RSPCA reveal there's been over 1,700 reports of dog cruelty in the last year across South Yorkshire
The charity say cruelty towards dogs has gone up since the start of the pandemic
The RSPCA have revealed that an increase in dog cruelty has led to the charity taking up to 10 reports an hour.
In the last year-there were 1,729 reports across South Yorkshire-with concerns these numbers will rise again due to additional pressures brought on by the cost-of-living crisis.
Dog Welfare Expert Esme Wheeler says it's upsetting:
"It's completely unacceptable to deliberately harm an animal.
"We are extremely concerned that the numbers will surge, especially during the summer months, when we always see a rise in reports anyway.
"However, with the increase in dog ownership since the pandemic, we expect this summer to be even busier, which is heart breaking for dogs, but it's also placing a lot of pressure on our resources as a charity."
Esme's also been telling us why it's important for youngsters to be educated on animal welfare in schools:
"We'd like to see animal welfare on the national curriculum. Educating young people and spreading the message early is crucial.
"That's what we're aiming to achieve as a charity, which could lead to a reduction in animal cruelty in the long term."