Thousands of animals had be rescued last year in Somerset due to cruelty and owners’ abuse.

The number of animals rescued increased from 2,025 to 2,060 in 2015, with Somerset bucking a regional and national trend which saw significantly fewer animals recovered from deprivation overall during the past year.

The number of prosecutions brought about by the RSPCA in Somerset has also risen by more than 30 per cent in the past 12 months.

Its annual cruelty report reveals 21 people across the county, which is extended to include North Somerset, were prosecuted last year, up from 16 in 2014 and the joint highest across the whole of the South West.

The RSPCA’s assistant director said the ‘extreme’ nature of some cases had proved disturbing.

Dermot Murphy said: “It is encouraging that some of the figures are better than last year and that the numbers of complaints being dealt with by education and advice are going up.

“We would always much rather improve animal welfare by giving advice to owners if it is at all possible.

“But even if some of the overall numbers are lower, the level of depravity we have seen in 2015 cases is up there with some of the most extreme we have ever known.”

The number of complaints across the county fell for a second straight year, from 2,982 to 2,669, of which more than half were against dogs, and 648 against cats.

Dogs were by far the most targeted animal across the South West – with 12,589 complaints investigated in the region, in comparison to 5,730 in relation to cats.

Mr Murphy added: “People think of dogs as man’s best friend but these statistics tell a different story.

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

Across the UK, 796 people were convicted in cases involving animals brought forward by the RSPCA, including nine children. A total of 92.4 per cent of prosecutions brought by the charity ended in a conviction, up from 90.9 per cent in 2014.