Augusta-Margaret River enters top 10 for RSPCA animal cruelty complaints

The Augusta-Margaret River shire has made a top 10 list no one wants to be on.

The RSPCA WA this week revealed the shire had seen a 12 per cent increase in animal cruelty charges in 2021-22, lifting the region from 13th regional position last year to number nine on the hit list.

The ranking comes amid recent reports including a dog allegedly abandoned at the unattended Shire of Augusta-Margaret River pound for 30 hours without food or water, and ongoing prosecution of 78-year-old Witchcliffe man Douglas Frank Crappsley for allegedly using-steel jaw traps on a cat caught in his backyard.

Busselton scored seventh on the regional ranking and Bunbury was third.

While overall complaints were down, RSPCA chief executive Ben Cave said more than double the number of animal cruelty offenders were sentenced in 2021-22 compared to the previous year.

“Looking at these numbers, it can be easy to feel disheartened, but it’s important to remember that every offence reported is a person speaking up and being a voice for animals,” he said.

To make a complaint call 1300 278 358.