‘Animal cruelty crisis’ warning from RSPCA
Convictions for animal neglect and cruelty rose by one-third in England and Wales in 2012, from 3,114 in 2011 to 4,168 last year, according to the RSPCA’s annual prosecutions report.
There was also a 15.7 per cent increase in the number of defendants convicted, rising to 1,552 in 2012 from 1,341 the previous year.
RSPCA Chief Executive Gavin Grant called on judges to take the offences “far more seriously”, and said his organisation was struggling to keep up in its fight against “a growing animal cruelty crisis”.
“Our inspectors investigated 150,833 suspected cruelty cases and issued 78,090 advice notices last year,” he said. “These are extremely effective in improving the care of animals.”
The number of convictions relating to the treatment of equine animals rose from 230 in 2011 to 500 last year.
Animals rescued or collected by the RSPCA increased by 9.6 per cent, from 119,126 to 130,695.
Poor economic climate
“It’s difficult to be exactly sure why we’re seeing more cruelty and more convictions,” an RSPCA spokeswoman told Channel 4 News, “although one possible cause is the poor economic climate.
“We’re taking an increasing number of calls from people who are struggling financially and asking for advice. But we don’t know why people are cruel – if we knew, we’d be able to address ways of stopping it.
If we knew why people were cruel to animals, we’d be able to address ways of stopping it. RSPCA spokeswoman
“What we can do is to try to educate people – and, if necessary, to prosecute.”
The animal welfare organisation has dealt with “a shocking catalogue of deliberate cruelty and neglect” in the last year, according to another RSPCA spokesman.
Cases included a dog being slashed with a knife by his owner, and two tiny puppies who were buried alive.
The RSPCA also found more than 30 rabbits and guinea pigs living among dead animals in slurry-filled hutches, and an emaciated pony pinned to the ground by his tether.