Wyndham has ranked high in Victoria for animal cruelty, according to RSPCA Victoria’s latest animal cruelty report.
The Wyndham LGA ranked fourth highest in the state for registered instances of animal cruelty, with 409 public reports of alleged cruelty made across the 2024-2025 financial year.
On pure numbers, the situation has worsened in the last two years.
A total of 384 reports were made in Wyndham last year, which was already up from 373 in 2022-2023.
Wyndham dropped from fourth in 2022-23 to seventh in 2023-24, but has since shot back up to the ranking it held two years ago.
Statewide, more than 10,000 cruelty reports were lodged with RSPCA Victoria during the same period, with 1870 animals seized or surrendered to the inspectorate, almost double the rate of a decade ago.
The most common cruelty complaint type statewide was animals lacking food, water or shelter, which surged 43 per cent to 7916 cases compared with the previous year.
Reports of underweight animals also rose by 22 per cent, with 3936 cases, while complaints relating to poor living conditions or grooming dropped slightly by 7.10 per cent.
RSPCA Victoria Chief Inspector Michelle Green said cost of living pressures and worsening drought conditions were fuelling much of the animal neglect.
“While it’s frustrating to see malicious animal cruelty still occurring, our inspectors are seeing basic animal neglect much more often,” Ms Green said.
“In particular, reports of animals with insufficient food, water or shelter skyrocketed compared to the previous year, along with people really struggling to provide for the number of animals they have, including hoarding situations.
Ms Green said inspectors were providing emergency food, bedding and preventative treatments where possible to help struggling households.
“We also offer a range of other supports, including donated kennels or bedding for pets and preventative flea and worming treatments.,” she said.
RSPCA Victoria has called for the introduction of updated animal welfare laws, including the Animal Care and Protection Bill, to strengthen minimum standards of care.
Anyone concerned about the welfare of an animal is urged to contact RSPCA Victoria on 9224 2222 or via rspcavic.org/who-to-call
