SA rescue animals’ incredible tales of survival after more than 4000 reports of animal cruelty made to RSPCA in 2019/20
Incredible tales of survival and compassion from unimaginable animal cruelty has come to light through a new RSPCA SA campaign. Read the amazing stories of these animals and their new owners.
SA News
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The remarkable recoveries of dogs and cats from some of the most brutal examples of animal cruelty – including severe malnutrition to untreated septic wounds – have emerged from new RSPCA data.
Among them are Bazza, the Staffordshire-Cross, and Rhodesian ridgeback-Cross Rosco.
“Despite such a horrible experience and some big challenges, Rosco is the most beautiful, caring dog – he is an angel and we never want him to suffer again,” says his new owner Jasmine.
More than 4000 reports of animal cruelty were made to the RSPCA SA in 2019/20, with 863 animals seized or surrendered during animal welfare investigations.
Twelve animals were found dead or dying by RSPCA inspectors and 188 were so sick, injured or mentally ill they had to be euthanized.
The state’s only dedicated animal welfare inspectorate is warning pet owners not to cry poor as an excuse for allowing their animals to suffer and die as the nation faces its first recession in 29 years.
“In many cases we investigate, it’s not financial hardship that’s resulting in animals being left to suffer,” said RSPCA SA chief inspector Andrea Lewis.
“It’s owners who choose to spend their incomes on anything but the things needed to keep their animals healthy – or even alive,” she said.
“Why some people even have animals is a mystery to us, when they don’t engage with them and show no regard for their wellbeing.”
Signs of escalating neglect and mistreatment, in line with rising unemployment, are emerging. Last financial year figures are up a third for animals found in poor living conditions compared to 2017/18 and up 23 per cent for animal cruelty.
Lack of food and water was the second most prevalent form of animal abuse and neglect in SA last year.
“If you find that you can’t afford to feed your animals properly and get them to a vet, then finding them a new, good home or surrendering them to a reputable animal welfare organisation like RSPCA is the kindest thing you can do for your pet,” said Ms Lewis.
The RSPCA’s seven investigators used their legal powers to prosecute 27 cases, finalised in 2019/20, involving 29 defendants – the majority women.
One of the most distressing cases for inspectors last year was of a 10-year-old female Staffordshire-Cross seized in the Riverland.
She was so severely emaciated, deformed by untreated arthritis and infected with wounds left to rot for at least a year that she was euthanized despite several weeks of specialist treatment by RSPCA veterinarians.
Four cases involved animal abandonment, including a woman who left two puppies without food and water in a Glenelg North motel room and never returned, and a couple who left 10 cats and a dog in a squalid house at a property south of Adelaide.
While the majority of animal cruelty reports made to the RSPCA in 2019/20 involved cats, dogs were over-represented in cruelty cases. One of the most alarming was the deliberate cruelty of an 11-month-old German Shepherd whose muzzle was cable-tied shut by his owner because he was chewing things.
The dog’s Mt Gambier owner Yum Ho Chan, 48, was in October last year given a 15-month good-behaviour bond and ordered to pay $1600 in vet bills costs. He has been banned from owning any animals until October 2021.
In total, six defendants received suspended sentences and two were given an immediate one-month prison term for the chronic neglect of 100 animals.
There currently are 28 cases involving animal cruelty and neglect charges before SA courts.
The RSPCA’s month-long ‘Combat Cruelty’ campaign is aiming to raise awareness about the root causes of animal suffering across the state.
It is the third consecutive year that RSPCA South Australia’s inspectorate has opened its cruelty case files to the public.
To report animal cruelty or neglect call RSPCA’s 24-hour hotline on 1300 477 722.