THERE has been a huge rise in the number of pet owners convicted of animal cruelty, shocking new RSPCA figures have revealed.
In the South and South West of England convictions last year under the Animal Welfare Act shot up by 63 per cent.
Statistics show that 204 people were prosecuted for animal cruelty and neglect, compared to 127 in 2010.
Convictions relating to dogs rose by 51 per cent while prosecutions for equine cruelty increased by 57 per cent.
A total of 154 people were disqualified from keeping animals by the courts, compared to 98 in 2010.
In England and Wales the number of people convicted of cruelty and neglect to animals rose by nearly a quarter, pushing the RSPCA to “breaking point.”
The charity’s chief executive Gavin Grant said: “The RSPCA faces a crisis that is stretching us to breaking point.
“We show zero tolerance to animal abusers. Anyone causing animals pain for profit or pleasure will be tracked down and prosecuted. We need the courts and councils, police and people who care to join us in standing up and getting justice for Britain’s abused animals.”
Regional manager Jonathan Silk said: “The RSPCA strives to keep animals with their owners wherever possible and offers advice on improving their welfare.
“Overwhelming this advice is followed but where it isn’t, or where someone has already harmed an animal, there has to be a way of ensuring that animals are not left to suffer.”
He appealed to the public to support RSPCA Week which gets under way on Monday.
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