RSPCA WA Community Day shows man’s best friend much needed support

The RSPCA has responded to South West towns making up half of the top 10 worst places for animal cruelty, by holding a Community Action Day in Busselton.

Data released by the RSPCA earlier this year found Bunbury, Busselton and Harvey were ranked fourth to sixth in animal cruelty in the regions with Augusta-Margaret River and Collie in eighth and ninth place.

The action day was scheduled for Busselton because while ranked behind Bunbury, it had the biggest increase in reports in the South West with 98 per cent more than the previous year, compared to about 50 per cent more in Collie and Augusta-Margaret River.

At the event on Saturday dozens of pet owners and their four-legged friends received free food, health check-ups and microchipping.

The RSPCA suspects the increase in animal cruelty comes as many pet owners struggle to afford proper food and vet care as the cost of living worsens.

“He’s kept me going when life’s been hard I can tell you that much,” Mr Guelpa said.

“He looks after my girls too . . . we take him out to the cemetery to visit mum and he looks after them, one of them has to go to the toilet, he won’t let his girls go.

“Days like this are so great, like all these volunteers came down from Perth, they took there own time to come down here to help us.”

RSPCA WA South West inspector Genna Haines said a community day in the South West was needed, and they’re thrilled so many people came to help their pets and get information.

“It’s the first community day we’ve done in Busselton, the rangers here have been amazing,” she said.

“There’s a lot of people down here now with a lot of pets, and times are tough for a lot of people . . . it’s wonderful seeing so many people out there wanting to get help, wanting to better look after their pets.”

A report from the RSCPA in July revealed that Busselton is the fifth biggest regional hotspot for animal cruelty in the State, seeing a 98 per cent increase in 2022-23.