The RSPCA has revealed a distressing increase in animal abuse, with reports of beatings rising sharply across Somerset and beyond. Alarmingly, the charity receives a report of animal abuse every 15 minutes during its call hours, highlighting a growing crisis.
These figures are a focal point of the RSPCA’s Summer Cruelty Campaign, which aims to shed light on a tragic trend: summer is not just a season of sunshine and joy for many animals but unfortunately also a peak time for cruelty.
In Somerset alone, the number of reported animal beatings during summer has doubled from 33 incidents in 2020 to 66 in 2024, totaling 263 reports over four years. Across England and Wales, reports have surged by 105% in the same period — from 1,613 in July and August 2020 to 3,304 in July and August 2024. This equates to four animal beatings reported every hour, or one every 15 minutes. The RSPCA has already seen a 10% annual increase in these reports and anticipates the number will continue to climb this summer.
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Ian Briggs, Head of the Special Operations Unit at the RSPCA, expressed deep concern over these trends: “One report of an animal being beaten every half hour is harrowing on its own, but when you consider the frequency during summer, it paints a disturbing reality. While the reasons behind this dramatic rise remain unclear, what is undeniable is that animals are suffering at an unprecedented scale.”
The campaign underscores the urgent need for public awareness and action as thousands of animals endure pain and suffering during the summer months. The RSPCA calls on communities to support efforts to rescue and protect vulnerable animals.
Among the harrowing cases is that of Pepsi, a French Bulldog from Somerset. She was found with severe injuries, including cuts, bruises, lacerations, and an untreated leg fracture believed to be the result of physical abuse. Despite rescue efforts, Pepsi sadly had to have her leg amputated due to the severity of her wounds.
Briggs also highlighted how modern technology is playing a crucial role in exposing abusers: “Devices like CCTV, doorbell cameras, and smartphones are capturing incidents of animal abuse in places like supermarket car parks, streets, lifts, and even inside homes. This increased visibility helps us gather crucial evidence to seek justice for victims like Pepsi.”
He noted that this increased documentation could partially explain the rise in reported cases, as perpetrators are more likely to be recorded, exposed on social media, or reported directly to the charity.
Dogs remain the most frequently abused pets, with nearly 21,000 reports of dog beatings to the RSPCA last year alone. Bulldog breeds are disproportionately affected, with 6,670 reports between 2022 and 2024, followed by Staffordshire Bull Terriers with 4,786 reports. In contrast, breeds like Old English Sheepdogs and West Highland Terriers have far fewer cases, with just 22 and 58 reports respectively.
The RSPCA’s Summer Cruelty Campaign serves as an urgent call to action to protect animals from escalating abuse and to support the charity’s continued rescue and rehabilitation work.