The RSPCA in Dorset is 'very worried' about the increase in videos of animal cruelty on social media.

Reports of animal abuse have more than doubled in the past year with one fifth of people reporting seeing animal cruelty online, according to figures.

The figures, revealed by the RSPCA, show there were 756 reports of animal abuse on social media last year (2021) across England and Wales compared to 431 in 2020 and just 157 in 2019. The RSPCA logged an average of 63 reports of cruelty on social media a month last year, compared to just 35 a month during the previous year.

Lewis Taylor, Chief Inspector for Dorset and Wiltshire, said: “It is very worrying that we are seeing more reports of animal abuse being posted on social media for likes and kudos.

“These videos are often accompanied by laughing emojis or silly comments, it is normalising - and even making light of - animal cruelty.

“It’s worrying that people who wouldn’t ordinarily see animal cruelty are being exposed to it online. Not only could it encourage other people to do the same but it creates a society that has become desensitised to some of the most horrific acts of cruelty to animals which is a backward step for us as a nation of animal lovers.”

The report revealed that a fifth of people (22%) had witnessed animal cruelty online in the last 12 months which equates to a whopping 11.5 million people in the UK.

On social media almost half have seen abuse on Facebook (46%) followed by YouTube and Twitter (20%), 11% on TikTok, 10% on Instagram, 5% on Reddit, 4% on WhatsApp and 2% on Snapchat.

Of the reports made to the RSPCA, 62% were posted on Facebook and 20% posted to Instagram with just 3.2% posted on Snapchat.

The figures come just weeks after the RSPCA revealed there has been over 500 reports of abandoned animals in Dorset since 2021.

The charity fears that a huge rise in pet ownership during the pandemic combined with the current cost of living crisis could lead to even more animals being given up this year.

Tess Macpherson-Woods, Social Media Manager at the RSPCA, said: “Managing the RSPCA's social media accounts is both extremely rewarding and heartbreaking. We're sent an awful lot of upsetting and graphic content, but only our national cruelty line can task jobs to inspectors, so all we can do is provide advice and encourage people to call them.

“We've managed to track down animal abusers by sharing appeals for information on social media which is just the best feeling. Whilst a poor animal has suffered, knowing you're part of a team that will do its best to rescue, rehabilitate and seek justice for them makes the upsetting part of the job worthwhile."