The annual statistics released by the animal rights charity also vindicate the growing call from charities for better controls on pet ownership, and more official sanctions to protect animals...

The number of people convicted of cruelty and neglect to animals rose by nearly a quarter last year, says the RSPCA and there was also an increase in bans on keeping animals and also an increase in prison sentences for animal tormentors.

The charity has revealed a 23.5 per cent increase in the number of people convicted for cruelty and neglect (1,341). Dogs continue to be one of the main focuses for this terrible behaviour with the charity identifying a 22 per cent increase in convictions relating to cruelty to dogs (2,105).

Some of the cases reported to the animal welfare charity are horrendous and include the torture of animals, severe cases of neglect and starvation, the dumping of animals in bags...

Cases involving farm animals also rose last year, as well as convictions relating to horse cruelty.

The charity says it is buckling under the pressure of the rising number of cases...

Sadly, the RSPCA's latest statistics follow previous reports from a number of organisations, similarly identifying the increasing scourge of animal cruelty in the UK...

The report follows evidence from various charities identifying a rise in cases including abandonment of dogs, badger baiting - setting dogs on badgers (a protected species), illegal dog fighting, dog thefts, the list goes on.

As well as providing shelter, facilitating new homes and providing vet care to mistreated animals the RSPCA along with other orgs continue to campaign for stiffer legislation aimed at protecting animals.

Last year a coalition of animal charities including the RSPCA, Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, Wood Green animal charity, the Dogs Trust and The Blue Cross charity called on the government to make owners more responsible for their dogs, a main recipient of animal cruelty, a problem which is also linked to increasing problems of dog attacks on people.

The proposed measures including the introduction of a permanent identification system such as microchipping.

Ministers have just announced plans to consult on a better microchipping scheme for dogs in response to the animal charities. However, the RSPCA is calling for the plans to go further and believes a thorough dog registration scheme is the answer to tackle the most irresponsible ownership cases and help trace owners in the event of cruelty cases.

It's a further reminder of how animal charities including the RSPCA, PETA, the Badger Trust, World Horse Welfare and others not only protect animals by responding to emergencies and individual cruelty cases, but also take part in vital campaigning work to improve legislation to reduce suffering to animals...