Shocking new figures show the RSPCA received 68 reports of animal cruelty on the Isle of Wight during the Summer months last year, as the charity reports a 33% rise in cruelty cases nationwide.
Between June and August 2024, the RSPCA took 34,401 calls about animal cruelty across England and Wales – up from 25,887 the previous summer. That equates to an average of 374 reports every day, or one call every 2 minutes the helpline was open.
On the Isle of Wight, the RSPCA investigated a number of serious cases, including one in which a man was banned from keeping animals for 5 years after several neglected cats were found in unsuitable conditions. 2 of Neil Cain’s cats had to be put to sleep due to severe health problems but others were rescued and rehomed.
The charity fears the rise is partly due to the surge in pet ownership during the pandemic, combined with more people being outdoors in the longer summer days and witnessing cruelty.
RSPCA Chief Inspector Ian Briggs has said:
“We are seeing a shocking rise in the number of seasonal calls reporting animal cruelty to our emergency line. Sadly, the summer months tend to be when these reports peak.
“Many animals are broken by violence – not just physically but mentally – and our dedicated network of branches, animal centres and rescue teams work wonders in nursing them back to health.”
The charity is urging people to support its Summer Cruelty Appeal to help rescue, rehabilitate and rehome animals in need.
For more information or to donate visit www.rspca.org.uk/endcruelty.
Absolutely disgusting. Anyone who is convicted of animal cruelty should be banned from keeping any type of animal for life and at the very least get a substantial fine, taken from their benefits if need be. If the animal has died because of neglect there should be an automatic prison sentence.
Absolutely agree, Ironman. How these people sleep at night is completely beyond me, but then again – perhaps they don’t? Or can’t.
So true.
It also makes me sick when you see beggars
sitting outside store fronts in boiling heat with a
poor dog next to them.
The poor dog is only their prop so people feel
sorry for them and give them money.
I bet the dog don’t see any rewards, all spent on
booze or drugs.
The RSPCA should take animals away from such persons.
The poor dog does not have a choice!, the dog could
be re-homed to an owner who will care for the dog.
Animal cruelty is carried out by BULLIES and COWARDS. If I knew of anyone being cruel to a defensive animal, they had better watch their backs, because the courts cannot dish out what I would do to them.