Latest RSPCA figures show animal cruelty on the rise
The number of people convicted of cruelty and neglect to animals rose by nearly a quarter last year, according to figures announced by the RSPCA today.
Cases revealed ahead of the charity’s major fundraising push, RSPCA Week 2012, include a dog repeatedly stabbed with a potato peeler, a dog the only survivor of a house of horror where five animals died of starvation; a blind kitten found dumped in a carrier bag and two cases involving tens of dogs kept in squalid conditions.
As well as a rise in those convicted under the Animal Welfare Act and other legislation, bans on keeping animals also increased in 2011, along with the number of prison sentences imposed for animal cruelty.
The RSPCA’s latest figures reveal a 23.5% rise in the number of people convicted for cruelty & neglect.
Pets were not the only victims. Cases involving farm animals last year rose as well as a convictions relating to equines (230 in 2011). In Wales and West Midlands region the convictions relating to equines nearly doubled from 20 in 2010 to 39 in 2011.
In Shropshire 16 people appeared in court over cruelty & neglect, two people were successfully convicted.
RSPCA chief executive Gavin Grant said: “The RSPCA faces a crisis that is stretching us to breaking point.
“We show zero tolerance to animal abusers. Anyone causing animals pain for profit or pleasure will be tracked down and prosecuted.
“We need the courts and councils, police and people who care to join us in standing up and getting justice for Britain’s abused animals.”
However, there were some amazing stories of survival including Beethoven, the sole surviving animal from the ‘Wolverhampton house of horror’, having been left to die with another dog, two cats and two small animals. The others all suffered a painful and slow death from starvation, but Beethoven was rescued and now has a wonderful new life.
And the amazing recovery of Annie, the dog that was found in a collapsed state in a garden in Willenhall who wasn’t expected to last the night at vets but defied the odds and made a full recovery and has gone on to find a loving new home in Birmingham.
Sally Case, head of society prosecutions, said: “The RSPCA strives to keep animals with their owners wherever possible and offers advice on improving their welfare. Overwhelmingly this advice is followed, but where it isn’t, or where someone has already harmed an animal there has to be a way of ensuring that animals are not left to suffer and the RSPCA is the charity people turn to – and we are struggling to continue providing this service.
“Of course we work closely with governmental and other charitable organisations, but we are the main organisation which prosecutes those who abuse animals and which can prevent cruelty to animals.
“We can’t do this without the help and support of the public and we need it now more than ever. Please support RSPCA Week 2012.”
RSPCA Week 2012 runs from 30 April to 6 May. To find out how to get involved please visit http://www.rspcaweek.org. Please remember that to run the RSPCA’s 365 days a year service costs more than £124 million and it cost £15 per day to feed, house and provide medical attention for just one of the 7,762 dogs the RSPCA cared for in 2011.
During RSPCA Live - a weekend (28-29 April) of online interactive activity on social media channels - supporters will be able to tune in to Facebook and Twitter to find out more about the breadth of the charity's work and get close to core RSPCA people, as well as celebrity ambassadors, including Alesha Dixon and Victoria Stillwell.
To get involved in RSPCA Live, people should Like the RSPCA’s Facebook Page and follow @RSPCA_Official on Twitter.
