Worst suburb for animal cruelty in Queensland revealed

Damning new figures from the RSPCA show animal cruelty is out of control in Queensland and which suburbs and regions are the worst offenders, with some recording a 60 per cent spike in cases. WARNING: DISTURBING CONTENT

Animals are being abused at a staggering rate as complaints flood the RSPCA.

Latest figures released today show Queensland Inspectors responded to 16,331 animal welfare complaints in 2021.

The worst suburb in the state for reported cruelty to animals was Caboolture.

The low socio-economic suburb in Moreton Bay recorded 193 animal welfare

complaints, an eight per cent increase on the previous year.

Nearby Morayfield followed with 140 complaints along with Redbank Plains in Ipswich, both up on 2020 figures.

This kitten survived severe burns after fireworks were attached with duct tape and set alight.

In an alarming trend, Inala in Brisbane’s southwest recorded a whopping 60 per cent increase in complaint numbers from the previous year, with 129 calls to the RSPCA to investigate.

Across Queensland 51 suburbs had more than 50 complaints.

In a positive sign, Kallangur (Moreton Bay), Pimpama (Gold Coast) and Brassall (Ipswich) all had reductions of up to 38 per cent in calls to the RSPCA despite recording more than 50 each.

RSPCA Queensland spokesperson Emma Lagoon said while 744 fewer cruelty complaints were reported overall against 2020, there was “still more work to done”.

“This year we will increase our focus on supporting communities in complaint hotspot suburbs,” Ms Lagoon said.

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

Council regions with 49+ welfare complaints:

* Logan – 12 suburbs

* Moreton Bay – 8 suburbs

* Ipswich – 7 suburbs

* Gold Coast – 6 suburbs

* Brisbane – 5 suburbs

* Townsville – 3 suburbs

* Rockhampton – 2 suburbs

* Cairns, Fraser Coast, Gympie, Mackay, Whitsundays, Redland, South Burnett, Southern Downs, Sunshine Coast – 1 suburb

Ms Lagoon urged anyone with an animal welfare concern to report it to RSPCA Queensland on 1300 ANIMAL (1300 264 625) or email [e-mail].

“We hope increased reports to our team about welfare concerns also means people are becoming savvier and more proactive in their suburbs,” she said.

The kitten had been duct-taped to fireworks that were set alight, before being dumped in a bin.

The kitten, named Charlie, is now living his best life with mate Whiskey.

Worst cruelty cases settled in court in 2021

* Bradley Hackett, 23, of Logan, jailed after filming a terrified kitten duct-taped to fireworks as he set them alight. The severely dehydrated kitten survived with burns to her face and ears before being dumped and left to die in a wheelie bin. The kitten was miraculously rescued and survived.

Bradley Hackett strapped a firecracker to a kitten and set it alight.

* Caboolture couple Lauren, 26, and Christian Sethi, 27, placed on an 18-month animal ownership prohibition order and fined $1800 each after failing to treat their starving dog Roman, a bull arab cross, for worms after he was found with bones protruding from his body.

Roman the Bull Arab’s owners Lauren and Christian Sethi failed to treat the starving animal for worms.

Roman has been nursed back to peak health by RSPCA volunteers, including Yvonne Bishop.

* Tony Ivan Neindorf, 46, fined $1250 after shooting a bird with an arrow. The plover was spotted in D’Aguilar, near Caboolture, with the weapon through its chest. Its injuries were so severe it had to be euthanised.

This plover was eventually euthanised after it was found an arrow through its chest. Picture RSPCA

* Tayla Teece, 24, from Caboolture, banned from owning animals for 10 years and fined $2059 after her 20 rats and five cats were found poorly cared for. Teece, who lived in squalor with the animals, previously had been banned in 2019 from owning more than one cat for five years.

Bundy the Dogue de Bordeaux was found in an emaciated state, his owner convicted of animal cruelty.

As this photo supplied by the RSPCA shows, Bundy is now a much healthier, happier dog.

* Jason Visser, 43, of Ningi, convicted of animal cruelty and ordered to pay $1140 in costs after Bundy, a Dogue De Bordeaux, was found in an emaciated statewith a dark mark around his neck from where a chain had been. Two other dogs in his care were also allegedly in poor condition.

* Bowen man Andrew Lee Silver, 29, fined $2000 plus $2637 in court and vet costs, after failing to provide adequate food, water, vet treatments and suitable living conditions to four dogs and four birds. The court allowed him to keep the animals.

Ilona Karmynchinka leaving Gympie Magistrates Court in October 2021.

* Gympie woman Ilona Karmynchinka sentenced to 200 hours’ community service and ordered to pay $29,507 in compensation to the RSPCA after 45 cats and 17 dogs were found in putrid conditions. Karmynchinka was previously charged with 82 animal cruelty offences but they were dismissed.

* Raymond John Lloyd, 37, of Gympie, given 100 hours’ community service for failing to provide proper care to 45 cats and 17 dogs throughout his involvement in an unregistered commercial breeding enterprise which included selling pets online. He was also fined $6707 and banned from owning an animal for five years.

Mackay man Lazar Morris May-Jolley was given 240 hours' community service for beating his bull arab puppy.

* Mackay man Lazar Morris May-Jolley beat his bull arab pup Jerry out of spite, including with his fists and a shovel. A neighbour filmed the assault, in which the seven-month-old dog was howling in distress. May-Jolley was slapped with a five-year ownership prohibition order and 240 hours’ community service, placed on 12 months’ probation and fined $2009 in costs.