Luiza MorrellThe RSPCA cruelty statistics for 2011 were announced this week, highlighting some disturbing facts and figures.
Some of the cases revealed in the statistics include a dog, which was repeatedly stabbed with a potato peeler, and a blind kitten, which was dumped in a carrier bag. There has been a 23.5% rise in the number of people convicted for cruelty and neglect, and not just towards pets – cases involving farm animals and equines have also risen.
In the North of England, although there was a decrease of 9% in convictions relating to cruelty to dogs from 2010, there was a 15.7% rise in prison sentences.
We are facing a difficult economic time, and many abandoned animals could be due to the owner’s facing financial difficulty, but the RSPCA shows zero tolerance to animal abusers. There was a 13% rise in the number of phone calls the RSPCA received, which means an increase in workload for the charity.
These statistics come in time for the upcoming RSPCA week, running from Monday 30 April to Sunday 6 May 2012, and an RSPCA Live event, happening digitally on Facebook and Twitter over the weekend of 28 and 29 April. It costs over £124 million to run the RSPCA’s 365 days a year service, and it is hoped that these events will not only raise awareness, but also continue to raise money for the charity. Last year over £320,000 was raised for the RSPCA week, which has been running every year since 1995, and this year, in York, there are two black tie fun evenings on Saturday 28th April and Saturday 5th May, including a charity auction, raffle and disco. More information on these events can be found here.
For more information on how you can support the RSPCA, including how to volunteer and receive a free RSPCA Week Fundraising Guide, click here.
