Warning: This story contains video you might find upsetting.
Animal cruelty charity RSCPA is trying to find a home for some of the country’s most abused dogs.
In Greater Manchester over the past 12 months inspectors have been called to over 7,000 cases of cruelty to animals, including 4,498 complaints of dog cruelty and 2,012 instances of cat cruelty.
Some of the most shocking individual cases from the past 12 months come from the Greater Manchester area.
In Cadishead area of Salford in July 2015, a man who admitted being drunk was banned from keeping animals after being caught on CCTV throwing his Jack Russell, called Sam, several feet through the air.
The owner was sentenced to the five-year ban at Manchester Magistrates Court on 4 November last year.
He was found guilty in absence to causing his pet fear and distress in the incident.
RSPCA inspector Paul Heaton said: “One viewing of the 20 second clip is enough to see that what happened here was wrong, no matter what was going on.
“You hear the dog’s owner shout ‘Get here’, then scream ‘Get home’, just before he walks into the shot holding Sam off the ground by one leg.
“He then flings him several feet out of the shot, and you hear him shout again and a metal gate rattle. The dog was actually thrown over the gate onto the ground.
“It’s obvious the owner is very angry about something, and the dog would certainly have been frightened by the rough handling and aggression shown towards him.”
Sam, and a second dog, a female Yorkshire terrier cross called ‘Lady’, were taken into possession on veterinary advice and placed in RSPCA care.
RSPCA inspector Heaton said: “The owner said he couldn’t remember the incident as he had been drinking. Your dog should be praised when he or she comes back to you, not punished, and never, ever handled in the way Sam was here.”
Sam and Lady are now in the care of RSPCA Crewe and Nantwich branch and are looking for their forever home together.
Dog rehoming co-ordinator Pauline Clarke said: “We have had Sam and Lady with us since January and we would love them to find their perfect home as a pair.
“They rely on each other and are calmer together – they really are best friends so it would be a shame to separate them, but finding someone to take on both of them is proving a bit of a challenge.
“Hopefully someone will find space in their heart and their home for this cheeky twosome.”
Sam is around 10 years old and Lady is around three years old.
Anyone who is interested should visit the branch website for more information.
