THEY may be man’s best friend - but sadly cruelty towards dogs increased by 10% in Merseyside last year, new figures released by the RSPCA show.
 

In 2022, there were 1,534 reports made to the RSPCA in the area about cruelty to dogs, compared with 1,399 in 2021.
 

This means in 2022, 4 dogs a day on average were cruelly treated in Merseyside.
 

The heartbreaking figures include reports made about intentional harm, neglect and abandonments.
 

The type of incidents which come under intentional harm are attempted killing, poisoning, beating, improper killing, mutilation and suspicious circumstances. Shockingly, there were 321 reports of intentional harm to dogs in Merseyside.
 

Nationally, the number of reports made to the RSPCA about dogs - including intentional harm, neglect and abandonments - in 2022 was 42,690, a 7% increase from 2021 (39,797).
 

In summer months cases of cruelty rise and the charity is braced for its busiest time of the year.

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.
 

Brett Witchalls, chief inspector for Merseyside, said:- “For hundreds of years dogs have been known as man’s best friend - and if you share your home with 1, 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.”

 

The figures released by the RSPCA also shows:-

• In 2022 the charity saw a 22% increase in reports of beatings (9,658 in 2022, compared to 7,857 in 2021)

• The number of beatings reported to the RSPCA in 2022 peaked in August, when 1,081 reports were received - a staggering 35 a day

• The number of animals killed in ‘suspicious circumstances’ increased in 2022 by 15% from by 2021 (891 in 2022, compared to 775 in 2021)

• 77% of all cruelty complaints reported to the charity 2022 were beatings