Disturbing levels of animal cruelty across Lancashire

Beezee had to be put to sleep after beign neglected at an address in Blackpool - RSPCA

The disturbing scale of animal cruelty in Lancashire has emerged today as figures show more than 5,000 cases were investigated by the RSPCA last year.

Lancashire had the sixth highest number of complaints investigated in England in 2016/2015, with 5,124 incidents, compared with 4,811 the previous year.

They include a kitten put in a tumble drier in Chorley, a hamster fed LSD and cannabis, and an emaciated elderly dog that was found lying in faeces with an untreated eye tumour that had extended into his brain.

The charity prosecuted 31 people for animal cruelty across the county over the same period.

The RSPCA charity, which today releases shocking animal cruelty figures, believes a surge in investigations has partly been prompted by people becoming more likely to share concerns about animals on social media.

Last December a Preston man shared images of spiked dog treats dumped on a popular dog walkers footpath in Preston.

Dermot Murphy, assistant director of the RSPCA Inspectorate, said: “It never fails to shock me when I look back on the extreme instances of animal cruelty the RSPCA has been called upon to investigate.

“It continues to outrage and sadden me that people can be capable of such deliberate brutality towards animals, but equally it drives me on to ensure that perpetrators of animal cruelty are put before the courts.

“I believe that the figures from last year show that we’re not becoming crueller, but that people are simply less willing to stand by and do nothing if they think an animal is suffering.