Cheshire: 17 percent increase in RSPCA reports in past year

In the last twelve months, there were 238 reports of intentional harm - which includes incidents such as beatings, mutilations such as ear cropping, poisonings and even killings - received by the RSPCA from across the borough, compared to 202 reports made during 2021.

This reflects a national trend with the RSPCA experiencing a 14 percent overall increase with 12,582 incidents reported over the last year compared to 11,012 reports in 2021. The animal charity is bracing itself for one of its busiest summers.

The charity has launched its Cancel Out Cruelty campaign, to raise funds to help its frontline rescue teams continue to save animals from cruelty and abuse and to raise awareness about how to stop cruelty to animals for good.

Cruelty incident in Cheshire

In one incident reported almost twelve months ago, two neglected dogs were found dumped at the side of a country road on one of the hottest days of the year - prompting an RSPCA investigation.

The Chinese crested-type dogs, believed to be mum and son, were found on July 19 last year by a couple driving along a country lane near Macclesfield, Cheshire.

They were both underweight, with skin conditions and flea infestations. The mum also had a fractured leg and a severely injured eye - her leg had to be amputated.

RSPCA inspector Caren Goodman-James then took the dogs into the charity’s care and they have since flourished thanks to the dedicated volunteers at the RSPCA Macclesfield, South East Cheshire and Buxton Branch, who named them Dottie and Frankie and have now been rehomed.

'Heartbreaking that animal cruelty is on the rise'

Brett Witchalls, RSPCA chief inspector for Merseyside and Cheshire, said: "Right now, animal cruelty is happening in England and Wales on a massive scale and rising and sadly the number of cruelty incidents in Cheshire is also too high. It is heartbreaking that we are seeing figures which show animal cruelty is, very sadly, on the rise.

"While we don’t know for certain why there has been an increase in reports of cruelty, the cost of living crisis and the post-pandemic world we live in has created an animal welfare crisis with more people getting pets with potentially less time and money to care for them.

"Each year, these reports of cruelty reach its terrible annual peak in the summer months – when nationally we receive a report of an animal being beaten on average every hour of every day.

"The cost-of-living crisis also means the cost of rescuing animals is at an all-time high and our vital services are stretched to the limit."

It is not known why reports of animal cruelty peak in the summer months although factors like animal abuse being more visible as people are outdoors more, could be one factor.

The RSPCA is the only charity rescuing animals and investigating cruelty in England and Wales with a team of frontline rescue officers, specialist vet teams and a network of animal care centres and 140 branches providing rehabilitation to animal victims.

Brett added: "Together, we believe we can and will cancel out cruelty to animals by replacing violence with kindness. We are urging people to donate to our Cancel Out Cruelty campaign,every donation will help animals."

The national picture

Figures released exclusively today by the animal charity shows:

• In 2022 the charity saw a 22 percent increase in reports of beatings (9,658 in 2022, compared to 7,857 in 2021) that’s 26 every day.

• The number of beatings reported to the RSPCA in 2022 peaked in August, when 1,081 reports were received - a staggering 35 a day.

• The number of animals killed in ‘suspicious circumstances’ increased in 2022 by 15 percent from by 2021 (891 in 2022, compared to 775 in 2021).

• 77 percent of all cruelty complaints reported to the charity 2022 were beatings.

The RSPCA's frontline teams are working hard to rescue animals in need this summer but they can't do it alone - they need help to Cancel Out Cruelty. To help support the RSPCA, visit: rspca.org.uk/cancel.