RSPCA WA wraps up 2021 with their local highlights in a year that saw cruelty and scam reports spike

2021 was another year of ups and downs, as we all adjusted to the “new normal” and a world that felt just a little bit smaller.

We craved comfort and companionship more than ever, and it’s clear many of us turned to our animals to get it.

A recent study found 69 per cent of households now own a pet — up from 61 per cent just two years ago.

Unfortunately, cruelty reports continued to flood in, with almost 6000 jobs across WA so far this year, and we also heard some terrible stories of pet scammers taking advantage of surging demand.

But at the tail end of 2021, there were so many positives to be grateful for.

So, to farewell 2021 on a high, here are some happy highlights from the Mid West last year.

RSPCA WA Inspector Manager Kylie Green

Some cute faces that stick out in my mind from the year are those of Ninda, Nagari, Namai and Nowie. These puppies came into care after a report that they’d been abandoned without food or water at a house in Geraldton. They were found to be very underweight and malnourished, so all four travelled to RSPCA WA in Perth, where they were fed a special high-calorie diet, and monitored closely.

Once the puppies were well enough, they were desexed and microchipped ready for adoption. Ninda, Nagari, Namai and Nowie all found wonderful new homes in a matter of days, and it was so good to see how happy they were when they left.

Another uplifting story from the region this year involved local groups Geraldton Dog Rescue and Mid West Cat Shelter, who were both recognised as part of RSPCA WA’s Animal Welfare Awards. The groups took out gold and silver gongs respectively, in recognition of more than 27 combined years devoted to helping pets in the region.

It was a pleasure to host both organisations at the October ceremony in Perth and hear more about their exciting plans.

This year we farewelled Inspector Maureen, thanking her for her 10 years of service in the region. While we continue to service the Mid West with inspectors from Perth, we are looking to recruit a new Geraldton-based team member.

If you or anyone you know is interested in a career in animal welfare, you can find the details on the RSPCA WA Current Vacancies page on our website.

We hope you and your two and four-legged family members had safe and happy Christmas and new year.

I look forward to sharing more good news, pet information and welfare news with you in 2022.