More than 300 animal cruelty complaints were recorded by the RSPCA against Wyndham residents in the 12 months to June.
And an animal welfare spokesman has questioned why no prosecutions have arisen as a result.
Data from RSPCA Victoria shows Wyndham ranked 13th out of the state’s 79 councils for animal cruelty, with 325 complaints lodged in 2015-16 about animal welfare in the city.
Among these were 97 complaints about hygiene, grooming and housing conditions; 80 reports of underweight animals; 70 incidents involving sick or injured animals not receiving vet treatment, and 40 complaints about animals being beaten or wounded.
A spokeswoman for the RSPCA confirmed there had been no prosecutions as a result of the complaints against Wyndham pet owners in the 2015-16 reporting period.
Nathan Miles, from Western Suburbs Cat and Kitten Rescue, said he was not surprised at the dearth of prosecutions.
“This has been a criticism we’ve had about them [the RSPCA] over the years,” Mr Miles said.
“They prosecute less than one or two per cent of all complaints.
“That’s a disgraceful outcome by the RSPCA.”
The RSPCA is not the only agency responsible for complaints of animal neglect and cruelty.
Victoria Police and councils are other significant agencies with authority to follow up animal welfare complaints.
Wyndham council chief executive Kelly Grigsby said 52 cases of animal cruelty had been investigated as a result of complaints to council in 2015, and 20 cases so far this year.
Ms Grigsby said in the past 18 months there have been three convictions, six notices to comply, and three animal management plans issued.
“Council investigates every single report of animal cruelty that we receive,” Ms Grigsby said.
“Recently, we successfully shut down an illegal kitten farm in Sanctuary Lakes under the Domestic Animals Act.
“The owner had 72 Bengal cats in his house, 30 of which were in such poor health that they needed to be put down.
“He was fined $31,000 and was banned for the maximum 10 years from breeding domestic animals.”
Crime Statistics Agency figures show police followed up 10 animal welfare offences reported in Wyndham between April 2014 and March 2016.
