Shocking data reveals increase in animal beatings in Bucks

RSPCA figures show 180 beatings in the county last year.

The animal welfare charity has revealed a 34% rise in incidences in Bucks in recent years, with the number standing at 134 in 2021 and 180 last year. 

At a national level, RSPCA figures show 16,033 beating incidents were reported in total in the UK last year, almost double since 2021 with 8,459. The number means one incident is recorded roughly every 15 minutes, representing a staggering 85% of all animal cruelty complaints made to the charity.

They say dogs and cats usually face the brunt of these attacks - but other animals are often victims too. And according to the charity, it is often someone in the pet's own family perpetrating the violence  - the very person who should be protecting them.

The new statistics have been released as part of their Cruelty Hurts, Love Rescues campaign (external link) campaign, which coincides with the charity's busiest time as heartbreaking cruelty reports peak over summer.  

In the figures release, they also detailed some area specific incidences of cruelty, including one in Bucks where video evidence captured a young horse pulling a cart, who was whipped excessively by a man until he collapsed with exhaustion and then was whipped again when the horse lay helplessly on the ground.

A shocked passer-by filmed the incident which then showed the man removing the harness and cart but the horse remained on the floor before finally getting up. The harness and a cart were attached again to the struggling horse and another video shows two minutes later the piebald struggling with its legs buckling and once again is whipped excessively before collapsing on the road,  

The matter was reported to the RSPCA who investigated and the horse was taken into care where he was able to recover.  At a subsequent court case brought by the RSPCA last year a man pleaded guilty to three animal welfare offences and was given a five year ban on keeping all animals and ordered to carry out 175 hours of unpaid work.

Speaking on the rise in incidences like these, RSPCA Superintendent Jo Hirst said: "It's incredibly distressing to see such a massive rise in reports of intentional beatings with one report coming to our cruelty line every 15 minutes. These are often upsetting cases where animals - usually pet cats and dogs - have experienced deliberate and horrific violence - leaving animals with not only physical injuries but mental scars as well. 

"The reasons why an individual acts in this way can be down to a multitude of factors  - if they are struggling with behavioural problems or their mental health, they may have violent tendencies generally, or sometimes pets are used as part of coercive control, or simply the perpetrator has a complete lack of empathy for animals." 

RSPCA rescuers have praised the public for their help in tackling the cruelty - not only through donations that keep officers on the frontline, but in reporting incidents to the charity's emergency line.

"To help rescue animals from these situations we rely on the public to be our eyes and ears and report any concerns about animal abuse to us and we are grateful that so many people do and are more aware of the problem," added Jo.

"We're also finding that CCTV footage, doorbell cameras and smartphones are providing a view into society that we never had before, meaning that animal beatings are more likely to be caught on camera in supermarket car parks, on streets, in lifts, and even behind closed doors in the home. 

"This could also account for the rise that we are seeing as they are more likely to be caught on camera, uploaded to social media or reported to us."