A surge in cases of intentional animal cruelty across Greater Manchester is revealed today by latest statistics published by the RSPCA.
The charity say the figures show 'an alarming increase in intentional cruelty against animals' - there were 605 reports in Greater Manchester last year, an increase of 9 per cent compared to the 553 made in 2021.
Overall, the number of reports made nationally to the charity's cruelty line about intentional harm to animals - including beatings, mutilations such as ear cropping, poisonings and even killings - has increased by 14 per cent.
Try MEN Premium for FREE by clicking here for no ads, fun puzzles and brilliant new features.
There were a heartbreaking total of 12,582 reported cases nationally last year, compared to 11,012 reports in 2021.
The figures can be revealed as the RSPCA reveals distressing details of another shocking case - a cat found dead inside a zip-up carrier in a canal.
The black and white female Oriental-type cat was found along a stretch of the Ashton Canal in Manchester on May 8. It isn't known whether she was already dead or drowned, but the case is being treated as suspicious.
RSPCA animal rescue officer Helen Chapman, who is investigating, said: "This is a very concerning incident and we are keen to find out what happened to this cat. Being zipped up inside a cat carrier and thrown into a canal is extremely sad and clearly no way to treat an animal.
"It is also concerning that she had a broken jaw which had a metal wire placed inside. The cat wasn’t microchipped so we don’t know who the cat belonged to."
As a result of the latest figures, the animal charity says it's bracing itself for one of the busiest ever summers this year, as it expects more people reporting cruelty to animals from July to September.
The charity has launched its 'Cancel Out Cruelty' campaign to raise funds to help frontline rescue teams and to raise awareness about how to stop cruelty to animals for good.
The national figures released today by the RSPCA, shows:
- In 2022 there was a 22 per cent increase in reports of beatings - 9,658 compared to 7,857 in 2021. It equates to 26 a day.
- The number of beatings reported to the RSPCA in 2022 peaked in August, when 1,081 reports were received. That's 35 a day.
- The number of animals killed in 'suspicious circumstance' increased in 2022 to 891.
- 77 per cent of all cruelty complaints reported to the charity in 2022 were said to involve beatings.
Nina Small, RSPCA chief inspector for Greater Manchester, 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 Greater Manchester are 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."
The RSPCA said it isn't known why reports of animal cruelty peak summer months although factors like abuse being more visible as people are outdoors more could be a factor.
Nina 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."
To help support the RSPCA, visit: www.rspca.org.uk/stopcruelty.
