Flintshire has highest number of animal cruelty cases in North Wales latest RSPCA figures reveal

Man’s best friend is the most persecuted pet in Wales, new figures from RSPCA Cymru show.

Shocking statistics released by the animal charity also show Flintshire had the greatest number of cruelty cases in North Wales in 2015.

RSPCA inspectors dealt with a massive 492 cases of abuse and neglect in Flintshire alone in 2015, the majority involving dogs.

The annual prosecution statistics show that almost 60% complaints investigated by the RSPCA in Wales in 2015 related to dogs.

Across all Wales, there were 5,918 investigations into cruelty towards dogs commonly thought of as ‘our most loyal companion’ – nearly three times the number of investigations into cats, of which there were 2,071.

This compares to nearly 21% which related to cats – the second most abused pet.

[icon type=”caret-right”] In 2015 the charity in Wales dealt with several horrifying cases in Flintshire including a horrific badger biting case involving a dog in Flint.

Horrific Flint badger baiting incident was featured on TV

RSPCA Cymru’s superintendent Martyn Hubbard said:

“People think of dogs as man’s best friend but these statistics tell a different story. They are by far the most abused animal in Wales and we investigate more complaints related to them than any other species.

“Our inspectors have been utterly shocked by the level of neglect, it is horrifying to think how these animals must have suffered.”

[icon type=”caret-right”] Eight newborn puppies stuffed inside a rubbish sack and left in a Queensferry bin.

The puppies were all rehomed successfully

[icon type=”caret-right”] Prosecution figures for Wales 2015:

• The RSPCA’s annual figures for 2015 show that there were a total of 9,895 complaints investigated. This compares to 11,740 in 2014.

• The number of animal owners who were offered and accepted welfare advice were 5,790 – this is an increase from 5,527 in 2014. The vast majority of RSPCA work is improving animal welfare by giving advice to owners.

• In total the RSPCA in Wales secured 89 convictions in magistrates court in 2015 – there were 116 in 2014. (Please note that one person can receive more than one conviction and a case may concern one or multiple suspects)

• The number of defendants convicted in Wales in 2014 was 41. This is compares to 47 in 2014.

• 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 2014.

Superintendent Hubbard added: “It is encouraging that some of the figures are down on last year and that the numbers of complaints being dealt with by education and advice are going up, as we would always much rather improve animal welfare by giving advice to owners if at all possible.

“Yet even if some of the overall numbers are lower, the level of depravity we have seen in 2015 continues to be a concern and is as bad as previous years.”

[icon type=”caret-right”] Another shocking case in Flintshire involved a dog called Trojan found severely emaciated, a third under his ideal body weight.

Before and after picture of Trojan

A woman was disqualified from keeping animals for four years after she let Trojan become severely emaciated.

The two-year-old male German shepherd cross was found in a back garden – dirty and with a very thick and matted coat.

Trojan weighed just 12.3kg and a vet described him as being severely emaciated, a third under his ideal body weight. There was virtually no muscle on his body and his very thick and matted coat disguised the awful condition that he was in.

The woman appeared in Mold court and was disqualified from keeping animals for four years, and was handed a £240 fine and ordered to pay £500 costs.

Trojan – renamed Monty – has since been rehomed on a farm where he follows his new owner around day and night.

Monty’s new owner Ian Lewis said he is a “brilliant” dog. He said: “He is always following me and is behind me. He is so good.

“I saw him when he was very thin and he was desperately thin. He looks great now and he goes running every day. We have got a bit of land so there is plenty for him to do.”

[icon type=”caret-right”] The total number of complaints for all animals investigated by the RSPCA in Wales by local authority.