Caboolture the worst suburb in Queensland for animal cruelty

A suburb north of Brisbane has the dubious honour of being the worst in Queensland for animal cruelty for the fourth year in the row by the RSPCA — but the same data reveals it’s not all bad in the state’s southeast.

CABOOLTURE has been named and shamed as the worst suburb in Queensland for animal cruelty for the fourth year in a row, while Forest Lake has been crowned in top spot for adopting.

Data released to The ­Courier-Mail by the RSPCA shows Caboolture (including Caboolture South) had the most animal cruelty reports made last year at 287.

Other hotspots included Morayfield, where 163 cruelty claims were made, and Deception Bay (158).

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RSPCA spokesman Michael Beatty said that during his time with the organisation, those three suburbs had been trouble spots for animal cruelty.

Clarke the American Bulldog was abandoned in the Caboolture area. Picture: AAP/Josh Woning

Cruelty claims in Caboolture and Deception Bay are up from last year, with owners breaching their duty of care and neglecting their animals.

“Animals being left out in the sun, suffering heat stress with no access to water or appropriate shade … right across the board to horses being neglected, you name it,” Mr ­Beatty said.

He said it had become increasingly frustrating to see owners tethering dogs outside in the sweltering heat.

“Unfortunately it happens a lot and every year there are animals that die for that very reason,” he said.

Bambii the Dogue de Bourdeu was found in a horrible condition in Upper Caboolture last year. Picture: AAP/Josh Woning

One dog, Bambii, was found by council roaming in Upper Caboolture in October, with puncture wounds to her head and shoulders.

She was abandoned at the pound with no owners coming forward to claim her.

Bambii needed major dental surgery and treatment for her wounds, with 12 vet ­appointments in total.

She is just one example of an abandoned animal from Caboolture hoping to find a forever home at today’s RSPCA pop-up adoption event at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The RSPCA named Forest Lake as Queensland’s top suburb for animal adoption, with 149 animals given a home last year.

Poppy Lowndes, 10, with dog Pepper at Forest Lake. Picture: AAP/John Gass

Nearly 10,000 cats were adopted through the RSPCA last year, and more than 5000 dogs. Overall, 16,809 animals — including 29 goats, 15 horses and five pigs — were adopted across centres in Queensland.

When it came to adult pets, Kallangur adopted the most dogs (44) — yet the suburb is also on the top cruelty list — while Kingaroy households took home the most cats (63).

Sarah Manuel, from Forest Lake, adopted her maltese terrier Pepper from the RSPCA. A victim of abuse, Pepper has taken time to trust people again.

New data has revealed Australia's worst suburbs for animal cruelty and best for adoption.