A bull breed dog named Kelly in Somerset endured a brutal 20-minute attack, during which she was repeatedly stamped on, kicked, dragged, and jabbed with an implement by a man, according to an RSPCA report.
The distressing incident was recorded on video by a shocked witness, who immediately reported the abuse to the RSPCA. This enabled the charity to trace Kelly’s owner, leading to police intervention and the dog’s seizure.
Following her rescue, Kelly was taken to the RSPCA’s North Somerset branch, where she received care and made a full recovery. She has since been rehomed and is thriving in a new loving environment.
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At a court hearing last year, Kelly’s owner pleaded guilty to the attack. The court imposed a ten-year ban on the individual from keeping any animals, following prosecution by the RSPCA.
Kelly’s case comes amid alarming new figures from the RSPCA, highlighting a 90% increase in reported animal beatings. The charity revealed that in the past year, there were 16,033 incidents reported-nearly double the 8,459 cases recorded in 2021. On average, an animal beating is reported every 15 minutes.
While dogs and cats are most commonly the victims, other animals suffer as well. The RSPCA emphasises that in many cases, the abuse is inflicted by a member of the pet’s own family-the person who should be protecting them.
These statistics have been released as part of the RSPCA’s “Cruelty Hurts, Love Rescues” campaign, coinciding with the charity’s busiest season, when reports of cruelty typically peak during summer.
RSPCA Superintendent Jo Hirst expressed deep concern over the rise in such cases, stating: “It’s incredibly distressing to see such a massive increase in reports of intentional beatings, with one report coming to our cruelty line every 15 minutes. These often involve deliberate and horrific violence towards animals, usually pet cats and dogs, causing both physical injuries and lasting mental trauma.”
She explained that the reasons for such behaviour vary and can include behavioural or mental health struggles, violent tendencies, coercive control, or simply a lack of empathy for animals.
The RSPCA credits the public for their crucial role in combating animal cruelty, not only through donations which support frontline officers, but also by reporting abuse to the charity’s emergency line.
Jo Hirst added: “We rely on the public to be our eyes and ears. We are grateful that many people are more aware of the problem and report their concerns. The widespread use of CCTV, doorbell cameras, and smartphones means more incidents are captured on video in locations such as supermarket car parks, streets, lifts, and even inside homes. This increased visibility may partly explain the rise in reported cases, as more abuse is caught on camera and shared.”