I really don't want this turning into a 'slagging off Oz' thread (who am I kidding right?). But wanted to get people's opinions and experiences.

I've found there to be a fair bit of animal cruelty/lack of compassion to animals over here.

We've had roos being shot with crossbows, roos being shot and left to die in the road, roos with front paws cut off and left to die, roos with ears cut off, baby koalas being shot - and that's only in the past few months.

On top of this I know first-hand of people who have shot cats that wandered onto their property, shot roos and dumped them in the bush because they ate the flowers in their garden, take pleasure in driving over blue-tongues when they're on the road etc.

I know animal cruelty exists everywhere, but I'm staggered at some of the stuff that goes on here.

What are your guys thoughts?

I heard some crappy stories of quokkas being kicked about in rottnest, maybe people have a sense of annoyance to some animals, maybe the media don't help the matter, don't understand it though.

I have noticed this too and find it very shocking and disappointing.

Shooting roos with a crossbow or bow and arrows is perfectly fine and legal here. Buying an air rifle is very difficult, buying a 90lb bow is not an issue.

Shooting roos that damage your garden is fine and acceptable.

Shooting stray cats is actually very good for the environment.

Rest of the things mentioned are cases of animal cruelty indeed.

No it's not legal to shoot roos with a crossbow, you have to have a permit

Who mentioned anything about 'legal'? Who said the cats were 'stray'?

And I pity you if you think it's 'fine and acceptable' to shoot an animal because it eats your flowers.

Just because something is legal doesn't mean it isn't cruel. Shooting an animal with a crossbow and leaving it to die is very far from 'fine'.

Correct on this, you need a permit to shoot them.

Quick .. start carting water to the outback to stop 'roos from dying a slow horrible death...

That's nature, not animal cruelty

In some places you can borrow traps to catch any cat that goes onto your property ... you then bring it to the pound and they'll put it down if the owners doesn't claim it in time. Takes a bit longer than shooting it on the spot though.

knowingly leaving them to die isn't cruel?

in melbourne the other day... cop shooting injured 'roo. Claims of cruelty because he had to shoot it twice...

The RSPCA pavillion at the ekka shocked me, what is acceptable in animal farming, OMG. Also saw some info on the chicken farming, that was plain horrific, the chickens are forced/fed/stimulated into a deformed state to get the giant sized chicken breast meat you see in supermarkets here, the chickens chest drags on the floor with the weight of it and often the legs cant hold the uneven body weight. There is a shop at Kawana with flyers on it, I didnt take one as my youngest son would have wanted to read it, but it had links to a website etc, will get one next time I am in there alone, its beyond belief.

Why did it have to be shot in the first place?

I was wondering the same. I'm sure it could have been taken to a vets, and if nothing could be done then put to sleep in a more humane way.