Tasmania’s worst suburbs for animal cruelty ranked

The RSPCA has released data on the suburbs with the highest number of animal cruelty incidents for 2023. See if your suburb has made the shameful list. Distressing content warning.

Glenorchy, Devonport and Ulverstone were the suburbs with the highest number of animal welfare incidents in the past financial year, new data reveals.

In the 12 month period, 2167 calls were made to the RSPCA hotline, an increase of 149 from the previous reporting period.

There were 113 notices issued and 65 warning letters sent. Seven individuals were charged and are facing a total of 85 charges between them.

There were nine animal cruelty cases finalised in court.

RSPCA Tasmania chief executive Jan Davis said a lot of cases were to related to owners who did not provide adequate care.

“We’re seeing broader cruelty reports and also surrender reports … most [cruelty reports] are to do with issues under Section 8 of the Animal Cruelty Act, failure to feed, failure to care for,” Ms Davis said.

“It’s basically people who appear to have failed to look after their animal the way they’re supposed to.

“Most of the calls don’t result in charges.”

Blizzard the Siberian husky was malnourished and had been suffering for weeks from lack of food when RSPCA inspectors found him at Bridgewater in September 2017. He was nursed back to health by the Claremont Veterinary Surgery. Blizzard's owner was found guilty of animal cruelty. PICTURES: RSPCA Tasmania

The RSPCA also revealed which suburbs had the highest number of animal cruelty calls.

Glenorchy topped the list, with 43 complaints made to the hotline, followed by Devonport, which had 30 complaints.

The RSPCA was unable to save severely malnourished dog, Cleveland.

“The results are fairly consistent across the time periods, they’re disappointing in that we would like to be seeing decreases in the rates of animal cruelty reports,” Ms Davis said.

“There’s been a bit of a move, normally we would see Ravenswood and Rocherlea both the top two. Devonport was the highest last year.”

Jan Davis RSPCA Tasmania CEO. Tasmania. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Ms Davis said the results showed calls were more commonly coming from lower socio-economic areas.

“(And) this is not just the case in Tasmania,” she said.

Independent Clark MP Kristie Johnston, whose electorate takes in the city of Glenorchy, said stronger animal welfare laws were needed.

“Tasmanian animal welfare laws and standards desperately need to be strengthened to recognise not only the sentience of animals, but also to be clearer about the standards that would ensure and improve their health and wellbeing,” she said.

Independent MLC Kristie Johnston speaks to the media on Parliament Lawns in Hobart on Wednesday, July 26, 2023.

“An urgent legislative review of the Animal Welfare Act is required to not only modernise it so it is reflective of current community expectations when it comes to animal welfare but also incorporates the principle that animals are sentient beings.

“However, improvements to legislation and welfare standards will only work if regulators and inspecting authorities are adequately resourced, to not only educate about improved standards, but also enforce them and, where necessary, prosecute.

“They are currently grossly underfunded and therefore are constrained in what they can do.”

The RSPCA was unable to save severely malnourished dog, Cleveland.

Ranked: Tasmania’s worst animal cruelty hot spots

1. Glenorchy

Number of complaints: 43

Change in cruelty complaints since 2022: 43 per cent

Change in hotspot ranking: 1

Population 50,411, cruelty reports per 1000 people: 0.6

2. Devonport

Number of complaints: 30

Change in cruelty complaints since 2022: -21 per cent

Change in hotspot ranking: -1

Population 26,015, cruelty reports per 1000 people: 1.5

3. Ulverstone

Number of complaints: 25

Change in cruelty complaints since 2022: 9 per cent

Change in hotspot ranking: 2

Population 6,653, cruelty reports per 1000 people: 3.5

4. Bridgewater

Number of complaints: 22

Change in cruelty complaints since 2022: -21 per cent

Change in hotspot ranking: -1

Population 4,592, cruelty reports per 1000 people: 6.1

5. Rocherlea

Number of complaints: 22

Change in cruelty complaints since 2022: 120 per cent

Change in hotspot ranking: 20

Population 1,033, cruelty reports per 1000 people: 9.7

6. Shorewell Park

Number of complaints: 21

Change in cruelty complaints since 2022: 17 per cent

Change in hotspot ranking: 5

Population 2,150, cruelty reports per 1000 people: 8.4

7. Mowbray

Number of complaints: 20

Change in cruelty complaints since 2022: 100 per cent

Change in hotspot ranking: 16

Population 4,048, cruelty reports per 1000 people: 2.5

8. Claremont

Number of complaints: 19

Change in cruelty complaints since 2022: -5 per cent

Change in hotspot ranking: 0

Population 8,397, cruelty reports per 1000 people: 2.4

9. George Town

Number of complaints: 19

Change in cruelty complaints since 2022: -14 per cent

Change in hotspot ranking: -3

Population 4,536, cruelty reports per 1000 people: 4.9

10. Ravenswood

Number of complaints: 18

Change in cruelty complaints since 2022: -22 per cent

Change in hotspot ranking: -6

Population 3,804, cruelty reports per 1000 people: 6

11. Risdon Vale

Number of complaints: 16

Change in cruelty complaints since 2022: 78 per cent

Change in hotspot ranking: 18

Population 3,171, cruelty reports per 1000 people: 2.8

12. St Leonards

Number of complaints: 16

Change in cruelty complaints since 2022: 167 per cent

Change in hotspot ranking: 12

Population 2,351, cruelty reports per 1000 people: 2.6

13. Waverley

Number of complaints: 16

Change in cruelty complaints since 2022: 433 per cent

Change in hotspot ranking: 118

Population 1,582, cruelty reports per 1000 people: 1.9

14. East Devonport

Number of complaints: 15

Change in cruelty complaints since 2022: 650 per cent

Change in hotspot ranking: 133

Population 5,075, cruelty reports per 1000 people: 0.4

15. New Norfolk

Number of complaints: 15

Change in cruelty complaints since 2022: -29 per cent

Change in hotspot ranking: -8

Population 6,153, cruelty reports per 1000 people: 3.4

16. Brighton

Number of complaints: 14

Change in cruelty complaints since 2022: 40 per cent

Change in hotspot ranking: 2

Population 4,983, cruelty reports per 1000 people: 2

17. Kingston

Number of complaints: 13

Change in cruelty complaints since 2022: 0 per cent

Change in hotspot ranking: -2

Population 12,288, cruelty reports per 1000 people: 1.1

18. Chigwell

Number of complaints: 12

Change in cruelty complaints since 2022: 300 per cent

Change in hotspot ranking: 87

Population 2,050, cruelty reports per 1000 people: 1.5

19. Clarendon Vale

Number of complaints: 11

Change in cruelty complaints since 2022: 83 per cent

Change in hotspot ranking: 27

Population 1,635, cruelty reports per 1000 people: 3.7

20. Herdsmans Cove

Number of complaints: 11

Change in cruelty complaints since 2022: 83 per cent

Change in hotspot ranking: 29

Population 1,199, cruelty reports per 1000 people: 5

21. Newnham

Number of complaints: 11

Change in cruelty complaints since 2022: 10 per cent

Change in hotspot ranking: 3

Population 7,073, cruelty reports per 1000 people: 1.4

22. Rokeby

Number of complaints: 11

Change in cruelty complaints since 2022: -27 per cent

Change in hotspot ranking: -10

Population 4,211, cruelty reports per 1000 people: 3.6

23. Sandy Bay

Number of complaints: 11

Change in cruelty complaints since 2022: 450 per cent

Change in hotspot ranking: 159

Population 12,326, cruelty reports per 1000 people: 0.2

24. Youngtown

Number of complaints: 11

Change in cruelty complaints since 2022: 10 per cent

Change in hotspot ranking: 2

Population 4,315, cruelty reports per 1000 people: 2.3

25. Beaconsfield

Number of complaints: 10

Change in cruelty complaints since 2022: 19 per cent

Change in hotspot ranking: 19

Population 1,093, cruelty reports per 1000 people: 5.5

26. Launceston

Number of complaints: 10

Change in cruelty complaints since 2022: 0 per cent

Change in hotspot ranking: -6

Population 70,055, cruelty reports per 1000 people: 0.1

27. Westbury

Number of complaints: 10

Change in cruelty complaints since 2022: 43 per cent

Change in hotspot ranking: 16

Population 2,272, cruelty reports per 1000 people: 3.1

28. Epping Forest

Number of complaints: 9

Change in cruelty complaints since 2022: 29 per cent

Change in hotspot ranking: 9

Population 87, cruelty reports per 1000 people: 80.5

29. Geeveston

Number of complaints: 8

Change in cruelty complaints since 2022: 14 per cent

Change in hotspot ranking: 9

Population 1,431, cruelty reports per 1000 people: 4.9