Ballarat, the Pyrenees Shire and the Central Goldfields region have been named and shamed in a new animal cruelty report by RSPCA Victoria.
The animal welfare organisation responded to more than 10,000 reports of cruelty across Victoria over the last financial year.
In Ballarat, 37 animals were seized or surrended over the last financial year and had the 17th highest number of animal cruelty reports to the inspectorate in the state, up three places from last financial year.
The Pyrenees local government area recorded the second highest number of cruelty reports per 1,000 people over the last financial year, with the Central Goldfields region ranking fifth.
Melton recorded the highest number of animals seized or surrended, with the highest number of cruelty reports coming from Greater Geelong.
