Heartbreaking figures released today by the RSPCA as part of its Cancel Out Cruelty campaign have revealed 2,112 cat cruelty complaints were made in Yorkshire last year.
Nationally, last year, there were almost 18,000 cat cruelty complaints reported to the RSPCA. Of those reports 1,726 were intentional harm incidents - which is around five a day. This is a 25% increase from 2021 when the number was 1,387.
The charity has released the heartbreaking figures as part of its Cancel Out Cruelty campaign, in a bid to raise funds to help its frontline rescue teams continue to save animals from cruelty and abuse.
The Yorkshire figures broken down by area are:
- East Yorkshire - 259
- North Yorkshire - 303
- South Yorkshire - 518
- West Yorkshire - 1,032
It comes during a busy time for the animal welfare charity which sees cruelty peak in the summer with three reports made every single minute.
The cost-of-living crisis is also thought to be a contributing factor to an increase in deliberate harm to animals at a time when the cost of rescuing animals is at an all-time high and the RSPCA’s vital services are stretched to the limit.
Dr Sam Gaines, head of the RSPCA’s companion animal department, said:
“Cats are one of the most popular pets in the UK with an estimated 11 million pet cats in UK homes but our figures suggest sadly they are the second most abused pet - after dogs.
“It is heart-breaking to think that five cats every day are suffering at the hands of humans - it really is appalling - but sadly the RSPCA knows all too well that this cruelty is carried out on a regular basis.
“We see hundreds of felines come through our doors every year who have been subjected to unimaginable cruelty - being beaten, burned, thrown around, had bones broken, been shot at, poisoned and drowned.
“In many cases these pets have been injured deliberately by their owners - the very people who are supposed to love and protect them. But cats are also more vulnerable as they tend to be out and about on their own which can leave them vulnerable to airgun attacks and other forms of cruelty by complete strangers.”
Beth Clements, RSPCA chief inspector for West Yorkshire, 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. 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.”
“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.”
It is not known why reports of animal cruelty peak in the summer months although factors like animal abuse being more visible as people are outdoors more, could be one factor.
There is more about the RSPCA's Cancel Out Cruetly campaign at https://www.rspca.org.uk/canceloutcruelty
Rescued Seal Pup Treated With Chilled Yorkshire Tea At Scarborough Sea Life Centre
Multimillion-Pound Cost Of New Scarborough Council Offices Revealed
Renewable Geothermal Heat to Warm Pickering and Kirby Misperton
Borehole Drilling to Begin Across Scarborough For Wastewater Upgrades
Green Light For Conversion Of Former Scarborough Army Centre Into Business Park
MP Calls for Better National Support Following RAF Fylingdales Wildfire Threat
Jail for Scarborough Drug Dealer
Historic Whitby Whale Bone Arch Removed For Ethical Bronze Replacement
Outdoor Fires Surge Twenty-One Per Cent Over Busy Summer For Fire Crews
Scarborough Hotel Loses Planning Appeal Over Retrospective Blue Paint Job
Library Service 'Doesn't Know' How Many of 100,000 Fines Have Been Paid
Appeal After Man Is Sexually Assaulted And Robbed In Scarborough
Comments
Add a comment