Shocking scale of dog cruelty complaints investigated in the West Midlands revealed

In total, the RSPCA investigated more than 30,000 complaints in 2015, data from the animal charity shows.

Of those, around 60 per cent – more than 18,000 – related to dogs, with 24 per cent – more than 7,000 – relating to cats.

The remainder of the probes involved other animals, including horses, rabbits and other wildlife.

Dermot Murphy, assistant director for the Inspectorate, said: "People think of dogs as man's best friend but these statistics tell a very different story.

"They are by far the most abused animal in this country and we investigate more complaints about them than any other species.

"The stories we are telling show a snapshot of the horrific level of cruelty we have seen in the last year, which have to be some the most extreme cases I have ever heard of."

The West Midlands figures mirror the national picture.

Across the country, there were 81,146 investigations, that's 57 per cent of the total, into cruelty towards the pet commonly thought of as our most loyal companion – more than twice the number of investigations into cats, of which there were 33,844 or 24 per cent)

With 6,579 complaints investigated, the West Midlands was more than 3,000 ahead of other areas across the Midlands region.

Staffordshire was third, with 3,192 cases reviewed.

This year's cruelty statistics show that in 2015 nationally there were:

• 11,428 dogs involved in animal welfare incidents which ended in prosecutions.

• 761 cats, 463 exotics and 330 equines.

• Overall 143,004 complaints of animal cruelty investigated – slightly down on 159,831 in 2014.

• 796 people convicted of animal welfare offences, compared to 1,029 in 2014.

Mr Murphy said:"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 cases are up there with some of the most extreme we have ever known."

On the rise are the number of owners who were offered and accepted animal welfare advice – a total of 81,475 in 2015.

In 2000 this figure was around 4,000, in 2002 around 50,000, and in 2007 around 78,000.

This trend is reflected in many parts of the Midlands, with a rise of people in places like West Midlands receiving advice on animal welfare – 3,584 in contrast to 2,898 last year.

The highest number of complaints investigated were in Greater London,11,050, followed by West Yorkshire,7,694, and then Greater Manchester,7,333.

The RSPCA also revealed a shocking catalogue of abuse and neglect. This included a pug puppy punched so hard part of her jaw fell out, a 'walking skeleton' lurcher puppy who was starved by his owners and a German Shepherd who lived in a 'dungeon'.