According to the local RSPCA hunting animals are on the one hand often mistreated, confined into cages and underfed and on the other can even be dangerous or aggressive towards other animals and people.

They say there are probably about 100 hunting dogs kept in metropolitan Glen Innes, often confined into backyards. They want them sent out of populated areas and are asking for neighbors to dog in pet parents who are mistreating their animals.

Hunting dogs are often kept malnourished on the theory that a hungry animal is a better hunter, and are often caged when left alone to mitigate their potential risk to others, to prevent theft, and for fear of being taken to the pound.

Two cats have recently been killed by hunting dogs in Glen Innes, One former cat owner told the Examiner that her pet was killed last week when it fell off a tree it had climbed into the neighbors yard. The mum wasn't home and the dog snapped the four month old cat's neck in seconds. The mum ran into the cage afterwards, risking herself an injury, but it was too late. 

A hunting dog last year killed a one-year-old toddler in Inverell. 

Brigitte Burridge, the RSPCA's dog coordinator, is asking people to help report evidence of mistreatment by neighbors.

"Either don't have them in town or, really, treat them with some respect. Treat them like you treat another dog."

She described a case around four weeks where dogs were kept in cages for weeks, without being fed or watered regularly on days with temperatures in the high 30s.

"People are afraid to tell us because they think that people are going to retaliate or bash them up or get nasty with them, become really difficult neighbors," she said.

"Please if you do see something going on, contact the cruelty hotline, it will be anonymous. Don't be afraid."

She said some drug dealers used animals as guard dogs "more often than not". Dobbing them in for one offence could lead to conviction for the other, she said.

The charity can rarely take effective action to enforce animal welfare laws due to lack of staffing in the immediate area. They are prevented from entering properties on their own without professional support from Walcha.