RSPCA inspector's plea to help cancel out animal cruelty

New figures show the animal welfare charity sees a spike in cruelty cases, including animal fighting and hunting, during the summer.

The RSPCA receives around 90,000 calls to its cruelty line every month and investigates 6,000 reports of deliberate animal cruelty. But in June, July and August, this figure rises to 134,000 a month and reports of cruelty soar to 7,600 each month - 245 every day.

In Cheshire alone last year, 202 reports of intentional harm against animals were made to the RSPCA. 

Now Inspector Lauren Bailey has shared the story of Buddy, a mastiff-cross she rescued who had suffered second degree burns from boiling hot water and was left in pain for 10 days.

Speaking as part of the charity's Cancel Out Cruelty campaign, which raises funds to help frontline rescue teams, Lauren said: "I'd met Buddy when he was in the vets before he was sedated.

"At that point I hadn't seen the extent of his injuries. I could see a lot of scabbing across his ears and then down his shoulders.

"That was sad enough, but I didn't know what I was about to see. Buddy had been left for about 10 days without any pain relief.

Inspector Lauren Bailey (RSPCA/YouTube)

"When we finally got to him and we were able to shave off his fur and actually see the extent of his wounds, we saw he was burnt from his head all the way down to the middle of his body, down his arms.

"Buddy's case was the tip of the iceberg in regards to what I see. I've walked into houses where animals have nearly been starved to death and I am picking them up off the floor nearly lifeless.

"I've seen animals being thrown around, kicked, animals being hanged, animals being stabbed, being abandoned, die in hot cars, be drowned.

"We have to investigate it all. I've realised in the last 10 years it definitely affects me.

"I'm a human being and when I see animals in distress it breaks me, it breaks my heart."

Overall, the number of reports made to the charity’s cruelty line about animals being inflicted with intentional harm - including beatings, mutilations such as ear cropping, poisonings and even killings, has increased by 7.9 per cent from summer 2020 to summer 2021 with more than 2,300 reports in June and July alone.

Dermot Murphy, chief inspectorate officer at the RSPCA, said: "We are a nation of animal lovers and no one wants to think of an animal being cruelly treated but sadly the reality is that every day animals are victims of deliberate cruelty and thankfully the RSPCA is there to help them.

"There are many factors which could explain why we see a rise in cruelty during the summer months.

"The longer sunny days could mean people are out and about more and likely to see and report abuse.

"Hot summer days can also lead to more people drinking alcohol in the sun which in turn can be a factor causing violence.

"Perhaps there is boredom or pressures at home with children being off school which can make existing difficulties magnified. 

"And this year, we are also concerned that the recent rise in pet ownership coupled with the cost of living crisis could see people really struggling to care for their pets which may lead them to lash out or could see more animals than ever being abandoned or given up."

The RSPCA received 1,081,018 calls to its cruelty line in 2021 and these included reports of:

• 1,094 killings or nearly three animals killed a day
• 632 mutilations or 12 animals brutally mutilated every week
• 7,857 beatings which equates to one animal beaten every hour
• 38,087 abandonments which equates to more than 100 animals callously abandoned every day

Dermot added: "These figures are shocking and deeply upsetting and show why we need your help to save those animals who need us the most now more than ever.

"As a charity, we are bracing to tackle a summer of suffering but we cannot do this without your help."

To donate to the RSPCA, visit the charity's website here.