Animal cruelty cases spike in two suburbs
ANIMAL cruelty complaints have increased by almost 80 per cent in some Gold Coast areas with two suburbs named among Queensland’s 10 worst by the RSPCA.
Animal cruelty complaints have increased dramatically in some suburbs, new RSPCA data compiled by the Bulletin reveals.
Bonogin saw a 79 per cent increase, jumping from just four complaints in 2019 to 19 in 2020. For the same period
Pacific Pines also jumped from six cases to 23, a 74 per cent increase.
Meanwhile Southport and Pimpama were among the worst for animal abuse in the state, with Southport ranking sixth highest in Queensland with 125 complaints, a 13 per cent increase from 109 complaints in 2020.
Pimpama came in at 10th on the list, recording 101 complaints compared to 2019’s 83 (18 per cent increase).
RSPCA Queensland spokesman Michael Beatty
said: “It’s still been incredibly busy but the number of jobs has decreased slightly from last year which I guess is a glimmer of hope.”
The total number of jobs on the Gold Coast decreased by just two cases, from 1334 to 1332.
There have been a number high-profile animal abuse complaints on the Gold Coast during the last year, including a kangaroo joey shoved into a Woongoolba post box. Emergency services were called in
rescue the animal in
November 2020, when it was found forced inside the letterbox on Stapylton Jacobs Well Rd.
RSCPA Queensland lodged a cruelty complaint at the time and appealed for anyone with information to come forward.
Staff at the Animal Welfare League of Queensland said while they couldn’t comment on animal abuse, they had seen a drop in the number of pets surrendered throughout the pandemic.
AWLQ representative
Craig Montgomery said: “We believe this decreased due to many people being home or working from home during this period and having more time to spend with their pets.
“Our adoption stats have also decreased during COVID-19 and compared to pre-COVID-19, and at the same time as the previous year.
“This is primarily because we have had fewer animals come into our care during this time.”