Animal cruelty cases on the up in Essex

Latest figures released by the RSPCA show the county had the eighth highest number of complaints across Britain in 2014, and the third highest in the south east of England.

A total of 4,862 cruelty cases were reported to the animal welfare charity - compared with 4,614 incidents in 2013.

Pets most likely to fall victim to deliberate cruelty are dogs, followed by cats and rabbits.

Sarah Knight, manager of Acres Way Kennels, in Great Burches Road, Benfleet, said: "I'm not shocked at all, we have seen some really sad cases over the past year. Lots of dogs come to us very emaciated, but there doesn't seem to be any reason why this is happening.

"These dogs take a good four to six months to rehabilitate, and some of them require daily medication. It costs a lot in vet bills to care for them.

"Our reward is seeing the end result, when these dogs finally get to go to a good home."

Despite the rise in cruelty figures, the number of prosecutions has decreased.

The RSPCA is looking to educate pet owners on how to care for their animals correctly.

Paul Stilgoe, RSPCA superintendent for the region, said: “Many of the complaints we receive involve animals being neglected or not receiving the right care and often we can put that right by offering welfare advice.

"However, it is utterly unacceptable that in 2014 people are still being deliberately cruel in what can be disturbingly inventive ways.”

James Yeates, chief veterinary officer for the charity, added: "Although we are still receiving complaints about cruelty we are often getting to incidents before suffering has occurred and helping owners to provide for their animals, whether that means getting veterinary care for them or just giving them the right diet.

“Sadly, though, where cruelty is still happening there will be a need to prosecute in the most serious cases and it is upsetting that so many people are still mistreating animals by deliberately causing them harm or by not providing them with the care they deserve."

A PAIR of American Bulldogs were found in a severely emaciated and malnourished state after being locked up in cages.
Max and Lola were kept in the garage with no bedding or water and very little food, leaving Max with a life-long deformity in his back legs, sores, cracked teeth, and problems with his hip joints.
Their owners, a married couple from Southend, pleaded guilty to offences under the Animal Welfare Act and were both disqualified from keeping all animals except cats for ten years, made to pay costs of £510 and sentenced to 100 hours of unpaid work.
Max has since been rehomed, but Lola had to be put to sleep because of behavioural issues related to her ill treatment.
RSPCA inspector Matt Gough said: “This was a case of extremely serious neglect and the vet said the dogs had been suffering for at least a month. They had just not been given the food they needed to grow and develop normally, and were in a terrible state."

A SEVEN-week-old puppy was found dehydrated, lethargic, swollen with fluid and suffering from diarrhoea after being abondoned in a crisp box in Orsett.
The West Highland Terrier, who was originally called Tilly and later renamed Poppet, was put on a drip and underwent specialist treatment, and has now been rehomed.
The RSPCA launched an investigation, but was unable to find out who was responsible for the cruelty.
RSPCA inspector Matt Gough: “It was so sad to see this gorgeous little thing in such a state.
“She was freezing and terrified, and clearly quite poorly. She was extremely thin, and staggering around a bit, so weak that she didn’t seem to be able to use her rear legs.
“The box had clearly been rained on which meant she was sopping wet - I think it is likely she had been stuck in it out there for most of the night. It breaks your heart to think about how terrifying that must have been for a little animal like that.
“My feeling is this could be one of those cases where people get a puppy because they think it is cute, then dump her when she gets ill and they realise they cannot afford to take her to a vet for treatment."

A WEAK and undernourished dog was found collapsed in a Canvey alleyway after being starved.
The community rallied round to offer more than £800 as a reward for information about who is responsible for leaving the Staffordshire Bull Terrier Cross, who has been named Wispa, for dead.
They hope this will lead to someone being charged with animal cruelty.
When he was first found Wispa weighed just 13.9kg, but he put on 3.5kg in ten days and is on the long road to recovery.
He is eating and drinking well, can sit up and hold his head, and can walk short distances.
RSPCA inspector Caroline Richardson said: “I am amazed Wispa was still alive, he was so thin and in such an awful state.
“We think he probably was just abandoned somewhere and was walking and straying until he just collapsed.
“He could not even get to his elbows to stand when he was brought in."

A 27 year-old Tilbury man had his dogs taken away from him after CCTV caught him punching and throttling a tiny Yorkshire Terrier called Scamp.

Watch the video and read the story here: http://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/12903741.VIDEO__Watch_the_shocking_moment_a_man_punches_and_throttles_his_tiny_Yorkshire_Terrier_in_a_Tilbury_lift/