Reports of animal cruelty and animals being seized or surrendered increased in Hobsons Bay in the 12 months to June 30.
The results are included in RSPCA Victoria’s annual Animal Cruelty Report for the 2024-25 financial year, which showed 141 reports of animal cruelty in Hobsons Bay for the year to June 30.
The figure was 18 more than the 123 cases of animal cruelty recorded in the municipality for the 2024-23 financial year and the highest since 149 were recorded in 2021-20.
Including complaints such as animals having insufficient food water and shelter, the amount of animal cruelty cases in Hobsons Bay ranked it 27th among Victoria local government areas (LGA), up two spots from the previous year and the highest in five years.
Coming in one spot higher than Hobsons Bay was its neighbouring council area, Maribyrnong, which recorded the 26th most animal cruelty cases with 144.
While still three more than its southern neighbour, Maribyrnong’s figure is substantially lower than a year earlier when 158 animal cruelty cases were recorded, putting it in the top 20 LGA’s in the state.
Maribyrnong’s total for 2025-24 was it’s second lowest in the last five years, seven more than the 138 recorded in 2023-22 and 16 less than the highest number of 161 registered a year earlier in 2022-21.
While the two municipalities recorded similar numbers of animal cruelty cases, the amount of In the number of animals seized or surrendered in the last fast final year was starkly different.
Hobsons Bay also recorded an increase in the number of animals seized or surrendered with 40 in 2025-24, up from 24 the previous year and almost three times the 14 recorded two years earlier.
Maribyrnong however recorded fewer than five for 2025-24, the lowest category possible and a reduction on the nine animals seized or surrendered a year earlier.
Statewide, both categories increased, with more than 10,000 animal cruelty reports made and 1,870 animals seized or surrendered, almost double the number recorded a decade earlier.
