NEW figures have revealed a spike in animal cruelty during the summer months.

In Cumbria there were 98 reports of intentional harm against animals made to the RSPCA last year. 

Today the charity has launched its Cancel Out Cruelty campaign to raise funds to help its rescue teams out on the frontline continue and awareness about how to stop cruelty to animals for good.

READ MORE: Woman who starved dog banned from keeping animals

Dermot Murphy, chief inspectorate officer at the RSPCA, said: “We are a nation of animal lovers and no one wants to think of an animal being cruelly treated but sadly the reality is that everyday animals are victims of deliberate cruelty and thankfully the RSPCA is there to help them.

“There are many factors which could explain why we see a rise in cruelty during the summer months.

"The longer sunny days could mean people are out and about more and likely to see and report abuse. Hot summer days can also lead to more people drinking alcohol in the sun which in turn can be a factor causing violence.

"Perhaps there is boredom or pressures at home with children being off school which can make existing difficulties magnified."

The RSPCA receives around 90,000 calls to its cruelty line every month and investigates 6,000 reports of deliberate animal cruelty, including animal fighting and hunting. But in the summer calls rise to 134,000 a month - three every minute and reports of cruelty soar to 7,600 each month - a heartbreaking 245 every day. 

In January a female dog was found in the backyard of a property in Millom by the RSPCA with her ribs, spine and pelvic bones visible.

Acting on reports of concerns for a dog at the address, RSPCA Inspector Martyn Fletcher visited the house and was shown into the backyard where the dog was being kept.

In his witness statement Inspector Fletcher said: “I could immediately see that the dog was in a very poor bodily condition, with its spine and hip bones prominent and its ribs visible.

“The dogs’ head also had a sunken appearance. It was subdued and uninterested in my presence.”

The inspector took the dog to a vets where an examination showed she weighed only 15kg when her expected weight would have been 27kgs.

The owner signed over the dog into the care of the RSPCA Cumbria West Branch and the pet has since been returned to health and has found her forever home.