North animal cruelty is condemned

A huge tumour was found on 10-year-old pointer Dylan

An animal charity wants tougher action against pet owners after releasing details of "disgusting" cases of cruelty in the North East and Cumbria.

The RSPCA said that last year in the region complaints were up almost 5,000 on the previous 12 months.

Among the shocking cases highlighted was a Teesside dog with a tumour so large that it dragged on the floor.

Others included 29 cats found in squalor on Tyneside and a pony with a maggot-infested head wound in Cumbria.

The animal charity's new figures show a big rise in the number of animals not getting even the most basic care and attention.

The figures have been taken from welfare assessment forms used by inspectors every time they visit a property.

In the northern region last year inspectors investigated 35,280 complaints of animals suffering or at risk.

A pony in Cumbria was found with a maggot-infested head wound

They paid 71,142 visits to owner's homes, and secured 264 convictions.

They rescued 2,456 animals and carried out 35,001 collections of unwanted or abandoned animals.

Alan Wolinski, RSPCA regional manager for the northern region, said: "We urge the public to write to their MPs calling on them to put pressure on the government to introduce the Animal Welfare Bill as a priority.

"Day in day out, our inspectors have to stand by and see the death or deterioration of animals at risk before the current law will allow them to intervene.

"Getting a new welfare offence on the statute books will, we believe, represent the most important piece of legislation affecting captive and domestic animals for almost a century."

In Thornaby, Teesside, Jennifer Weightman allowed a tumour measuring 18in deep and 12in wide to grow from the stomach of her 10-year-old pointer Dylan.

Almost 30 cats were found in disgusting conditions on Tyneside

She was subsequently fined and banned from keeping all animals for 10 years. The dog was put down.

Inspectors were horrified to discover the neck of a pony in Cumbria suffering from a deep and raw tethering injury was infested with maggots.

The size of the larvae meant the four-year-old Shetland pony had suffered in agony for between seven and 10 days.

Owner John Sails, of Aldoth, near Silloth, was found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering. He was fined but not banned from keeping horses.

The pony is now on the way to a full recovery.

On Tyneside, 29 cats were discovered living in a dirt-encrusted house strewn with rubbish and faeces. Vets had to put 21 of them to sleep.

Michael O'Malley, of Gosforth, admitted causing unnecessary suffering and was banned from keeping animals for life.