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# Animal Cruelty hits Snapchat
- URL: https://www.birminghameastside.co.uk/animal-cruelty-hits-snapchat/
- Published: 2017-10-16T12:08:39.000Z
- Updated: 2017-10-16T12:08:39.000Z
- Author: Birmingham Eastside
- Tags: Charity, News, #Migrated-1786701253228, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-08-14 09:54

There's been a 340% rise in reports of animal cruelty on [Snapchat](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/0/snapchat-use-best-hidden-features/?ref=birminghameastside.co.uk), according to a [report by the RSPCA](https://www.rspca.org.uk/whatwedo/latest/details/-/articleName/2017%5F10%5F14%5Fsnapchat%5Fhorror?ref=birminghameastside.co.uk).

119 cases have been reported so far in 2017, compared to 69 for the whole of last year. The video-sharing app has seen videos such as a guinea pig being thrown down the stairs and a fox cub’s throat being slit - and some videos even included people laughing.

![Snapchat images of animal cruelty](http://birminghameastside.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/AnimalCruelty.jpg)

Animal cruelty on the social chat app have risen dramatically

A breakdown of the local statistics don't contain the West Midlands information, but the **RSPCA** Press Office said:

> "That could be for two reasons, either there is no data from the West Midlands, or the area for that report is unknown."

## The wider issue

Trends show an increase in animal cruelty, and the national statistics show a 3.8% increase for incidents reported to the RSPCA in Birmingham year-on-year.

The animal welfare charity also found that most of these cases involved children.

**Dave Allen**, Head of Education & Advice for the RSPCA said:

> “We're not out to prosecute these children but we'll act when we're aware of violence against an animal or any form of cruelty.  
>  
> “We'd prefer to educate children to ensure they understand that being cruel or causing unnecessary suffering to an animal is not funny and is wrong.”