London branded 'cruelest' area in UK over number of dog abuse cases

London named 'cruelest' area in UK over dog abuse cases. Credit: RSPCA

Greater London has been named as the cruelest area in the country after RSPCA figures revealed that 6,137 dogs were involved in complaints which were investigated by the charity.

Warning: This article contains distressing images.

This year has seen some of the charity's' most harrowing cases. A shocking catalogue of abuse and neglect uncovered by RSPCA inspectors in 2015.

In the south east region, the highest number of complaints investigate:

  • Greater London (11,050)

  • Kent (5,304)

  • Essex (4,641)

  • Norfolk is fourth (2,689)

  • Surrey (2,415)

  • Cambridgeshire (2,351)

  • Hertfordshire (2,216)

  • East Sussex (1,959)

  • Suffolk (1,861)

  • West Sussex (1,733)

  • Bedfordshire (1,535).

Another case saw sixteen dogs found living in crammed crates where they had been left without being taken for walk for three years.

Warning: This footage contains distressing images:

One case included a Staffordshire bull terrier collapsed with scalds all over her body thought to be caused by boiling water in London.

Another uncovered a dog that was beaten over the head with a metal pole before having her head crammed into plastic bag in an attempt to strangle her in London