858 cases of cruelty to dogs in the county in year
THE RSPCA received 196 reports of dogs being beaten, poisoned, mutilated, improperly killed or harmed in suspicious circumstances last year in Cheshire.
The charity also revealed there were 858 cases of cruelty to dogs in the county, including neglect and abandonment.
The charity warns that the summer months are its busiest time of year, with cruelty cases rising in August.
In August 2022, an average of 35 reports of dogs being beaten were made to the charity every day.
“Dogs are the most abused animal in this country and we investigate more complaints about them than any other type of animal,” Brett Witchalls, RSPCA chief inspector for Cheshire, said.
In May, four puppies, all under six months old, were found dead in plastic bags on Houndings
Lane, Sandbach.
RSPCA animal rescue officer Fay Bowers said: “We were very saddened to find out about these dogs’ deaths – and we’d like to thank the caller for letting us know. It must have been a very distressing find.
“Unfortunately as these dogs had been dead for some time we are unable to find out much about them or able to run a post mortem. We don’t know how they died but the circumstances do appear suspicious.”
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The charity launched its Cancel Out Cruelty campaign this summer. The charity saw a 22 per cent increase nationally in animals being beaten from 2021 to 2022.
Overall figures for cruelty to dogs rose 7 per cent in the same period.
In July, a dog covered in cigarette burns was thrown out of a white van in Crewe.
Local police came across the dog, who was “shaking, struggling to walk” and had not long given birth to a litter of pups. She was taken in by a local man overnight and was taken to the vets by police the next morning before rehoming options were discussed.
Dogs are not the only pets to face horrific abuse. In October 2022, a black cat was left for dead in a sealed box dumped next to a bin in Crewe.
The cat, named Pumpkin, is between six and eight years old. She was covered in her own faeces when she was discovered by a woman taking her rubbish to the bin.
Pumpkin made a full recovery and was later listed for rehoming.
Mr Witchalls continued: “For hundreds of years dogs have been known as man’s best friend – and if you share your home with one, you will know why, as they are such loyal and loving companions.
“But these awful statistics tell a different story.
Dogs are the most abused animal in this country and we investigate more complaints about them than any other type of animal.
“Everyone who cares about animals will be sickened to know how many reports we receive about dogs being kicked, beaten, burned or worse.
“We need the public’s help to Cancel Out Cruelty.
“Their donations, no matter how small, help keep our frontline officers out on the road rescuing animals and investigating these terrible reports.”
Dermot Murphy, RSPCA inspectorate commissioner, said: “Right now, animal cruelty is happening in England and Wales on a massive scale and rising. It is heartbreaking that we are seeing such sad figures which show animal cruelty is, very sadly, on the rise.
“While we don’t know for certain why there has been an increase, the cost of living crisis and the post-pandemic world we live in has created an animal welfare crisis.
“Each year, these reports reach its terrible annual peak in the summer months – when an animal is 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.”