RSPCA to clamp down on summer cruelty as 40 cases of animal abuse reported in Shropshire

There were 40 reports of animal cruelty recorded in Shropshire last summer, RSPCA figures show as the charity launches a new campaign.

• Get the latest headlines delivered straight to your inbox with the Shropshire Star’s free newsletter

Figures released by the RSPCA on Tuesday (July 7) show a 64 per cent annual increase in cruelty reports to the charity during the summer period across England and Wales - with 40 reports in Shropshire alone.

The animal welfare charity has released the statistics today as part of its Cruelty Hurts Love Rescues fundraising campaign which coincides with the charity’s busiest time as cruelty reports peak over summer.

In June, July and August last year the RSPCA received 6,322 cruelty calls to its emergency line last year which is one call every 10 minutes when the line is open. In comparison the charity took 3,852 calls for the same period in 2021 - showing a massive 64 per cent increase in just 5 years.

Since last year, there has also been a 22 per cent annual increase in cruelty calls, with 21,117 in 2025 compared to 17,260 in 2024.

And in Shropshire the number of cruelty reports over the summer months stood at 40, although this is down 21 per cent from 51 reported the previous year.

However, some of the incidents were particularly stark. Last summer the RSPCA launched an appeal for information after two kittens - aged between only five to six weeks old - were reportedly found tied to a fence in Shropshire.

One of the kittens - who had bailing twine around its neck - was found to have died, and a second kitten who was tied by its paw was still alive but was injured.

This surviving kitten was taken to a vet by a member of the public, but was put down due to the severe injuries the kitten had sustained.

This male black kitten had a degloved paw injury, resulting in exposed phalangeal bones, and was also brought into the vets with purple spray on its wounds.

RSPCA animal rescue officer (ARO) Megan Cross said: “This is a very upsetting incident. This must have been a very distressing discovery for the walkers who found these poor kittens and we’d like to thank them for taking the kitten to the vets.”

RSPCA superintendent Jo Hirst said: “It’s incredibly alarming that we are seeing year after year of rising reports of cruelty. The summer months are our busiest times of year and our frontline rescue teams, specialist vets, behaviourists, rehabilitation and rehoming teams, will be working tirelessly to help as many animals as possible.

“Today we have launched our Cruelty Hurts, Love Rescues campaign to highlight this shocking trend and the work we are doing to save so many animals from horrific abuse and suffering.”

The charity said that well-documented research shows domestic abuse incidents spike during football tournaments - especially after England games - and often pets can also be victims of this crime.

While the nation rightly celebrates the national team’s amazing performance in the competition there are also fears that with World Cup fever rising the charity will see another crisis this year, with England due to play Norway in the quarter-finals of the competition on Saturday.

The RSPCA said it has seen coercive control cases where the perpetrators use violence and threats of violence to manipulate their victims into staying in abusive relationships.

In response to fears of a rise in cases the RSPCA has launched a domestic abuse help page on its website - which is already seeing more than 1,000 visits every day, almost 50 an hour. The advice page offers special features to keep people safe including an exit button which quickly shuts down the page and takes the user to the Google homepage with no viewing history of the RSPCA page showing.

Superintendent Hirst added: “We don’t know for sure what is driving this peak in cruelty reports, but the surge in pet ownership during the [Covid] pandemic has played a factor, while the longer days mean more people may witness and report such violence during the summer months.

“In addition this year we have the World Cup and although we know from other charities that football doesn't cause domestic abuse but factors around it can increase the prevalence of it and exacerbate the situation, due to the emotions it creates and an increase in alcohol intake.

“Sadly this year we expect the upward trend will continue and we are already busier than ever rescuing animals from many awful situations and our centres are full with thousands of animals being cared for in emergency kennels and catteries.

“Many of these animals are affected physically and mentally by horrific violence and trauma. Our dedicated rescue and rehabilitation teams are here to help transform their lives so they can find love and happiness in a new home.

“We rely on the public to help us and together we can turn this season of cruelty into one of love, kindness and rescue for animals that need it the most. We’re so grateful to anyone choosing to donate.”

Anyone wishing to donate can do so at https://www.rspca.org.uk/summer-appeal.