Heartbreaking figures from the RSPCA reveal a worrying boost in deliberate damage versus animals as it is revealed 296 cases of cruelty were reported in Sussex alone in 2015.
East Sussex figures reveal that there were 159 reports of deliberate damage versus animals made to the RSPCA in 2015, while West Sussex saw 137 reports being made to the charity.
One case in Southbourne, near Chichester, included 2 kittens who were discovered severely hurt, thought to have actually been tossed from a moving vehicle and delegated pass away on a hectic roadway throughout heavy traffic.
The kittens, believed to have to do with eight-weeks-old, were discovered by members of the general public in various areas along a stretch of the A259 and regretfully passed away en route to a neighboring veterinarian practice.
RSPCA animal rescue officer Marie Stevens, who went to the veterinarian practice, said: “This horrifying incident affected lots of people who were in the area. It happened close to a supermarket, a hairdressers, a pet shop and the vet practice where the kittens were taken and sadly pronounced dead on arrival.”
Patrick Hamby, primary inspector for Sussex, included: “Right now, animal cruelty is happening in England and Wales on a massive scale and rising and sadly the number of cruelty incidents in Sussex 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 understood why reports of animal cruelty peak in the summer season although situations like animal abuse being more noticeable as individuals are outdoors more might be one element, the charity said.
Overall, the variety of reports made nationally to the charity’s cruelty line about deliberate damage to animals – consisting of whippings, mutilations such as ear cropping, poisonings and even killings – has actually increased by 14 percent, according to the RSPCA, with 12,582 reported in 2015 compared to 11,012 reports in 2021.
As an outcome, the animal charity is bracing for among its busiest summer seasons this year as it anticipates ‘another summer of suffering’, with more individuals reporting cruelty to animals from July to September.
The charity has actually released its Cancel Out Cruelty campaign, to raise funds to help its frontline rescue groups continue to save animals from cruelty and abuse and to raise awareness about how to stop cruelty to animals for good.
Patrick included: “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.”
