It’s kind to not be cruel

MP calls for animal-care education

AN MP has called for mandatory animal cruelty education in Victorian schools following the announcement that Geelong is Victoria’s animal cruelty capital for the third year in a row.

Animal welfare organisation RSPCA Victoria on Wednesday revealed its inspectorate received 617 animal cruelty reports for the City of Greater Geelong in 2018/19 — beating the state’s next worst offender, Casey, where 561 reports were made.

Animal Justice Party MP Andy Meddick said the statistics, released by the RSPCA, show the majority of animal cruelty reports relate to neglect, highlighting the importance of teaching young people about responsible companion animal care.

“For the third year in a row, Geelong has been titled Victoria’s cruellest city to animals,” he said.

“It’s shameful, and we have to do something about it.

“That’s why I am calling for mandatory animal cruelty education in our schools.”

Complaints about animals with insufficient food, water and shelter accounted for the majority — 6672 — of the 11,638 animal cruelty reports made in 2018/19, the RSPCA said.

Mr Meddick said neglect was a form of animal cruelty and teaching future generations about how to responsibly care for their animals would help remove this shameful title from our town.

“I will speak to the Minister for Education about the importance of a program like this when parliament resumes,” he said.

“Victoria does not want to gain an international reputation of animal cruelty.

“We’re better than that, and I know we can do better.”

Mr Meddick said animal cruelty did not need to be intentional.

“In fact, most animal cruelty is a result of lack of education,” he said. “Teaching children and young adults about the importance of sufficient food, water, shelter and socialisation is an important step in ridding Geelong of its serious neglect problem.”

Mr Meddick said Geelong could be the subject of a pilot program given its terrible record.

Education Minister James Merlino said the State Government had no plans to alter the curriculum for compulsory animal cruelty classes.

“Schools choose how to implement the Victorian curriculum in a way that best meets the needs of their students and local community,” he said.

“Students can already look at issues and actively debate topics that impact on their lives via the current curriculum.”

Picture: ALAN BARBER FEATHERED FRIENDS: Queenscliff Primary is one of several schools already educating students about how to care for animals. Pictured with teacher Richard Buckingham are students Inez and Nina and two classroom pets.