AN alarming rise in cruelty by pet owners in the North West is revealed in the RSPCA's annual statistics released today.

The report shows that calls to the RSPCA in the region rose 12pc to 128,193 in 1995 while inspectors visited more than 3,200 establishments - 22pc up on the previous year.

The number of rescues carried out by inspectors also rose, from 472 in 1994 to 509 last year.

The report highlights a rise in the number of neglect cases. More than 69pc of convictions for cruelty to animals in the region were due to basic neglect.

Out of the North West's 297 convictions for animal cruelty, 205 were for neglect, with dogs the most common victims.

The figures mirror those throughout England and Wales, where neglect accounts for an overwhelming 75pc of the RSPCA's workload.

Commenting on the figures, Bernard Divine, RSPCA regional manager, said: "It is both shocking and depressing that so much cruelty is completely avoidable.

"Time and time again, people take on pets without thinking about whether they are capable of looking after that animal for all of its life.

"In terms of suffering caused, neglect is as bad as outright brutality - ignorance is no excuse."

Cases highlighted in the RSPCA report included Tess, a bearded collie who, when her owner died, was left locked in a house for 12 months with only occasional feeding. Although starved and infested with fleas when she was rescued, she recovered and now has a new home.

Another case was Rufus the rottweiler, who was left to starve in a back yard which was covered in his own faeces and had no shelter.

His owners claimed they had been feeding him, but when he was taken into RSPCA care his weight increased by more than a third. Rufus also has a new home.

Other animals who fell victim to callous owners during 1995 included sheep left by a Lancashire farmer to die a slow death from foot rot, sheep scab and liver disease.

The cruelty statistics have been released on the second day of RSPCA Week which is designed to raise awareness and funds for the charity.

Last year the week raised more than £90,000 through fundraising activities organised by RSPCA branches.

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