RSPCA could soon hand out on the spot fines for animal cruelty

ANIMAL abusers could soon be slapped with on the spot fines to help curb skyrocketing animal cruelty rates.

A report today released by the RSPCA revealed a lengthy list of recommendations to give them more power to punish people who hurt animals. Picture: Jason Sammon

ANIMAL abusers could soon be slapped with on the spot fines to help curb skyrocketing animal cruelty rates.

A report today released by the RSPCA, and conducted by former police chief commissioner Neil Comrie, revealed a lengthy list of recommendations to give them more power to punish people who hurt animals.

RSPCA chief executive Liz Walker said Victorians were “clearly concerned” about how the organisation was responding to animal cruelty.

Dr Walker said the animal welfare was already talking to the State Government about giving the RSPCA the power to issue fines.

RSPCA Chief Executive Officer Liz Walker and Chief Operating Officer Jon McGregor. picture: Glenn Ferguson

“If the inspectors experience ... a minor offence, all they can do is issue a notice to comply, and if that doesn’t work, they have to prosecute,” Dr Walker told 3AW this morning.

“There’s a lot of work done for things we just want to give people a rap on the knuckles for, and say this is really important, like speeding fines.”

Only 69 people were prosecuted in 2015, out of a staggering 10,700 reports of animal cruelty in Victoria, the report revealed.

Recommendations in the report also suggested horse owners should have to register their animals, as “the welfare of horses was a growing concern for the RSPCA”.
The State Government have been contacted for comment.