Lethal weapons consisting of crossbows, air weapons, catapults and slingshots have actually been utilized to intentionally target and eliminate animals over the previous 4 years, the charity exposes.
Since the start of 2020 to May 2023, the RSPCA received more than 800 reports associating with animals being deliberately damaged with a weapon.
Air weapons and rifles was accountable for the bulk of the events lots of events reported to the charity include more than one animal being targeted at a time.
Top county hotspots calling the RSPCA to report events of animals assaulted with weapons were Kent, with 56 reports, Greater London (47), Merseyside (35) and collectively West Yorkshire (30), Nottinghamshire (30) and West Midlands (30).
The UK’s under-threat wildlife unfortunately bore the force of the attacks, with 841 wild birds shot by a weapon or crossbow or struck by a catapult given that the start of 2020.
Pet cats were likewise a prime target, with 262 intentionally assaulted with weapons, followed by wild mammals (82), dogs (59) and stock (41).
The charity has actually launched the heartbreaking figures as part of its Cancel Out Cruelty campaign, in a quote to raise funds to help its frontline rescue groups continue to save animals from cruelty and abuse.
Rebecca Lowe, RSPCA chief inspector for Nottinghamshire, said: “It is unspeakably cruel, totally unacceptable and illegal to shoot animals for ‘fun’ or as target practice, but sadly our emergency line is receiving hundreds of reports.
“We think of ourselves as a nation of animal lovers, but the RSPCA’s experience shows that there are people out there who are deliberately targeting wildlife, pets and farm animals with guns, catapults and crossbows.
“These weapons cause horrific pain and suffering.
“Day after day, our frontline officers and animal centres see the sickening consequences of weapons being used on animals.
“And what we deal with is probably only the tip of the iceberg as not all cases will be reported to the RSPCA directly.
“And there may be situations where animals injured and killed by these weapons are sadly never found – especially in the case of wildlife.
“This is why we need our supporters to back our campaign so we can tackle this horrific trend.”
