Heartbreaking figures reveal shocking rise in cases of animal cruelty in Greater Manchester

A surge in cases of intentional animal cruelty across Greater Manchester is revealed today by latest statistics published by the RSPCA.

The charity say the figures show 'an alarming increase in intentional cruelty against animals' - there were 605 reports in Greater Manchester last year, an increase of 9 per cent compared to the 553 made in 2021.

Overall, the number of reports made nationally to the charity's cruelty line about intentional harm to animals - including beatings, mutilations such as ear cropping, poisonings and even killings - has increased by 14 per cent.

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There were a heartbreaking total of 12,582 reported cases nationally last year, compared to 11,012 reports in 2021.

The figures can be revealed as the RSPCA reveals distressing details of another shocking case - a cat found dead inside a zip-up carrier in a canal.

The black and white female Oriental-type cat was found along a stretch of the Ashton Canal in Manchester on May 8. It isn't known whether she was already dead or drowned, but the case is being treated as suspicious.

RSPCA animal rescue officer Helen Chapman, who is investigating, said: "This is a very concerning incident and we are keen to find out what happened to this cat. Being zipped up inside a cat carrier and thrown into a canal is extremely sad and clearly no way to treat an animal.

"It is also concerning that she had a broken jaw which had a metal wire placed inside. The cat wasn’t microchipped so we don’t know who the cat belonged to."

As a result of the latest figures, the animal charity says it's bracing itself for one of the busiest ever summers this year, as it expects more people