RSPCA WA has revealed which local government areas generated the most animal cruelty reports last financial year.
Analysis of the 2023-24 data also shows the most common offences reported to the charity's 24-hour Cruelty Hotline.
RSPCA WA answered 17,848 hotline calls last financial year, an eight per cent increase, with inspectors investigating 7,138 cases - an average of nearly 20 a day.
Metropolitan 2023-24 (Perth and Peel)
| Rank | Reports | LGA | Change | Previous Rank (22-24) |
| 1 | 686 | Swan | 8 per cent down | 1 |
| 2 | 595 | Wanneroo | 13 per cent up | 2 |
| 3 | 399 | Stirling | 9 per cent down | 3 |
| 4 | 395 | Gosnells | 15 per cent up | 5 |
| 5 | 356 | Armadale | 7 per cent down | 6 |
| 6 | 346 | Rockingham | 8 per cent down | 5 |
| 7 | 291 | Mandurah | 8 per cent up | 7 |
| 8 | 272 | Cockburn | 25 per cent up | 8 |
| 9 | 209 | Joondalup | 2 per cent up | 9 |
| 10 | 163 | Belmont | 11 per cent up | 12 |
Regional 2023-24
| Rank | Reports | LGA | Change | Previous Rank (22-24) |
| 1 | 214 | Greater Geraldton | 14 per cent up | 2 |
| 2 | 158 | Albany | 16 per cent down | 1 |
| 2 | 158 | Bunbury | 8 per cent up | 4 |
| 3 | 116 | Kalgoorlie-Boulder | 27 per cent down | 3 |
| 4 | 112 | Busselton | 7 per cent down | 5 |
| 5 | 74 | Capel | 51 per cent up | 11 |
| 5 | 74 | Harvey | 20 per cent down | 6 |
| 6 | 61 | Broome | 17 per cent down | 7 |
| 7 | 60 | Northam | 20 per cent up | 10 |
| 8 | 49 | Collie | 9 per cent down | 9 |
| 9 | 48 | Plantagenet | 14 per cent up | 12 |
| 10 | 41 | Esperence | 16 per cent down | 11 |
| Offences reported | 2023-24 | 2022-23 |
| Ill-treatment* | 3397 | 3296 |
| Failure to alleviate harm | 1919 | 1604 |
| Insufficient food/water | 1885 | 1507 |
| Abandonment | 1165 | 1173 |
| Insufficient shelter | 934 | 764 |
| Unnecessary harm | 683 | 603 |
| Malicious beating/wounding | 411 | 311 |
| Harmful containment (vehicle) | 405 | 506 |
| Harmful containment | 263 | 203 |
| Injured | 108 | 147 |
NOTE: many of the reports received by RSPCA WA in 2023-24 included allegations of multiple offences involving multiple animals.
*This is a broad offence which captures all manner of cruel behaviour, neglect and abuse. It may be selected in place of, or in addition to, the other offences listed in the table.
RSPCA WA Executive Manager Animal and Enforcement Operations Hannah Dreaver said the cost-of-living and housing crises were key themes in 2023-24.
"Reports about owners failing to alleviate harm rose by 19 per cent last financial year, following on from an 18 per cent jump the year before. Meanwhile, reports of animals without enough food and water were up by 25 per cent," she said.
"On the surface these reports might seem less serious than violent acts of cruelty, but the sad reality is, the animals in these cases have often suffered day in, day out for weeks or months. We understand owners fall on hard financial times, but ignoring your pet's pain or hunger is not a solution, it's animal cruelty.
"While it is concerning to see such a large jump in reports of animals without enough food and water, I am pleased to see a 20 per cent drop in reports regarding dogs left in hot cars. Hopefully this means our messaging about the dangers of leaving dogs inside vehicles is getting through."
Ms Dreaver said most of the cases prosecuted by RSPCA WA last financial year related to animals deprived of their most basic needs.
"In 2023-24, RSPCA WA finalised 36 prosecutions relating to 59 dogs, nine cats, seven birds or poultry, six equine, five goats, a sheep, and a pig," she said.
"Many cases related to animals without adequate food and water and failure to seek vet care which is likely a reflection of broader societal issues impacting our community.
"Other shocking cruelty cases included Bear, an 18-year-old dog who needed urgent vet care, and Maverick and Mossy, two horses who were starved by their owner."
Animals most commonly reported
Welfare concerns for dogs, cats, horses and birds or poultry made up the majority of reported cruelty offences in 2023-24.
- 5880 reported offences involved dogs and puppies
- 1315 reported offences involved cats and kittens
- 594 reported offences involved horses
- 543 reported offences involved birds or poultry.
Note: Some of these offences involved multiple animals.
Ms Dreaver said RSPCA WA had ramped up events like Community Action Days to help struggling pet owners.
"In hotspots where cruelty is prevalent, RSPCA WA works hard to improve standards of animal welfare, but we're still getting a consistently high number of calls," she said.
"With the rising cost-of-living hitting WA families hard, we're worried neglect of those basic needs is only going to increase. If you're no longer able to care for your animals to the standard they deserve you must reach out for help sooner rather than later."
About this data
- Many of the 7138 reports investigated by RSPCA WA in 2023-24 included allegations of multiple offences involving multiple animals.
- Not every report contains a substantiated offence. Some reports involve concerns that do not meet the threshold for an offence in WA, and others were not substantiated through investigation.
- Not every offence results in a charge or a prosecution. Many offences are resolved quickly by the owner or person in charge of an animal after they have been contacted by an RSPCA WA inspector.
