The Borders was ranked fourth worst, while Central Scotland was fifth, equal with Wales and the west of England.

Strays

1. Northern Scotland 2. North East England 3. North West England 4. Borders 5. Wales and West 5. Central Scotland 7. Southern England 8. Midlands 8. East and Anglia 10. South West England 11. Yorkshire 12. London

In northern Scotland, 4,000 strays were recorded (a decrease of 3% on the previous year) and 160 were destroyed.

In the Borders, the figures were 2,100 strays (up 6%), with 340 destroyed; while in Central Scotland there were 8,600 strays (up 11%), with 1,460 dogs destroyed.

The NCDL said that all dog owners have a responsibility to get their pets neutered.

They said unplanned litters were one of the most common causes of strays.

Owners have also been urged to have microchips inserted under the skin of their dogs to ensure they can easily be returned should they become lost.

The NCDL survey was sent out to all 436 local authorities in the UK and the response rate was 60%.

Meanwhile, an investigation has been launched into the discovery of four dead dogs near Langbank, just outside Glasgow.

Wendy Robertson: "Horrified"

The Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said the dogs were found heavily bloodstained and huddled in a heap near to a transmitter mast.

A lurcher, possibly four years old, was found barely alive, but had to be humanely destroyed at the scene.

SSPCA investigators believe the animals had been tethered to a gate post where they were clubbed and then dragged and dumped in nettles at the base of the transmitter.

The area around the gate was bloodstained and a trail of blood ran across the grass to the spot where their bodies lay half-hidden.

One of the dead dogs - a large wolfhound - was so brutally beaten a post mortem was needed to identify the breed.

The others were a six-month-old tan-coloured lurcher/greyhound cross mongrel pup with a wound to its shoulder and a black and white Jack Russell bitch which had suffered such a severe blow to the side of its head that its jaw was broken.

SSPCA inspector Wendy Robertson said officers had been sickened by what they had seen.

The society hopes that someone will be able to recall seeing the dogs in question and lead them to those responsible.