RSPCA issues cruelty report
Image: Michael Day, BSAVA president
The RSPCA issued its annual prosecution report on April 30, which demonstrates a 34 per cent increase in convictions for animal neglect and cruelty last year.
Commenting on the report, Michael Day, president of the British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) said: “The latest report from the RSPCA makes grim reading indeed, particularly for members of the veterinary profession.
“It demonstrates all too clearly that our nation of animal lovers sadly also includes those who carry out acts of wilful cruelty, or are at least negligent in their duty of care”.
The report did highlight, however, that RSPCA inspectors issued 78,090 advice notices last year.
Professor Day noted: “These are seen as being extremely effective in changing poor conditions for pets if steps are taken early enough, before welfare has been seriously compromised – avoiding suffering for the animal and at the same time offering advice and education to a pet owner who might otherwise become neglectful.”
Some of the cases in the report highlight the link between violence towards pets and abuse of people living in the same household, an issue which was raised at the recent BSAVA Congress.
Freda Scott-Park of the Links Group spoke at the event regarding the Domestic Abuse Veterinary Initiative (DAVI) - a joint initiative between the charity and Medics Against Violence. The project aims to train veterinary staff how to recognise and deal with signs of abuse in both animals and humans.
The DAVI pilot training day took place in Scotland in April 2013, and there are plans to extend the training to the whole of the UK later in the year.
Veterinary practices are being urged to help owners safely dispose of any unused and expired pet medicines - not just antibiotics - during November's Animal Medicines Amnesty. 
