Reports of appalling images and videos of animal cruelty being shared on social media continues to rise because "people feel invincible and untraceable", according to the RSPCA.

The animal rights charity says it has seen a huge increase in reports of horrific abuse being shared, and witnessed, by children through mobile apps - such as Snapchat.

From 27 reported incidents in 2015, cases have risen by a staggering 340% to 119 complaints so far in 2017.

The RSPCA has called for animal welfare to be added to the national curriculum to try and tackle this sickening behaviour at source.

Among the horrific incidents include a sheep beaten to death with a golf club, a fox cub's throat slit, a cat choked and suffocated and a tortoise fed drugs.

In March this year, a video emerged of a group of youths feeding cigarettes to a horse on a farm near Banstead. The recording was shared on Snapchat and spotted by the family who owned the horse.

The family said the act was "disgusting" and "wrong" but sadly admitted they weren't surprised by it either.

According to the charity's Special Operations Unit (SOU), the number of cases could rise because the people creating the disgusting videos and images feel "invincible and untraceable" because their posts can be made to disappear within seconds.

'Serious acts of brutality'

An anonymous RSPCA officer said: "What’s even more concerning than the 340% increase in reports of videos of animal cruelty in just two years is the level of cruelty being seen.

"While many of these videos shows acts of animal cruelty that are at the lower end of severity - such as teenagers chasing geese or throwing stones at birds - a worrying number of them show serious acts of brutality.

This screenshot of a fish being tortured is just one among many cases highlighted by the RSPCA

"When you consider that Snapchat is particularly popular with children and young teenagers, it’s particularly troubling that they could easily be witnessing animals being beaten, tortured and even killed in graphic detail.

"Not only are young people seeing these heinous acts but, most of the time, it is also young people who are witnessed in the videos carrying out these sickening incidents or are often the ones who share them."

UK Cat Killer

Earlier this year, a dog breeder from Farnborough admitted killing nine puppies.

Margaret Peacock froze the animals to death and killed one of the puppies with a tin opener. She was given a 12-week jail sentence.

Puppy breeder Margaret Peacock killed eight puppies by stuffing them into a freezer

Elsewhere, seven-month-old Oreo the cat was found decapitated in Frimley Green and is believed to be one of the victims of the so-called "UK Cat Killer".

The cat killer is believed to have struck more than 300 times now and it is nearly two years since their sick spree started.

'Savage attacks'

The RSPCA officer continued: "Not only are these savage attacks on defenceless and vulnerable animals, but videos often include youngsters laughing as they inflict the injuries or text layered over the top suggest they find it entertaining.

"Because of the way Snapchat works, kids are using the platform to share these videos as they feel invincible and, wrongly, think it’s untraceable.

"But, if reported to us by children who have seen the videos or by worried parents, we do have tools which enable us to trace those responsible in most cases."

Seven-month-old Oreo was found decapitated in Frimley Green

In 2015, the charity received 27 reports of animal cruelty shared through Snapchat, this increased to 69 in 2016.

By October 2017, 119 incidents have already been reported and it is feared this number could increase by the end of the year.

A shocking 30% of Snapchat users under the age of 25 polled by the RSPCA (141) said footage of animal abuse had been shared with them and 60% said what they saw was "serious or extreme".

According to the charity, around 80% of cases are traced and resolved, mostly by sharing the image or video to police, parents and schools.

Following the shocking number of reports, the RSPCA has called for animal welfare to be added to the national curriculum to tackle and prevent further cases.

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