2009 "worst" year for animals

Monday, 8 March 2010 20:37

Scotland's pet dogs and cats suffered more in the last 12 months than in any other year "in recent memory".

This is according to the Scottish SPCA, which has claimed that 2009 was a "horrific" time in terms of animal cruelty.

The animal welfare society was forced to perform cat and dog rescue in some harrowing cases, including that of one "gentle and loving" dog shot in the head 13 times by her drunken owner.

Chief superintendant Mike Flynn noted that although many of the "shocking" attacks were random acts of violence against animals, others were committed by their owners.

"It's not just outright cruelty, we are also tackling a constant stream of neglect, where owners, for whatever reason, don't feed their animals or take them to a vet when they are sick," he explained.

Equine facilities around the globe are said to be suffering currently for similar reasons, with many organisations claiming that more displaced and abandoned horses than ever are coming through thanks to the owners feeling the effects of the recession.

Animal Friends Insurance Services are an ethical pet insurance company. We have been supporting animal welfare charities around the world since 1999 by donating all net profits to their causes.

Posted by Elaine