This dog had to have an eye removed because of disease

The RSPCA in the East Midlands says it dealt with thousands of cases of cruelty in 2002.

A report published on Wednesday details how pets were found kicked, burned and starved to death.

Of the 5,000-plus incidents recorded by the RSPCA in the region, 50 led to a conviction.

Inspectors say there is often a lack of evidence, as people are not prepared to come forward.

In one case, officials in Leicester found a hedgehog, which had been burnt alive.

Conviction rates

A lack of information meant no one was prosecuted.

The statistics have been published as part of RSPCA week.

One of the most harrowing (cases) was a man who severed the tail off a cat with a meat cleaver. Tim Wass, RSPCA spokesman

While showing a slight drop in cases overall, there was an increase in violence towards animals.

In Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire alone there were 8,502 complaints resulting in 1,011 rescues and 50 prosecutions.

These court cases lead to a total of 103 convictions, a rise of 26 on the previous year.

No separate figures were available for Lincolnshire but inspectors said it was a similar picture

Serious threats

In Lincoln, a man who was already serving a five year ban on keeping animals, was jailed for keeping a rabbit in a plastic pet carrier that was infested with maggots.

The Lincolnshire spokesman for the RSPCA, Tim Wass, said there were many more awful crimes.

"We have unfortunately had several serious cases.

"One of the most harrowing was a man who severed the tail off a cat with a meat cleaver.

"It turned out this was part of a kidnap plan and he did it to show how serious he was about his threats to kill."

No excuse

One incident in Nottingham involved a 12-year-old boy who was convicted of stamping on and torturing a chicken to death.

The RSPCA says its inspectors will work more in future with schools, to educate more youngsters about the seriousness of animal cruelty.

One dog in Allenton, Derbyshire, was left tied up in its owners back garden for 24 hours at a time.

It was saved by the RSPCA and re-homed.

Its owners were fined and banned from keeping animals, expect for fish, for 10 years.

Simon Edwards an RSPCA inspector for Derby said: "The RSPCA is only a phone call away and their is no excuse to let animals suffer."