The society hopes for tougher legislation to fight animal cruelty

The evidence shows there were fewer prosecutions in South Yorkshire, Leeds and North Yorkshire in 2003 compared to the previous year.

But the number of rescues had risen in South Yorkshire and Leeds.

Some of the cases highlighted included a horse tethered with a seat belt and a kitten beaten and scalped.

Basic needs

In South Yorkshire there were 30 prosecutions and 143 rescues in 2003 compared to 37 prosecutions and 111 rescues the year before.

In North Yorkshire there were 29 prosecutions and 165 rescues in 2003 which were an improvement on the 54 prosecutions and 191 rescues in 2002.

In Leeds there were 56 prosecutions in 2003 compared with 64 the year before but the number of rescues had risen from 173 to 198.

The RSPCA's north regional superintendent David Millard said the figures showed that too many people were failing to meet animals' basic needs.

"We are pleased that a lot of our advice is heeded but there are still some who refuse to listen to common sense," he said.

"Their animals are of grave concern to us as they may well end up as future prosecution cases."

The society wants tougher welfare legislation to help them fight animal cruelty.

Dogs were the most likely to be the cause of prosecution cases followed by cats and then horses.