Overview

• The RSPCA emergency line received 34,401 cruelty calls in June–August 2024, marking a 33% rise from 2023.
• Reports climbed by 6% in Suffolk, 13% in County Durham and 16% in Bristol over the same period.
• Courts imposed animal-keeping bans of five years in Suffolk and 15 years in Bristol for owners convicted of severe abuse.
• Rescued animals include a malnourished puppy and cat in Suffolk, a muzzle-bound bulldog in County Durham and an emaciated dog in Bristol that was euthanized.
• RSPCA chief inspector Ian Briggs attributes rising reports to pandemic-driven pet ownership and longer daylight increasing witness accounts.