THE Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA) launched its annual Inspectorate Report at the end of May, the report highlights the increased number of animal cruelty reports received by the charity, with 17,338 calls for help recorded last year.

A total of 86,549 calls have been received by the ISPCA National Animal Cruelty Helpline since 2014 when the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 (AHWA) was first introduced. The report outlines the 18 prosecutions with which ISPCA Inspectors were involved that were resolved in the courts in 2018. ISPCA Animal Welfare Inspectors carried out 3,494 investigations with 1,102 animals seized or surrendered and taken into ISPCA care.