Redlands' worst suburbs for animal cruelty revealed: RSPCA

It accounted for 48 of nearly 400 complaints received across the Redlands in 2020, followed closely by Cleveland, with 42, and Russell Island, with 35.

Making up the bottom of the list were Karragarra and Lamb islands, with one and three complaints respectively.

The worst suburbs in Queensland were Caboolture, with 178 complaints, Morayfield, with 143, and Redbank Plains, with 141.

Capalaba came in 56^th on the list. It was also the worst Redlands suburb in 2019, with 63 complaints.

RSPCA Queensland spokesman Michael Beatty said inspectorate and rescue services had worked full throttle in 2020, having investigated 17,146 complaints during the year.

Animal ambulance officers attended 29,072 rescues.

RSPCA Inspectors investigated 17,146 complaints about animal cruelty and neglect and ambulance officers attended 29, 072 rescues.

It's down from 18,681 in 2019.

"It's still been incredibly busy but (the) number of jobs has decreased slightly from last year which I guess is a glimmer of hope," Mr Beatty said.

"Some of the more distressing inspectorate cases included a kitten that had firecrackers taped to it and set alight, and a dog that was shot in the leg that later had to be amputated.

"Ambulance rescues included a wallaby down a mineshaft, ducklings hatched in a home owner's chimney, a coughing kangaroo that was treated with antibiotics and a possum stuck in a pipe that was filled with excrement."

Police allegedly found eight chicks dead on a Thornlands property in June.

An RSPCA task force, consisting of two inspectors and a digital intelligence officer, investigated 26 incidents in relation to prohibited events, like dog fighting and cock fighting, 58 jobs involving commercial breeders and seven involving rescue groups.