Heartbreaking latest figures from the RSPCA show an alarming increase in intentional cruelty against animals including 206 reports in Leicestershire last year.
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, with 12,582 reported last year compared to 11,012 reports in 2021.
In Leicestershire there were 206 reports of intentional harm against animals made to the RSPCA last year.
One heartbreaking incident involved a swan being shot with a catapult in Glen Parva. She needed surgery to remove two large round projectiles lodged in her head.
The injury had caused a clean hole in the middle of her head. The items were removed by a vet and thankfully had not caused any lasting damage.
The RSPCA is bracing for one of its busiest summers this year as it expects another summer of suffering, with more people reporting cruelty to animals from July to September.
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.
Sarah Bate, chief inspector for Leicestershire, 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 Leicestershire 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.”
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.
To find out more about the RSPCA’s Cancel Out Cruelty campaign, visit: www.rspca.org.uk/stopcruelty
