Heartbreaking figures show true cruelty against ‘man’s best friend’ in Cambridgeshire and Norfolk

Cruelty to dogs increased in Cambridgeshire in 2023, shocking figures from the RSPCA have shown this week.

Last year, the RSPCA received 692 reports about cruelty to dogs in the county, compared to 671 in 2022.

Nationally, in 2023, the RSPCA received 52,662 reports about cruelty to dogs - around 144 a day - compared to 48,567 in 2022 - an increase of 8% in just one year.

The charity received 42,613 reports on cruelty to dogs in 2020, marking a 23% increase in just four years. In 2021, the number of reports was 44,479 - meaning the figures have been rising year-on-year.

The new figures have been released by the RSPCA as part of its No Animal Deserves Cruelty summer appeal.

Chris Sherwood, CEO of the RSPCA, said: “It is heartbreaking that more dogs need our help - we need to make a stand against this and say ‘no more’.

“Dogs are supposed to be man’s best friend, yet more and more dogs are being subjected to cruelty every year. Dogs are the most popular pet in the UK yet also the ones who potentially suffer the most.

“We would love to see, next year, cruelty going down. We know we can’t do this alone - so our purpose is for everyone to work together to create a kinder world for animals. That's why we've launched our summer appeal, because it’s vital that we all take action together to help animals like these dogs.”

In Norfolk the charity received 755 reports of cruelty to dogs in 2023.

Among these was a five-year-old female bulldog who was abandoned in a garden of a property in Smeeth Road, Marshland St James in January of this year.

The dog was covered in open weeping wounds all over her poor body and these were believed to be cancerous tumours with secondary infections.

The finder contacted the dog warden who immediately took the poor dog to a vet and was given pain relief, and the dog warden contacted the RSPCA.

The dog was collected and seen by another vet where following further examination it was decided that the kindest thing to do was to put the dog to sleep to end her suffering, as her condition was so bad.

Carl Saunders, branch manager for the West Norfolk Branch, collected the dog to take her to a vet. He said: “The condition this poor girl had been left in will stay with me forever - it was just heartbreaking to think someone had allowed her to get into this condition

“She would have been suffering for a prolonged period of time and I cannot comprehend how she was left in such pain and discomfort.

“I have seen many poorly and sick dogs who have come to our centre over the years but this poor girl was the worst I have ever seen. Yet despite this she was such a gentle little girl - it truly is heartbreaking.”

Earlier this month six puppies were left abandoned on the Cambridgeshire/Suffolk border.

All the dogs were found abandoned around Station Road between Welney and Ten Mile Bank.

If you suspect an animal is being cruelly treated, you can find out how to report this on the RSPCA’s website. All reports made to the RSPCA are made in confidence.