Essex saw the highest rise in the region in the number of people convicted of animal cruelty offences, RSPCA figures show.
Thirty-nine people in the county were convicted in 2013, the tenth highest in the UK.
This also represented a 22 per cent increase on the previous year, the charity said.
RSPCA superintendent for the region Paul Stilgoe said: "The UK is known as a nation of animal lovers and yet once again we have seen some truly heartbreaking sights this year, and animals suffering in horrific ways.
"It is heartening that there has not been a rise in the number of defendants convicted this year, but we are still seeing far to many horrendous cases of cruelty as these case studies show.
"It is really difficult to say what drives people to act in such utterly pointless cruel ways, and neglect their animals to such an extent.
"In some cases people just don't know what an animal needs or financial circumstances can lead to difficulties, whilst others find organised cruelty, or deliberate violence towards an animal acceptable.
"We will always try to work with people and re-educate where possible, but there will always be some people who think it is alright to beat, kick, kill, starve or neglect an animal and times when the only way to stop them is to prosecute."
Case studiesThree dogs found living in filth (Buckhurst Hill area) A 45-year-old woman from Essex was disqualified from keeping animals for life after her two huskies and a collie were found living in filthy, unsanitary conditions with no clean bedding or fresh water. The dogs were found in a property in Buckhurst Hill that was covered with rubbish and faeces. They were extremely thirsty and had skin lesions associated with living in poor conditions, as well as Sarcoptic mange which caused a huge amount of irritation. The dogs, four-year-old collie called Max, a two-year-old male husky called Chase and a three-year-old female husky called Skylar, were all treated for mange, urine scalding and malnutrition. Their owner was also ordered to do 160 hours of unpaid work after pleading guilty at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court in February 2013 to causing unnecessary suffering and neglect to three dogs. They were taken into care and later rehomed. Max died a few months after he was rehomed due to his age and poorly condition, but staff said he was well loved for the last few months of his life.
Pony starved to the point of collapse (Tilbury) Three members of a family who starved their pony to the point of collapse were disqualified from keeping horses for life in June 2013. Spirit, a young male piebald cob type pony, was found entirely collapsed in a very muddy field in Tilbury in December 2012, barely able to even lift his head. RSPCA inspector Matt Gough feared the pony was dead as he approached the stranded and extremely weak animal in the dark, but was relieved to see him still breathing when he shone his torch. It took around twenty-five firefighters to lift the pony using straps into a horse box where he was then taken to a local vet and placed in a heated stable. The vet confirmed Spirit was suffering from emaciation through lack of food, was covered in sores from being collapsed for so long, had a louse burden and overgrown hooves. A few days later Spirit was transferred to Redwings Horse Sanctuary where he was nursed back to health and has now made a full recovery, been renamed Frugal and been rehomed. A 42-year-old man, a 39-year-old woman and her 21-year-old daughter, all from the Tilbury area, all pleaded guilty of offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. The man received 200 hours unpaid work, the woman a two year conditional discharge; and all were ordered to pay £250 costs.
Cocker Spaniel found emaciated under a heap of rubbish in a garden shed (Colchester) A couple from Colchester was disqualified from keeping animals for life in October 2013 after their Cocker Spaniel was found emaciated under a heap of rubbish in a garden shed. Tyson, a 13-year-old male blue roan dog, was found in a garden shed in March 2013 under a heap of discarded carpets, lying on plastic sheets sodden with urine and faeces. He was so thin he could not stand, and his fur was filthy and heavily matted. Tyson was signed over to the RSPCA and immediately taken to a vet but sadly, was found to be suffering to such an extent that the kindest thing to do was to put him to sleep to end his suffering. The 24-year-old woman and 34-year-old man pleaded guilty to causing him unnecessary suffering. As well as the ban the man was given a 12 week suspended prison sentence, 12 month supervision order, 180 hours of unpaid work and made to pay £691.69 costs. The woman was also given a six week suspended prison sentence, 12 month supervision order and £400 costs. Inspector Sarah Elmy said: "It broke my heart to see the state of poor Tyson under the rubble of rubbish in that garden shed. "The saddest part is that the vet said all that Tyson would have needed really was a bit of decent food, grooming and a clean place to live. This was neglect on an extreme scale."
Case studiesThree dogs found living in filth (Buckhurst Hill area) A 45-year-old woman from Essex was disqualified from keeping animals for life after her two huskies and a collie were found living in filthy, unsanitary conditions with no clean bedding or fresh water. The dogs were found in a property in Buckhurst Hill that was covered with rubbish and faeces. They were extremely thirsty and had skin lesions associated with living in poor conditions, as well as Sarcoptic mange which caused a huge amount of irritation. The dogs, four-year-old collie called Max, a two-year-old male husky called Chase and a three-year-old female husky called Skylar, were all treated for mange, urine scalding and malnutrition. Their owner was also ordered to do 160 hours of unpaid work after pleading guilty at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court in February 2013 to causing unnecessary suffering and neglect to three dogs. They were taken into care and later rehomed. Max died a few months after he was rehomed due to his age and poorly condition, but staff said he was well loved for the last few months of his life.
Pony starved to the point of collapse (Tilbury) Three members of a family who starved their pony to the point of collapse were disqualified from keeping horses for life in June 2013. Spirit, a young male piebald cob type pony, was found entirely collapsed in a very muddy field in Tilbury in December 2012, barely able to even lift his head. RSPCA inspector Matt Gough feared the pony was dead as he approached the stranded and extremely weak animal in the dark, but was relieved to see him still breathing when he shone his torch. It took around twenty-five firefighters to lift the pony using straps into a horse box where he was then taken to a local vet and placed in a heated stable. The vet confirmed Spirit was suffering from emaciation through lack of food, was covered in sores from being collapsed for so long, had a louse burden and overgrown hooves. A few days later Spirit was transferred to Redwings Horse Sanctuary where he was nursed back to health and has now made a full recovery, been renamed Frugal and been rehomed. A 42-year-old man, a 39-year-old woman and her 21-year-old daughter, all from the Tilbury area, all pleaded guilty of offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. The man received 200 hours unpaid work, the woman a two year conditional discharge; and all were ordered to pay £250 costs.
Cocker Spaniel found emaciated under a heap of rubbish in a garden shed (Colchester) A couple from Colchester was disqualified from keeping animals for life in October 2013 after their Cocker Spaniel was found emaciated under a heap of rubbish in a garden shed. Tyson, a 13-year-old male blue roan dog, was found in a garden shed in March 2013 under a heap of discarded carpets, lying on plastic sheets sodden with urine and faeces. He was so thin he could not stand, and his fur was filthy and heavily matted. Tyson was signed over to the RSPCA and immediately taken to a vet but sadly, was found to be suffering to such an extent that the kindest thing to do was to put him to sleep to end his suffering. The 24-year-old woman and 34-year-old man pleaded guilty to causing him unnecessary suffering. As well as the ban the man was given a 12 week suspended prison sentence, 12 month supervision order, 180 hours of unpaid work and made to pay £691.69 costs. The woman was also given a six week suspended prison sentence, 12 month supervision order and £400 costs. Inspector Sarah Elmy said: "It broke my heart to see the state of poor Tyson under the rubble of rubbish in that garden shed. "The saddest part is that the vet said all that Tyson would have needed really was a bit of decent food, grooming and a clean place to live. This was neglect on an extreme scale."
