CRUELTY to dogs increased in Somerset in 2023, shocking figures from the RSPCA reveal.

Last year, the RSPCA received 831 reports about cruelty to dogs in the county, compared to 803 in 2022.

Nationally, in 2023, the RSPCA received 52,662 reports about cruelty to dogs - around 144 a day - compared to 48,567 in 2022 - an increase of 8% in just one year. 

The charity received 42,613 reports on cruelty to dogs in 2020, marking a 23% increase in just four years. In 2021, the number of reports was 44,479 - meaning the figures have been rising year-on-year.

The new figures have been released by the RSPCA as part of its No Animal Deserves Cruelty summer appeal.

Chris Sherwood, Chief Executive of the RSPCA, said: "It is heartbreaking that more dogs need our help - we need to make a stand against this and say ‘no more’."

He added: “Dogs are supposed to be man’s best friend, yet more and more dogs are being subjected to cruelty every year. Dogs are the most popular pet in the UK yet also the ones who potentially suffer the most.

“We would love to see, next year, cruelty going down. We know we can’t do this alone - so our purpose is for everyone to work together to create a kinder world for animals.

"That's why we've launched our summer appeal, because it’s vital that we all take action together to help animals like these dogs.”

An elderly neglected dog was found with missing fur and sore skin in Somerset, in June this year.

The female German Shepherd, named Lola, was found straying in Yeovil with a chronic skin condition that had left her missing fur all over her body.

She was helped by a member of the public before being rescued by the council’s dog warden, who took Lola to a vet and contacted the animal welfare charity to investigate as they had concerns about her untreated skin condition.

“Her skin is sore and infected. She has no hair over the main part of her body and back and she has very grey thickened skin so this condition will have been going on for some time,” said RSPCA Inspector Jo Story.

“We know from her microchip details that her name is Lola and she lived in the Yeovil and Sherborne area but her chip details are out of date so we’re really keen to know where she’s come from.”