WILTSHIRE has seen the largest increase in the region in reported cases of animal cruelty.

 

The RSPCA reported a rise of more than 5% in animal cruelty cases in the South West compared to the previous 12 months, with 74 new reports in the region every day and a total of 27,019 in the last year.

 

Allegations of animal cruelty in Wiltshire rose by more than 19%, from 1,420 cases in 2015 to 1,704 in 2016.

 

These include the case of Max - an eight-year-old West Highland terrier who was left to suffer for more than a year with a tumour so bad it was described as "like something out of a horror film" by an RSPCA inspector.

 

The animal welfare charity started an investigation after being made aware of Max’s condition after he was found to be suffering from an extreme case of neglect and had a large, severe untreated tumour on his ear that was weeping and covered in puss.

 

RSPCA inspector Miranda Albinson said: “I found Max in the corner of a room in the defendant’s house in a terrible state.

 

"Not only was his tumour gruesome and shocking - it was like something out of a horror film - but the poor boy was dirty and emaciated and I have rarely seen a more depressed dog in all of my time at the RSPCA.

 

"He barely even had the enthusiasm to respond to me and that just goes to show exactly how much pain he must have been in - it was just a very sad case and I dread to think of how much he must have suffered.

 

“Since then, Max has been successfully treated, his tumour has been removed, and it’s like he’s got a new lease of life - he’s a different dog now and lucky enough to have found a loving new home with Mrs Bubb. I’m truly over the moon that a dog as sweet as Max can now put this experience behind him.”

 

His owner, from Wiltshire, was disqualified from keeping animals for five years, and Max is now thriving in his loving new home.

 

Nationally there were 400 allegations of animal cruelty every day last year - a total of 148,604 and a rise of nearly 5% from 2015.

 

Calls to the RSPCA’s 24-hour cruelty hotline also rose by nearly 4%, which amounted to more than 1.15million calls last year - averaging one every 27 seconds.

 

The majority of complaints received by the RSPCA in 2016 continued to be about the welfare of dogs (84,994), followed by cats (36,156) and equines (19,530).

 

The RSPCA’s leading inspector believes the surge in calls to Britain’s biggest animal welfare charity is down to the public becoming more aware and less tolerant of animal cruelty and neglect, rather than a sign that people are becoming crueller.

 

Dermot Murphy, assistant director of the RSPCA inspectorate, said: “I believe that the figures from last year show that we’re not becoming crueller, but that people are simply less willing to stand by and do nothing if they think an animal is suffering.

 

“People are increasingly likely to share images or footage on their social media accounts of animals they believe are not being cared for properly, while many will see material their friends have shared and then contact us about them.

 

“Either way, our officers are under increased pressure having to respond to more calls and investigate more complaints, but it is thanks to their dedication, as well as RSPCA staff and volunteers across England and Wales that we are able to transform the lives of tens of thousands of animals each year.”