Gizmo's head was indistinguishable from his tail

There were nearly 25% more convictions last year than in 2004 and the number of investigations into cruelty made by the animal charity also increased.

Among the worst cases were a dog starved to death in a shed and three ponies living in squalid conditions.

RSPCA Superintendent Martyn Hubbard said: "2005 will go down as one of the most violent towards animals."

He said neglect was still the most common cause behind the majority of cruelty cases.

Examples included 10 cats and two dogs living in a property in Billesley, Birmingham, whose coats were matted with urine and faeces and another example of a dog in Staffordshire who had lost 85% of its hair.

CONVICTIONS IN 2005 Staffs and Wolverhampton 29 Shrops and Herefordshire 12 Worcs and Gloucs 11 Warwickshire 48 Birmingham 29

In Birmingham in February last year a woman was banned from keeping animals for 10 years after a Shih Tzu named Gizmo had not been groomed for years and his head was indistinguishable from his tail. Gizmo has since been rehomed.

Another woman was given a five-year ban after her Rottweiler-cross was discovered in a flat in Malvern, Worcs, chained around the face and legs and could not eat, walk of drink. Jess made a full recovery.

Welfare figures also showed many animals were not receiving basic care and in the West Midlands included:

• 648 incidents where animals did not have access to water

• 652 incidents where animals did not receive veterinary treatment

• 686 incidents when animals did not have a clean living environment

Mr Hubbard said there were concerns that cruelty could be more widespread than its latest figures suggest as the charity fears many cases still go unreported.

"Sadly despite our best efforts, there are those who continue to ignore our messages and treat animals with brute force instead of compassion," he said.