Target: Ros Spence, Minister for Agriculture, Victoria, Australia
Goal: Fully fund RSPCA Victoria’s inspectorate and launch emergency feed support so animals going hungry or seized for neglect receive protection and care now.
Yarra Ranges just ranked among the state’s worst areas for animal cruelty reports, with more than a hundred animals seized in a single year. Inspectors describe cases driven less by malice than by cost-of-living strain where animals are left without enough food, water, or shelter. Horses are hit hard as hay prices spike and pasture fails.
RSPCA Victoria says reports of underweight animals have climbed, and cruelty reports tied to insufficient feed jumped year over year. Horse-related complaints and seizures also rose, reflecting drought and high hay costs. With only a few dozen inspectors handling more than ten thousand statewide reports, enforcement capacity remains stretched while animals suffer prolonged hunger or unmanaged illness.
This crisis demands immediate government action that pairs accountability with support. Victoria should fully fund the inspectorate’s operating costs, expand the number of inspectors, and stand up an emergency feed program for at-risk owners who seek help early. Grants for hay and water, rapid-response vet support, and targeted compliance checks can keep families intact while stopping neglect before it turns severe. Act now to protect animals and relieve pressure on rescuers and councils.
PETITION LETTER:
Minister Spence,
Recent data show animal-welfare pressures rising, particularly in the Yarra Ranges, with significant numbers of animals seized and many more at risk due to feed scarcity and household stress. Inspectors cite neglect linked to cost-of-living pressures, while horse cases increase as hay costs soar and pasture declines.
We respectfully urge you to fully fund RSPCA Victoria’s inspectorate so enforcement never depends on donations. Stable public funding will keep investigations consistent and timely while protecting animals across the state.We ask that you increase inspector positions and regional coverage with surge capacity during drought or other high-risk periods. Extra boots on the ground mean faster responses and better prevention.Please establish an emergency animal-feed and water-security program that intervenes early. Targeted assistance can stop neglect before it escalates into seizures or prosecutions.Provide rapid-access veterinary vouchers for urgent triage in hardship cases. Quick clinical care can relieve pain, stabilize animals, and give owners a path back to compliance. Strengthen data sharing and targeted compliance that focuses on repeat or high-risk properties while supporting owners who ask for help early. Smart oversight paired with practical help will cut suffering and improve outcomes.
These steps will save animals, reduce seizures, and support responsible ownership. Pairing firm enforcement for willful cruelty with practical relief for hardship will protect animal welfare statewide.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: BLM Nevada
