RSPCA Victoria is sounding the alarm of a horse crisis facing the state with more than 8,100 horses involved in animal cruelty reports this financial year and calling on horse owners to make sure they are prepared with enough feed and water for their animals.
With severe rainfall deficiencies and in some cases lowest recorded rainfall over the last 12 months, available feed is becoming increasingly scarce and ongoing cost-of-living pressures means many are struggling to buy necessary feed.
As a result, RSPCA Victoria's Inspectorate has received nearly 800 animal cruelty reports specifically related to 8,100 horses this financial year, a 37% increase on the previous year, with more than 800 horses still involved in active investigations.
RSPCA Victoria Chief Inspector Michelle Green said the number of horses reported has skyrocketed.
"This financial year alone we've seen a 53% increase in the number of horses involved in animal cruelty reports," Chief Inspector Green said.
"This year we have already taken in 183 horses, with more than 60 horses still in our care, with the majority at various agistments across the state due to the limited capacity at our shelter.
"Caring for these horses comes at a cost with each horse estimated to remain under our care for an average of 120 days, costing nearly $50 per day per horse."
Cruelty and neglect towards horses is often more visible than other forms of animal cruelty, and sadly RSPCA Victoria expects this situation will get worse as the dry conditions continue.
Chief Inspector Green explained some of the challenges when investigating neglect and cruelty towards horses.
"Adding to the challenge of investigations is people expecting immediate seizure of animals which is not always an option, whether it be for the animal's own health, or because despite the conditions of the animals, under the current legislation there is no legal basis for us to seize," Chief Inspector Green said.
"We understand people get extremely concerned when they see unwell horses, and want to see immediate removal of animals, however it's not always possible and these cases can often take months to resolve, and we also need to hold owners to account.
"Our Inspectors are working behind the scenes enforcing legislation and to ensure the best outcome for the animals.
"We already have 180 open cases specifically related to more than 800 horses, and we expect more will be coming through as the dry conditions persist."
With only 28 Inspectors on the road to investigate more than 10,000 cruelty reports across the state, RSPCA Victoria CEO Dr Liz Walker reiterated the call for sufficient government funding for its Inspectorate division amid increasing safety concerns after years of supplementing its law enforcement arm with community donations.
"In addition to existing safety concerns for our Inspectors, without sufficient funding sadly we will likely need to restrict the species of animal we investigate, rehabilitate and rehome, removing horses, poultry, and livestock[i] from our scope of work," Dr Walker said.
"Our Inspectors are the only authorised officers under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act who currently enforce and prosecute horse welfare in the state and with horses not currently covered by local laws, without other law enforcement agencies picking it up, neglect and cruelty towards horses will be left unchecked across the state."
RSPCA Victoria currently receives ongoing funding from the Victorian Government ($2.3 million per year) only covering around 21% of its Inspectorate costs, forecast to be $10.8 million this financial year.
"While we're incredibly grateful for the funding we receive annually, and the additional one-off boost of $2.5 million received this financial year, this barely makes a dent in the amount it costs keep our inspectors on the road and to care and rehabilitate the animals coming in through the Inspectorate," Dr Walker said.
Anyone with concerns about the welfare of animals with first-hand information is urged to make a report to RSPCA Victoria at rspcavic.org/cruelty-report or by calling 03 9224 2222.
[i] RSPCA Victoria's Inspectorate only investigates reports related to less than 10 head of livestock (845 reports this financial year), or less than 50 head of poultry (185 reports this financial year).
