Out of 79 local Victorian council areas, data released by RSPCA Victoria showed Ballarat came out at 11^th position for animal cruelty reports, an increase on 14^th position last year. 

Between the period of 2016-2017, RSPCA data showed Ballarat cruelty reports made up 281 of a total of 10,180 cruelty reports across the state. 

At the forefront of reports were those that involved dogs and puppies, with a total of 182, more than double the 65 reports involving cats and kittens. 

RSPCA Victoria Chief Executive Officer Dr Liz Walker said the point of doing the analysis is so they can understand the rate of reporting and different types of offences so they can work with the local councils and communities to get the right things happening where they need it most. 

“This year, RSPCA Victoria has started working more closely with local councils to understand local animal welfare issues, and to put in place tailored, local initiatives to educate owners and better protect animals.

As with last year’s data, reports received in 2016-17 about animals not receiving basic care far outnumbered all other offences reported,”she said.

“It’s disappointing to see that, for the second year in a row, too many Victorian animals were reported to us because of concerns about very basic issues: food, water, shelter and vet care when they’re sick or injured. These kinds of problems are so preventable.”

Dr Walker said there were five main reasons that drive people to commit animal cruelty including ignorance, incapability and apathy as well as cruelty for commercial gain and malicious intent. 

She stressed that a large part of the problem in Ballarat was due to the first three reasons, with about 63 per cent of cases related to insufficient water, food or shelter.

“The message is, if we want to know if an owner is struggling with basic needs, they need to ask for help and if they can’t provide care, maybe they need to relinquish the animal.” she said. 

She said the analysis wasn’t about finger pointing but about trying to understand. 

“With community support we can make a difference,” she said. 

“In most cases, concerns reported to us are quickly resolved by our Inspectors educating the owner or person in charge of the animals involved, and reminding them of their legal obligations to care for their animals.

In some cases, a stronger response is needed: a notice to comply, seizing and taking an animal into protective custody, or – when all else fails – prosecuting.”