SYDNEY, June 27 (Xinhua) -- Animal cruelty has spiked in Western Australia over the past year, with high numbers of beatings, wounding and tormenting reported, according to Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA).
The cases involved "the most violent, wilful and intentional acts of cruelty, and form just a small part of the 40-50 cruelty calls received each day," RSPCA said in a statement on Wednesday.
There has been a 73 percent increase year-on-year in the number of reports of malicious beating or wounding alone, it said.
Most of the attacks involved dogs and puppies but cats, kittens and native wildlife have also been targeted in "noticeable numbers," the group said.
It also received 100 complaints this year about suspected baiting or poisoning of animals throughout the state.
"There are too many reports of people physically abusing their pets, intentionally mistreating animals in their care, or targeting native wildlife. Cruelty to animals is a serious crime, and we will do everything we can to hold people to account for this appalling behavior," the group's chief inspector Amanda Swift said.
Penalties for animal cruelty offenses in the state include jail terms of up to five years and fines of up to 50,000 Australian dollars (36,900 U.S. dollars), according to the animal welfare group.