The number of animal cruelty complaints investigated by the RSPCA increased from 11,372 in 2013 to 11,740, the charity has revealed.
Of the complaints last year, 1,389 involved deliberate and often violent cruelty to animals. This was up from 1,264 in 2013.
These included beatings, fighting related, improper killing, poisoning, trapping and mutilation.
RSPCA Cymru superintendent Martyn Hubbard said: “It is extremely concerning that we are still receiving more than 1,300 complaints about animals being deliberately caused to suffer.
“Most of the complaints we receive involve animals being neglected or not receiving the right care and often we can put that right by offering welfare advice. However, it is shocking that in 2014 people are still being deliberately cruel.”
- In total the RSPCA in Wales secured 116 convictions in magistrates’ courts in 2014 compared with 297 convictions in 2013.
- The number of defendants convicted in Wales in 2014 was 47. This is compared to 79 in 2013.
- The number of suspects from Wales reported to the RSPCA prosecutions department was 245 in 2014 (down from 318 in 2013).
- The number of offenders cautioned in 2014 was 74 – down from 91 in 2013.
- The latest figures show a 100 per cent success rate for RSPCA prosecutions in Wales last year – which also follows a 100 per cent success rate in 2013.
- The number of animal owners who were offered and accepted welfare advice increased from 4,920 in 2013 to 5,527 in 2014. The vast majority of RSPCA work is improving animal welfare by giving advice to owners.
Superintendent Hubbard added: “Our aim is always to prevent cruelty so it’s really positive that a greater number of people followed our advice. Crucially this means that although we are still receiving complaints about cruelty we are often getting to incidents before suffering has occurred and helping owners to provide for their animals, whether that means getting veterinary care for them or just giving them the right diet.
“Sadly, though, where cruelty is still happening there will be a need to prosecute in the most serious cases and it is upsetting that so many people are still mistreating animals by deliberately causing them harm or by not providing them with the care they deserve.”