RSPCA says cruelty to dogs in Norfolk increased by 9% last year
The charity says it gets worse during the summer months
Intentional harm to dogs, including improper and attempted killings, poisonings, beatings and mutilations, is happening on a "massive scale" and has risen since the coronavirus pandemic, the RSPCA has said.
In Norfolk, in 2022, there were 751 reports made to the RSPCA in the area about cruelty to dogs, compared with 689 in 2021.
Nationally, the number of reports made to the RSPCA about dogs - including intentional harm, neglect and abandonments - in 2022 was 42,690, a 7% increase from 2021 (39,797).
Kathryn Parfitt, RSPCA chief inspector for Norfolk, said: “For hundreds of years dogs have been known as man’s best friend - and if you share your home with one, you will know why, as they are such loyal and loving companions.
“But these awful statistics tell a different story. Dogs are the most abused animal in this country and we investigate more complaints about them than any other type of animal.
“Everyone who cares about animals will be sickened to know how many reports we receive about dogs being kicked, beaten, burned or worse. We need the public’s help to Cancel Out Cruelty. Their donations, no matter how small, help keep our frontline officers out on the road rescuing animals and investigating these terrible reports.”
On this topic, the RSPCA shared the story of a five-year-old female bulldog (above) found abandoned in a garden of a property in Marshland St James, Norfolk, on Sunday 22 January.
The dog was covered in open weeping wounds all over her body and these were believed to be cancerous tumours with secondary infections.
The finder contacted the dog warden who immediately took the poor dog to a vet and was given pain relief, and the dog warden contacted the RSPCA.
The dog was collected and seen by another vet where following further examination it was decided that the kindest thing to do was to put the dog to sleep to end her suffering, as her condition was so bad.
Carl Saunders, branch manager for the West Norfolk Branch, collected the dog to take her to a vet.
He said: “The condition this poor girl had been left in will stay with me forever - it was just heart-breaking to think someone had allowed her to get into this condition
“She would have been suffering for a prolonged period of time and I cannot comprehend how she was left in such pain and discomfort.
“I have seen many poorly and sick dogs who have come to our centre over the years but this poor girl was the worst I have ever seen. Yet despite this she was such a gentle little girl - it truly is heart-breaking.”
Summer cases
The RSPCA said cases of cruelty typically rise in the summer, with 35 beatings reported a day in August 2022.
Mr Murphy added: "Right now, animal cruelty is happening in England and Wales on a massive scale and rising.
"It is heartbreaking that we are seeing such sad figures which show animal cruelty is, very sadly, on the rise.
"While we don't know for certain why there has been an increase, the cost-of-living crisis and the post-pandemic world we live in has created an animal welfare crisis."