The RSPCA have warned of a ‘summer of suffering’ as animal cruelty spikes in Berkshire.

There were 127 reports of intentional harm against pets made last year, amid soaring mutilation, beatings and abandonment figures nationally.

Among them was a puppy with who was rushed to a vets after being dumped in a rucksack in Finchampstead Woods, near Bracknell.

When the clinic admitted the eight-year-old chocolate-coloured cockapoo, he seemed unable to use his back legs.

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The RSPCA suspect he was abandoned by an "unscrupulous breeder" due to his health problems.

Dermot Murphy, Chief Inspectorate Officer at the RSPCA, said: “We are a nation of animal lovers and no one wants to think of an animal being cruelly treated but sadly the reality is that every day animals are victims of deliberate cruelty and thankfully the RSPCA is there to help them.

“There are many factors which could explain why we see a rise in cruelty during the summer months. The longer sunny days could mean people are out and about more and likely to see and report abuse. Hot summer days can also lead to more people drinking alcohol in the sun which in turn can be a factor causing violence. Perhaps there is boredom or pressures at home with children being off school which can make existing difficulties magnified.

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“And this year, we are also concerned that the recent rise in pet ownership coupled with the cost of living crisis could see people really struggling to care for their pets which may lead them to lash out or could see more animals than ever being abandoned or given up.”

The RSPCA received more than 1m calls to its Cruelty Line in 2021, including reports of more than 1,000 killings.

The Berkshire Cockapoo has been rehomed by Millbrook Animal Centre.