Animal cruelty is on the rise as Australians battle the cost of living crisis, with some pets being deprived of basic needs.
New data from the RSPCA in Western Australia has revealed an 11 per cent increase in animal cruelty reports in the past year.
The animal rights body received 7126 animal cruelty reports in the 2022-23 financial year, an average of more than 19 a day.
According to RSPCA WA chief executive Ben Cave, there’s a common factor: the cost of living crisis.