RSPCA releases distressing figures which show one animal beating reported every 15 minutes
There has been a huge 105% rise in the number of beatings reported to the charity
Animal beatings are sadly on the rise with one report of animal abuse made every 15 minutes the call line is open according to new figures released by the RSPCA.
The charity is highlighting these stark figures as part of its Summer Cruelty Campaign. Instead of a time of sunshine and fun, for many animals, summer is when cruelty peaks.
There has been a 105% rise in reports of beatings in summer over the last four years (1,613 for July/August 2020 to 3,304 in July/August 2024) with four beatings reported every hour or one every 15 minutes the call line is open.
Year on year the number of beating reports has risen by 10% and the charity is braced for this to continue to climb this summer.
Ian Briggs, Head of SOU at the RSPCA, said: “These are really distressing and stark figures. One report of an animal being beaten every half an hour is a horrible thought, but sadly this is the reality in summer when our cruelty line receives a beating report every 30 minutes. It isn’t clear why there has been such a dramatic increase in abuse against animals, but what is clear is that animals are suffering at the hands of people on a much bigger scale than many people realise.
“This is why our Summer Cruelty Campaign is so important to highlight that for thousands of animals, summer is a season of pain and suffering when cruelty peaks. As the RSPCA braces to help tackle animal cruelty, we need your help now more than ever to continue to rescue animals in desperate need of care.”
- Kitten Berlioz (pictured above) suffered physical abuse at the hands of his former owner resulting in multiple fractures to his skull and ribs. The charity rescued Berlioz when he was just four months old, following reports that a kitten had been killed in the West Midlands and that the man had also been violent to another kitten. Berlioz was discovered sitting next to the dead body of his brother and blood stains were found on the walls of the house. Berlioz had a large swelling on the right front of his skull and he was also missing his front teeth. He also had a hairless region in horizontal lines around the underside of his neck, consistent with bruising from either fingers or some sort of material. When Animal Rescue Officer (ARO) Jonny Wood first saw the state the young kitten was in at RSPCA Birmingham Animal Hospital, he knew he had to take him home. After fostering Berlioz and helping to rehabilitate the young kitten, Jonny and his family later adopted him and he is now a much-loved member of their family (pictured right).
Jonny said: “I saw him at the hospital and he looked dazed and weak with a domed forehead due to swelling and he was very reserved – not at all like how you’d expect a young kitten to act. I fell in love with him instantly and after the start he’d had, I just knew he was coming home with me. It was a miracle he was alive.”
- Chihuahua-cross puppy Poppy was rescued by the RSPCA after she was found suffering with broken legs and ribs following a series of attacks in Dorset. She was unable to weight-bear on her back leg, and had a large lump on her front leg. Further examinations also found she had two fractures to her right front leg which had started to heal and other historic injuries, including three fractured ribs as well as skin wounds, an amputated ear tip and a cut to her tongue which had since healed. The vet concluded these injuries were non-accidental and had been caused on different occasions. With the help of his partner, investigating officer Inspector Patrick Bailey looked after Poppy for six weeks until she was ready to be transferred to an RSPCA centre to find her forever home. Poppy now lives life to the full with her owner in Milford on Sea where she enjoys daily walks to the beach.
Ian added: “We’re finding that CCTV footage, doorbell cameras and smartphones are providing a view into society that we never had before, meaning that animal beatings are more likely to be caught on camera in supermarket car parks, on streets, in lifts, and even behind closed doors in the home – giving us the evidence we need to be able to seek justice for animals like Bella.
“This could account for the rise that we are seeing as these awful abusers are more likely to be caught on camera, uploaded to social media or reported directly to us.”
Sadly, dogs were the most likely pet to be beaten with nearly 21,000 dog beating reports made to the charity last year alone with bulldog breeds the most likely to be abused (6,670 reports from 2022-2024) and Staffies (4,786) compared to just 22 reports for Old English Sheepdogs or 58 for West Highland Terriers.
