RSPCA says cruelty to dogs in Suffolk increased by 13% 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 Suffolk in 2022, there were 518 reports made to the RSPCA in the area about cruelty to dogs, compared with 459 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).
Adam Jones, RSPCA chief inspector for Suffolk, 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 two cockapoo puppies (above) who were dumped at a roadside in Ipswich.
The dogs, aged around 10 weeks old, were found at the side of Old London Road on Tuesday 9 May by a member of the public, who contacted the animal welfare charity.
RSPCA animal rescue officer Jen Richardson, who is looking into the incident, said: “Both pups were quite lethargic when they were found, with the smaller of the two particularly sluggish and cold.
“They were taken into our care where they started to recover.
“However, it is really sad that they were dumped in the first place - they are so young and vulnerable, anything could have happened to them.”
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."