RSPCA WA has identified Collie as one of 12 regional towns listed as an animal cruelty hot spot for 2017.
Collie was listed as number six with a total of 12 reported cases of animal cruelty so far this year.
In 2016, there were 40 reported cases of animal cruelty reported in the 6225 postcode.
An RSPCA WA Spokesperson said most of the reported cases involved dogs, and because Collie was a rural area, there were also cases involving horses.
“All cases we respond to are different, but cases where animals are not provided with food and water tend to be the most harrowing for the Inspectors to deal with, as it suggests suffering over a long period of time,” they said.
“In most cases, Inspectors work with people to rectify any issues, or to surrender their animals to the RSPCA so we can rehabilitate and rehome them.
“Inspectors issue direction notices that must be adhered to (for example, provide food and fresh water) which the Inspectors follow up on.”
RSPCA WA Chief Inspector Amanda Swift said the organisation were in need of more inspectors to be based in regional areas.
“The majority of reports come from areas where our Regional Inspectors are stationed. That’s because when we place an Inspector in a region, the number of cruelty reports for that area go up because people know they can depend on us for help,” she said.
“We desperately need more inspectors throughout WA as we currently have just 11 and we are aware of cruelty happening in locations where we can’t get to.”
There are currently seven Inspectors covering the Perth Metro area, and four regional Inspectors located in Bunbury, Geraldton, Albany and Kalgoorlie.
RSPCA West Australian chief executive officer David van Ooran said the South West were in dire need of additional inspectors.
“We need to get another inspector down there, big time. We have fortunately got one in Donnybrook-Bunbury, which covers Collie,” he said.
He said the time frame to get an inspector in the South West would be reliant on funding.
RSPCA WA has recently launched its biggest ever appeal to get more Inspectors on WA roads.
The ‘20for20’ appeal is calling on every West Australian to donate $20 to increase the number of RSPCA Inspectors across the State to 20; almost double the current number of Inspectors covering the whole of WA.
