Report: Animal Cruelty Deep-Rooted in U.K.

June 28 -- A new report claiming animal cruelty is deep-rooted in British society has alarmed animal lovers across Britain.

The report also noted a 16 percent rise in the number of animals that needed rescuing last year.

Sponsored by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and researched by Manchester Metropolitan University, the report said it was most alarmed by the assertions of some survey respondents, who said deliberate cruelty to animals was a normal stage in growing up.

John Rose of the RSPCA told BBC News more than half of the young people surveyed had firsthand knowledge of harming animals.

"We found it quite shocking that in our view it was deeply rooted in society," he said.

Many psychologists say serial killers and child abusers often have a history of mistreating animals.

Catching Them Young

The report surveyed 1,000 children and 100 adults, focusing mainly on young people since research indicates that attitudes to animals are formed in youth.

Researchers note that the reasons for committing deliberate animal cruelty are complex, but often result from feelings of vengeance — or curiosity.

They also identified peer pressure and the influence of adult behavior on young people as significant factors.

Boys were said to be more likely than girls to commit acts of cruelty, and cats and dogs were the most common victims.

But there was also a startling variety of cruelty, Rose said, targeted at ducks, frogs and toads as well, and using shootings, kickings and firecrackers.

The RSPCA report cited the especially heart-wrenching case of 17-year-old collie cross named Misty, who was left to die zipped inside a sports bag that was left on a garbage heap.

Misty was trapped inside the bag for days before a workman found her, infested with maggots and covered with ulcers.

Authorities soon caught up with her owner. He was jailed him for one month for animal neglect and also banned from having custody of animals for life.