Complete list of animal cruelty complaints by Gold Coast suburb

MORE than 90 complaints were filed at one suburb alone last year as the RSPCA battles with an increasing number of complaints. So where does your suburb sit? SEE THE FULL SUBURB LIST HERE

THE latest RSPCA statistics have revealed the Gold Coast’s hot spots for animal cruelty complaints.

Topping the list was Southport with 92 complaints, closely followed by Labrador with 76 and Nerang (74).

Footage revealing a man abusing his pet staffy at the Palm Beach Parklands earlier this week sparked an outcry from the community calling for the man to be ‘named and shamed.’

The dog was seized late Tuesday afternoon and the RSPCA are investigating.

Zena, a staffy that was mistreated by her owners at Coomera. Photo: RSPCA

The second dog in the footage did not belong to the man and was in good physical condition, so was not taken by inspectors.

But RSPCA spokesman Michael Beatty said the ever-increasing volume of cruelty complaints was worrying and placed an extra workload on their inspectorate.

“It’s the same suburbs that continue to be the highest,” he said

“I guess that’s a reflection on the socio-economic reality, but you can’t totally put it down to that.”

Moo is a cattle dog that was mistreated on the Gold Coast. Photo: RSPCA

Mr Beatty said the RSPCA had one inspector that serviced the entire region, while a second inspector helped to investigate in the northern suburbs.

RSPCA DEMAND MORE FUNDING AND TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY

“It’s a huge amount of complaints to deal with and some of the things they see – it takes a certain type of person ... It’s not as if they’re super highly paid.”

Other suburbs recording high animal cruelty figures include: Upper Coomera (63), Biggera Waters (52), Pimpama (57) and Oxenford (44).

Criminologist Terry Goldsworthy said people could lash out at animals in various forms of cruelty for a number of reasons.

Jett is a Maltese cross King Charles Cavalier that was mistreated by its Gold Coast owner. Photo: RSPCA

“It would be interesting to see what kind of cruelty (has been recorded),” he said.

“It could be neglect versus where old mate decides to kick and punch a dog.”

He said pets could be classed as victims when they were subjected to abuse and were vulnerable members of society.

“Obviously they can’t complain, they can’t seek help,” Dr Goldsworthy said.

“They’re vulnerable victims with no ready help for them. Unless a passer-by sees it, they’re at the mercy of their owner. Owners have an extremely powerful position over them.”

Dr Goldsworthy said people who abused animals could be doing so because of revenge, anger issues and could even be sadistic.

Chyna the dumped Gold Coast dog. The RSPCA was forced to put her down and is now looking for her owner. Photo: RSPCA

“We can see people, especially in their younger years inflicting pain almost as a test run,” he said.

“Evidence is there that those who commit sadistic crimes often have a history of non-human (cruelty).”

He said these people decided how hard the cruelty was to inflict and depending on what they learnt, then moved onto people.

Dr Goldsworthy said it would be useful to do more research on the link between animal cruelty and future violence against people.

Last year the RSPCA recorded more than 2300 animal cruelty complaints on the Gold Coast.

ANIMAL COMPLAINTS BY SUBURB (1st Jan 2017- 10 Jan 2018):

Advancetown 5

Alberton 9

Arundel 17

Ashmore 23

Austinville NA

Benowa 11

Biggera Waters 52

Bilinga 5

Bonogin NA

Broadbeach 13

Broadbeach Waters 18

Bundall 11

Burleigh Heads 19

Burleigh Waters 24

Canungra 10

Carrara 30

Cedar Creek (part), 4

Clagiraba, NA

Clear Island Waters 7

Coolangatta 36

Coombabah 16

Coomera 38

Currumbin 13

Currumbin Valley 8

Currumbin Waters 13

Elanora 12

Gaven 4

Gilberton NA

Gilston 13

Guanaba 5

Helensvale 39 (Helensvale Town Centre, 1)

Highland Park 10

Hollywell 2

Hope Island 15

Jacobs Well 5

Kingsholme 2

Labrador 76

Lower Beechmont 2

Luscombe 5

Main Beach 15

Maudsland 16

Mermaid Beach 18

Mermaid Waters 23

Merrimac 13

Miami 12

Molendinar 27

Mount Nathan NA

Mudgeeraba 43

Natural Bridge NA

Nerang 74

Neranwood 2

Norwell 6

Numinbah Valley 2

Ormeau 32

Ormeau Hills 11

Oxenford 44

Pacific Pines 21

Palm Beach 27

Paradise Point 19

Parkwood 12

Pimpama 57

Reedy Creek 12

Robina 31 (Robina Town Centre 1)

Runaway Bay 20

South Stradbroke 2

Southport 92

Southern Moreton Bay Islands NA

Springbrook 2

Stapylton 5

Steiglitz 4

Surfers Paradise 42

Tallai 9

Tallebudgera 9

Tallebudgera Valley, 11

Tugun, 8

Upper Coomera 63

Varsity Lakes 21

Willow Vale 14

Wongawallan 18

Woongoolba 1

Worongary 15

Yatala 8