Cases of cruelty against dogs rising in Wiltshire and Hampshire
The RSPCA has revealed figures they've called 'heart breaking'
The RSPCA dealt with more than 1,700 cases of cruelty to dogs across Wiltshire and Hampshire during 2023.
The animal welfare charity took 491 reports in Wiltshire throughout last year, with a further 1,231 across Hampshire.
Nationally, in 2023, the RSPCA received 52,662 reports about cruelty to dogs - around 144 a day - compared to 48,567 in 2022 - an increase of 8% in just one year.
The new figures have been released by the RSPCA as part of its No Animal Deserves Cruelty summer appeal.
Chris Sherwood, Chief Executive of the RSPCA said:
“It is heartbreaking that more dogs need our help - we need to make a stand against this and say ‘no more’. Dogs are supposed to be man’s best friend, yet more and more dogs are being subjected to cruelty every year. Dogs are the most popular pet in the UK yet also the ones who potentially suffer the most.
“We would love to see, next year, cruelty going down. We know we can’t do this alone - so our purpose is for everyone to work together to create a kinder world for animals. That's why we've launched our summer appeal, because it’s vital that we all take action together to help animals like these dogs.”