CHILDREN in Dorset are being exposed to “horrific incidents of animal suffering” online, the RSPCA has warned.

Youngsters aged 10-18 have witnessed animal cruelty and neglect on social media “in ways previous generations have simply not experienced”, according to the animal welfare charity.

Nearly 5,000 incidents of cruelty and neglect on social media sites are reported to the RSPCA each year, more than 400 of which are in the South West.

In Dorset, the number of incidents posted on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube which were reported to the RSPCA soared by more than 60 per cent from 2016 to 2017. And in the first six months of 2018 there were 31 incidents reported.

In response, the charity is launching Generation Kind - its biggest ever education and prevention programme aimed at children - and has launched a petition calling for animal welfare to be taught in all schools.

A new poll by the charity revealed 81 per cent of people in the South West believe animal welfare should be taught in schools.

Polling carried out by Beautiful Insights for the charity revealed 28.4% of 10-18 year olds in the South West (compared to 23% nationally) had seen animal cruelty on social media sites and 7.8% of people in the region had seen it in person.

RSPCA Chief Executive Chris Sherwood said: “The number of children seeing animal abuse online is shocking - the current generation of children are witnessing horrifying animal cruelty and neglect through channels which simply didn’t exist for previous generations.

“The risk for children growing up in the 21st century is that frequent and casual exposure to animal abuse will desensitise them and may even make it seem acceptable. Animals need us now more than ever and we want to grow a new generation of young people who care, who are informed and who want to do their best for animals.

“This is why we are launching Generation Kind - an ambitious education programme targeting school children, children in care, young offenders or those at risk of offending and other disadvantaged young people. Central to this is a new campaign to get animal welfare taught in all schools.”

Generation Kind comprises nine projects, including those aimed at disadvantaged children, members of Youth Offending Teams, schools and youth groups.

The RSPCA says teaching animal welfare would ensure children develop key life skills, including compassion and empathy, as well as respect for animals and a basic understanding of how to care for them.

Through the expansion of these projects, the charity hopes to reach two million children by 2030.

Chris said: “This is the most important campaign we have ever undertaken. We are fighting animal abuse and neglect every day but we can only do so much. If we can foster empathy and responsibility towards animals in the consumers, politicians and decision makers of tomorrow, we can create a society which is truly kinder to animals.”