistics (2024). National, state and territory population. Retrieved October 30, 2024, from Australian Bureau of Statistics website: https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/population/national-state-and-territory-population/mar-2024#data-downloads

• RSPCA (2024-d). Annual Statistics. Retrieved October 30, 2024, from the RSPCA website: https://www.rspca.org.au/about/annual-statistics/