Gympie, Fraser Coast and Bundaberg animal cruelty reports revealed by suburb

The RSPCA has revealed the Gympie, Fraser Coast and Bundaberg communities where they investigated more than 300 complaints of animal cruelty in 2021. Now we can reveal the suburbs where animal cruelty was worst:

Gympie has been revealed as the Wide Bay’s worst region for animal cruelty for 2021, narrowly beating out Maryborough for the ignoble title.

New data from RSPCA Queensland has revealed there were 102 complaints of animals cruelty in the Gympie region to the RSPCA in the past year; in Maryborough the RSPCA received 101 complaints.

The two regions’ troubling complaint rates were well above the next nearest area, which was Bundaberg with 37 complaints.

Hervey Bay was the source of 32 complaints made to the RSPCA.

In total there were 333 reports investigated by RSPCA Queensland in Wide Bay.

They were part of the more than 16,000 reports across the state in 2021; 4 per cent less than in 2020.

This reduction was a described as a “positive sign” by RSPCA Queensland spokeswoman Emma Lagoon.

Gympie was a the centre of 102 animal cruelty complaints in 2021, narrowly topping Maryborough which had 101.

The most common cruelty complaints received by the group were: animals in poor condition, poor living conditions, animals being tethered, animal cruelty, animals without veterinary treatment, abandoned animals, animals without shelter and heat stress.

Caboolture remained Queensland’s worst offending region with 193 animal welfare complaints, an up 8 per cent on 2020.

Morayfield and Redbank Plains each had 140 along with Redbank Plains.

“While some suburbs have seen a reduction in cruelty complaints compared to last year, there is still more work to be done,” Ms Lagoon said.

“This year we will increase our focus on supporting communities in complaint hotspot suburbs.

“Through community outreach programs, we aim to address the root causes of animal welfare issues through education and support with primary pet care needs and services.”

Wide Bay suburbs and the number of cruelty complaints

Gympie – 102

Maryborough – 101

Bundaberg- 37

Hervey Bay – 32

Burrum River/Heads – 15

Torbanlea – 10

Childers – 10

Gin Gin – 9

Goomeri – 8

Cooloola Coast – 6

Fraser Island – 3