A GoFundMe page launched by a Mount Eliza animal owner pleading for money to buy food for around 50 horses and 20 goats has not received a single donation.

The page was launched in June and asked for "drought emergency relief" for animals housed at a Moorooduc Highway property.

Maxine Galpin made the online plea, writing that the price of hay bales had increased by 600 per cent.

But residents have accused the former horse trainer of animal neglect.

Her property has been subject to weekend protests since April, with up to 120 people attending the picket.

A Facebook group, "Peaceful Protests Mt Eliza horses", has 3,300 members.

The group’s organiser, Carly Wines, said it was time the RSPCA intervened.

“I think that speaks volumes, that she is admitting that she’s not got a penny to feed these animals,” Wines said. 

“So why on earth would the RSPCA leave animals in the care of someone who is saying I cannot feed these animals?”

But Maxine Galpin’s said that she was being subjected to a campaign of harassment.

Galpin claimed she broke her arm while repairing a fence damaged by an activist, bones had been left in her letterbox, her mail was stolen, and that she was under constant surveillance from the community.

“I’m fearful because I’ve woken up to so much abuse, you’ve got no idea,” Galpin said.

In a statement, the RSPCA said a number of the horses housed at the property were under “active investigation” due to being underweight.

The animal protection agency has visited the property 19 times since it opened its investigation.

Yet the local community is dismayed at the response from the RSPCA, with many advocating for the animals’ seizure.

Animal Justice Party leader Georgie Purcell said the RSPCA issued compliance notices when concerns over animal welfare were raised, but the seizure of animals remained difficult.

“She’s complying with the notice and supplying a minimal amount of food and a minimal amount of water, and it doesn't allow them to meet the seizure criteria,” Purcell said.

“I do believe that the RSPCA is using the fact that our laws are weak as a bit of a scapegoat,” she said.

“We know that, in the past, they have found a way to intervene.”

A new Animals Care and Protection bill, which would increase welfare agencies’ ability to seize animals, has been written but has not yet been tabled in parliament.

“It includes what's called a duty of care and would give authorities the power to intervene much sooner,” Purcell said.

“These laws work to prevent cruelty ever happening in the first place rather than punishing the cruelty when it does happen,” she said.

The legislation was written in 2022, but has been held up in its consultation phase.

During a parliamentary sitting last month, Purcell asked Victorian Agriculture Minister Ros Spence if the bill would be presented to parliament this year.

“It’s the Premier’s officer that’s holding it up,” she said.

“The most important thing that Victorians can do right now is write to the Premier of Victoria, Jacinta Allan, and ask her to honour her commitment.”

Spence would not be drawn on when the legislation will be tabled, but said the government did not tolerate the poor treatment of animals.

“There is no place for animal cruelty and anyone who breaks the law will be investigated and dealt with,” Spence said in a written statement. 

Mornington MP Chris Crewther said the RSPCA was drastically underfunded and that Labor needed to increase its annual funding beyond $2.5 million.

“They are about $7 million short of where they need to be,” Crewther said.

“They are eating into their savings, which has not been matched sufficiently by donations.”