Cases of animal cruelty on the rise

The number of animal cruelty complaints are on the rise Credit: PA

The number of animal cruelty complaints investigated by the RSPCA in the Midlands went up last year, new figures released today show.

These include the case of Reo - a nine-year-old German Shepherd (pictured) who was left ‘squirming in agony’ from the open wounds on her ears, jaw and eye when she was found.

Her owner, from Wirral, was banned from keeping animals for life after being prosecuted by the RSPCA, and Reo is now thriving in her new home.

In the region, the highest number of complaints investigated were in the West Midlands and Staffordshire.

RSPCA inspectors investigated 92 new reports of animal cruelty every day in the Midlands region last year - approximately 4 new complaints every hour.

Here is the number of animal cruelty complaints RSPCA received in the Midlands region:

  • West Midlands: 6,834

  • Staffordshire: 3,350

  • Derbyshire: 3,246

  • Nottinghamshire: 3,157

  • Leicestershire: 2,387

  • Northamptonshire: 1,924

  • Shropshire: 1,439

  • Warwickshire: 1,307

Dermot Murphy, Assistant Director of the RSPCA Inspectorate, said: