The RSPCA has received nearly 1,500 animal abuse reports in Kent so far this year.

New figures released by the charity today have revealed a huge rise in animals being harmed, with one particularly harrowing case taking place in Gravesend.

Warning: some viewers may find the footage below distressing.

In January, the charity was alerted after a video emerged of a man beating a dog at St Aidan’s Park.

The horrifying footage captured the moment the man dressed in black goes over to his yellow Labrador which is walking slowly behind him.

The dog then lies down while the suspect beats them multiple times with a dog toy resembling a thrower.

Also at the start of the year, the bloodstained body of a dead dog was found dumped inside a large metal crate on a patch of grass in Halcot Avenue in Bexleyheath, just outside of Kent.

The young female XL Bully type suffered a severe head injury and was taken to an emergency vet.

They found a blunt force injury to the right side of her head and blood coming from her mouth and backend.

In February, an eight-week-old puppy riddled with worms was found dumped by the side of the road in a cardboard box in East Farleigh, near Maidstone.

The French bulldog was underweight and had a distinctive injury to her right ear.

In March, the charity launched an investigation after a faeces-covered cat with a ruptured eye, which is believed to have been abandoned by a previous owner, was found in an alleyway near Halling High Street.

The cat had extremely matted fur and was also in desperate need of veterinary attention for her eye.

Between the start of January and the end of June this year, the RSPCA received a total of 44,879 reports of cruelty towards animals across England and Wales.1,372 of these were in Kent.

This is more than two percent higher than the 43,983 calls received during the same timeframe last year.

But the animal welfare charity says its busiest period is yet to come, and anticipates a seasonal rise over the summer months.

In summer 2023, it received 285 reports of cruelty every single day, around one every five minutes.

During this time period, reports of intentional harm towards animals rose by 11% compared with the previous year, and animal beating reports rose by 17%.

RSPCA national media manager Chris O'Brien explained: “Summer is always the busiest time for RSPCA officers, we’re always braced for an influx of calls.

“One reason for this is because we have better weather so there’s less places for cruelty to hide.

“People are outside and might be seeing more instances of neglect and report this to us.

“There are some more sinister reasons as well, unfortunately we have had reports across the board where people go on holiday which is more common in the summer and they’re leaving animals behind

“Most people are brilliant animal owners and Kent is a county full of animal lovers, which is the important thing to remember.

“But it is going to be a tough summer season ahead for the RSPCA.”

The charity has launched its No Animal Deserves Cruelty summer appeal in response to the expected seasonal peak in cruelty.

Karen Colman, who heads up the RSPCA welfare oversight team, said: “Sadly, animal cruelty reports are on the rise this year.

“Reports of international harm towards animals and beatings also rose sharply across the country last summer – so we’re preparing for a difficult period ahead.

“But rescuing animals from cruelty, investigating harm caused to them, and acting to prevent animal abuse, is a job no other charity does.

“We’ll always be here to pick up the pieces and show those animals the kindness and care they deserve.”