Latest news with #RoyalSocietyforthePreventionofCrueltytoAnimals
Newsweek
3 days ago
- Newsweek
He Survived the Unthinkable: Cat With 5 Fractures Finds the Love he Deserves -
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A British Blue cat who endured horrific abuse during the first year of his life has found a loving new home after months of recovery and rehabilitation. Benito was subjected to repeated episodes of blunt force trauma while in the care of a former owner. Between March and September 2023, vets recorded a catalogue of severe injuries, including a fractured right femur, broken leg, injured pelvic limb, a limp tail, a chest injury, and hind leg limping. Each injury was sustained in separate incidents—raising serious concerns. In November 2023, Benito's condition worsened. His owner returned him to the vet after he became weak, was meowing while walking, and could barely stand. He was suffering from a head tremor, knuckling on all four limbs, and had become unusually subdued. Further examination revealed a fractured spine. The veterinary team became increasingly concerned that they were not accidental. Their suspicions prompted them to contact the U.K.'s largest animal welfare charity, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), which promptly launched an investigation into the disturbing case. An x-ray showing five skeletal fractures. The British Blue can be seen lying in his enclosure with a bandage around his paw. An x-ray showing five skeletal fractures. The British Blue can be seen lying in his enclosure with a bandage around his paw. RSPCA Courts in the UK now have the authority to impose tougher penalties for severe animal cruelty, with maximum prison sentences extended from six months to five years under the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Act. The law, effective since June 2021, also allows for unlimited fines and targets extreme offenses such as dog fighting, puppy abuse, ear cropping, and severe neglect. In contrast, animal cruelty laws in the U.S. remain inconsistent. As of 2024, only 22 states mandate possession bans after a cruelty conviction—often limited to specific crimes or species—while 20 states, Guam, and Washington, D.C., permit such bans at the court's discretion. When Benito was rescued, he was unable to stand and appeared hand-shy when approached near his face. Benito had broken teeth and a burn. Benito had broken teeth and a burn. RSPCA Inspector Vicki Taylor said in a statement: "It is saddening to see the history of Benito and all the injuries he has sustained in a short period of time. The investigation also revealed a photograph of a burn that Benito had suffered, Benito was clearly being hurt regularly by his owner." Authorities removed Benito from his home and placed him in the care of the RSPCA's Newbrook Animal Hospital in Birmingham, England, where he received urgent treatment for his spinal fracture. He was administered pain relief every eight hours for a month, antibiotics, and physiotherapy. Due to his immobility, staff turned him every six hours, helped him toilet, and fed him while he lay on his chest to avoid additional pain Following six weeks of cage rest and gentle physiotherapy, Benito began to show signs of recovery. He was placed into foster care before being adopted by Sugra Sabri, 54, and her daughter Razeenah. Sugra Sabri holding Benito, who can also be seen drinking from a bowl. Sugra Sabri holding Benito, who can also be seen drinking from a bowl. RSPCA Sabri shared her account of Benito's initial struggles when he arrived at their home in a statement. She said: "We had a separate room ready for him as advised so that he could get used to his own space first before the rest of the house but he just ran out, with his tail curled in and hid in the corner. "He wasn't interested in food, he just huddled in the corner, he didn't want anyone near him. It took him about a week but slowly he came into the kitchen to nose around and move towards us." Initially uninterested in even simple pleasures, Benito didn't care to watch birds from the window—a typical pastime for many cats. "It took about five months before he started sitting at the window to watch birds," Sabri said. "Now he's lovely, and he has the full run of the house. He's very gentle and loving, never scratches, if he doesn't want more pets he will just move away. Although he's not a lap cat, he hadn't had that from a young age so I don't think it comes naturally to him. He will come and sit by us but not on us. "He likes people to sit with him whilst he sleeps, and have someone around with him though which is nice. If he wants pets he will lie on the floor with his legs in the air!" Sabri and her daughter quickly bonded with Benito, nicknamed "Benny," and made the decision to keep him. "I wanted to foster lots of different cats but Benny is just so adorable, sweet and gentle that the idea of giving him up just didn't sit right with me," she said. "My daughter is so close to him too—he turned two this month so as it's also my daughter's birthday they had a joint birthday party at my daughter's insistence. She loves him too, she's well into animals and especially cats, and he brings us both a lot of joy!" Although physically healed, Benito still experiences anxiety. He remains easily startled by loud noises, avoids direct eye contact, and is wary of new visitors. Still, his progress is encouraging. "He would shoot off when we had visitors but now he's quite happy to lounge around even when we have visitors and he's got a lot of fans," Sugra said. "We call him a small cuddly bear as he's so soft and cuddly, visitors love him, we love him!"
USA Today
4 days ago
- General
- USA Today
Foster mom brought home senior dog who became her life's 'biggest gift'
When Vanshika Gupta brought home a senior dog to foster, little did she know she was bringing the "biggest gift" of her life yet. Gupta, a final-year veterinary student in Melbourne, Australia, always loved animals and wanted to make a difference. When she signed up to be a foster through the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) Australia, a community-based charity providing animal care and protection services, she knew she wanted to bring home a special dog. As Gupta found herself "reading through the stories of all the dogs on there," she came across Lacey, a 13-year-old Maltese-Poodle mix. "It broke my heart seeing Lacey in there," Gupta told USA TODAY. "She was 13 years old. I knew she was towards the end of her life, but it broke my heart thinking her life was only started, and I didn't want her to spend her last months to years in a shelter." Lacey's previous owners had brought her in to euthanize her, Gupta said, adding that she isn't aware of the dog's full story except that she came from "a history of neglect," which took a toll on her health and left her with several scars and one less tooth. "I immediately connected to her photo on the foster portal and knew I had to bring her home and show her the most amount of love in her last days," Gupta said. Bringing Lacey home Gupta vividly remembers the moment she got the phone call to say that her foster application had been accepted. "I was in my car and saw the RSPCA number call through, and my heart started racing," Gupta said. "I remember when they told me about her, I actually started crying. It felt like I had won the lottery. I know it sounds so silly, I hadn't even met this dog, but I truly was just so connected in those first few moments." When the moment finally came and Gupta picked up Lacey, she said the drive home was "magical." "The entire car ride, and I am not even exaggerating, she sat in the passenger seat and just looked at me," Gupta said. Lacey, who wanted to cuddle in her lap almost immediately, had so much gratitude in her eyes and just kept staring at her new foster mom, Gupta said. "The whole ride home, she just had such hope and gratitude in her eyes," she said. "Her first night, she slept like a baby." 'My soul dog' Lacey was with Gupta for nine months before she died. "I knew it wasn't that long, but she was my soul dog," Gupta said. "Lacey healed so much in me. Those 9 months felt like an eternity, and I would give anything to have more time with her." Gupta said in the months Lacey was with her, the dog "really came out of her shell" and started becoming "the boss of the house." The final-year student recalls Lacey sleeping on her bed in her old granny knitted jumper, with her head on a pillow, when she came into the room "accidentally being too loud and waking her up from her slumber." "She gave me the absolute dirtiest look, and it made me laugh so much," Gupta said. Now, while Gupta has a whole lot of memories with Lacey to savor, her coming out of her shell is her favorite. "Purely because she was so comfortable by this stage and had so much character," Gupta said. 'No one should die alone' Gupta is now advocating for people to foster dogs. "Especially if people aren't really in a place to take on the responsibility of adopting a dog for whatever reason," Gupta said, adding many rescues cover vet bills and food costs during the fostering period. "You can make such a big difference to these babies and provide them respite from the shelter while they get cleared for adoption," Gupta said. "Who knows, maybe you'll end up with foster fail like I did, which could turn out to be the biggest gift of your life," she added. "Especially for our older babies who end up in a shelter, no one should die alone." Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@ and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.
Newsweek
09-07-2025
- Health
- Newsweek
Puppy Discovered After Months of Heartbreaking Abuse Finally Safe
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. An 11-month-old puppy who suffered brutal abuse at the hands of his owner has made a remarkable recovery after being rescued. The dog, named Bernie, was seized by authorities after a member of the public reported seeing him being beaten "for several minutes." When the U.K.-based animal welfare charity Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) received the call, staff rushed to the scene and found the young British bulldog limping and visibly distressed. Bernie's eyes were bloodshot, his skin was in poor condition, and a full veterinary examination revealed a shocking catalog of injuries. "We were disgusted to see the extent of his injuries. Bernie had facial fractures, cuts and bruises around his face, and very painful muscle injuries. The police seized Bernie, and his owner signed him over to us," the RSPCA shared online. Bernie's bloodshot eyes can be seen. Bernie's bloodshot eyes can be seen. RSPCA Today, Bernie is thriving in a loving home, but his journey to recovery was long and difficult. When he first arrived at the shelter, staff described him as "shut down" and wary of every new experience—a heartbreaking reflection of his traumatic start in life. Over time, however, he began to trust his carers and showed glimpses of the playful puppy he should have always been. Eventually, Bernie found his forever home, where he claimed a favorite spot on the sofa and rediscovered how to just be a puppy. Sadly, Bernie's story is far from unique. The nonprofit organization Shelter Animals Count says that about 10 million animals die from abuse each year in the United States alone, including pets, farm animals, wildlife, and animals used in testing. Around 250,000 animals annually are victims of hoarding, often kept in unsafe and unsanitary conditions. Shockingly, less than 0.01 percent of animal abuse cases are reported, making it difficult to fully understand the scale of the problem. RSPCA Chief Inspector Ian Briggs, an expert in cruelty cases, said in a statement: "We are seeing a shocking rise in the number of seasonal calls reporting animal cruelty to our emergency line. Sadly, the summer months tend to be when these reports peak, which is leading to a welfare crisis. "We don't know for sure why cruelty peaks at this time of year, but the surge in pet ownership during the pandemic has played a role, while the longer days mean more people may witness and report such violence," Briggs said. From left: Bernie had bloodshot eyes and injuries; and plays now in his new home. From left: Bernie had bloodshot eyes and injuries; and plays now in his new home. RSPCA A Facebook post about Bernie's rescue received over 4,000 likes and many heartfelt comments. One user wrote: "Poor baby. The sadness in his eyes. I will never know or understand how anyone can be so cruel. Thank RSPCA for rescuing him." Another added: "I hope his scars heal. He is at least safe and being loved right now, bless him." Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@ with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
Newsweek
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Tears as Young Horse Plays Alone With Giant Ball as Siblings Ignore Him
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A young horse's struggle to be accepted by his older siblings has gone viral on social media, and internet users can't cope with what the lonely equine does to keep himself entertained while the others avoid him. In a viral TikTok video shared on Wednesday by @heatherrrr.979, the black and white horse, Flynn, can be seen playing alone with a giant ball, enthusiastically running up and down his owner's ranch over and over. "Flynn playing by himself all day because none of the big horses like him yet," the poster wrote over the clip, adding a heart emoji. She added in the caption: "'Please tell me they like him now.' They do not. But he's ok, he has his ball." Previous videos shared by the poster show the young horse trying his best to befriend the older horses, who appear to have no interest in him. Horses are naturally highly social animals, and no normal healthy horse would ever live alone by choice, according to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Horses that live in herds often engage in social activities, such as playing or grooming each other, communicating primarily through body language. Living in herds offers horses more safety. In the wild, a horse living alone is much more likely to be caught by a predator than one who lives in a herd. This means that lonely horses are often nervous due to their constant state of alertness. On the other hand, those living in herds can take turns and rest, sharing responsibilities among each other. Horses that are kept alone may also become stressed due to not receiving the benefits of equine companionship. Stock image of a young horse on a ranch. Stock image of a young horse on a ranch. getty images The video quickly went viral on social media, garnering over 2.5 million views and 677,300 likes on the platform so far. A TikTok user commented: "My goodness.... Here I am crying more again. I'm way too sensitive for this. Please give this sweet boy extra loving for me. Tell him how strangers online adore him. Please." Another user wrote: "They're jealous because Flynn doesn't need their approval." One commenter said: "Oh wow, I didn't realize this was a thing with horses. When will young Flynn be accepted?" Newsweek reached out to @heatherrrr.979 for comment via TikTok. We could not verify the details of the case. Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@ with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Officials issue warning after animal is killed by person's thoughtless act: 'It's distressing to see'
Officials are urging the public to take littering more seriously after a duck was found fatally entangled in a fishing line in the River Cleddau. This tragic incident was shared by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) and comes following a recent call to action by the organization about the same issue, according to the Western Telegraph. The duck was so badly injured by the line wrapped around its leg that circulation had been cut off, and the wounds were down to the bone. It also had damage to its wings from struggling to free itself. Ultimately, the duck had to be euthanized to prevent further suffering. In 2024, 34% of RSPCA's litter-related calls involved fishing tackle litter. That doesn't mean that's the only type of litter causing these incidents, though: This is just one example of the more than 2,000 reports the organization received last year. "It's distressing to see how our native wildlife is being affected by litter," said Carrie Stones, the group's anti-litter campaign manager, according to the Western Telegraph. This isn't just about a few ducks in one river. According to the RSPCA, these avoidable incidents happen thousands of times each year. Animals from bears in the forest to sea turtles in the ocean have fallen victim to litter-related injuries. With rising global temperatures already putting wildlife under stress, our habits around waste and plastic are becoming even more urgent to address. Beyond animals, littering has impacts on our greater ecosystem. Plastic pollution releases harmful gases into our atmosphere, and increasing numbers of harmed species can reduce our environment's necessary biodiversity. In Wales, the RSPCA is joining forces with Keep Wales Tidy for the Spring Clean Cymru campaign, encouraging residents to take part in community litter-pick events through April 6. The campaign aims to reduce harm to wildlife and pets alike, particularly ahead of breeding season when animals are most vulnerable. Do you think America has a plastic waste problem? Definitely Only in some areas Not really I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Beyond joining clean-up events, everyday actions matter, too. The RSPCA urges people to hold onto their trash until they can dispose of it properly or recycle it. Even better, cutting back on single-use plastics can prevent this kind of harm from happening in the first place. And to see the positive side of the story: from snack wrapper recycling efforts to biodegradable water bottles, companies across the country are finding smarter ways to reduce waste and protect our planet. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
