HAMPSHIRE has been named among the worst places in the country for animal cruelty as latest figures show cases are continuing to rise.

According to a report released today the county has been named among the top ten places for the number of complaints received by animal charity the RSPCA.

The organisation has condemned the increase in cases of which 4,713 were recorded in 2014, up from 4,586 in 2013.

Inspectors say that people are increasingly finding “disturbingly inventive ways” to harm animals.

Incidents reported in Hampshire included a man swallowing a live frog and lizard as part of an online game, aSouthampton man dangling a cat from its tail whilst being filmed on a mobile phone and a missing cat found tied to a fence by its neck.

Hampshire was ranked the ninth worst county in the UK based on the number of complaints made.

RSPCA superintendent for the south west, John Grant, said: “It is extremely concerning that we are still receiving so many complaints about animals being deliberately caused to suffer.

“Most of the complaints we receive involve animals being neglected or not receiving the right care and often we can put that right by offering welfare advice. However, it is shocking that in 2014 people are still being deliberately cruel in what can be disturbingly inventive ways.”

Beating, improper killing, mutilation and poisoning made up 12.5 per cent of the total 28,800 complaints in 2014 to the RSPCA across south west and central England.

A shocking 3,594 involved alleged deliberate and often violent cruelty being inflicted upon animals.

The charity said that in 2014 the animals most likely to fall victim to alleged deliberate cruelty were dogs with 21,084 complaints and 16,089 reported as beaten, followed by 5,194 complaints for cats, and 3,653 for rabbits and small animals.

In January the RSPCA worked with vets across Hampshire after nine dogs were cruelly dumped in Upham, Owslebury, Alresford and Winchester’s Morestead Road with severely matted fur. The animals were unable to see or stand and inspectors said they thought they had been subjected to a lifetime of cruelty.

The charity rehabilitated the animals, and some have been rehomed. Others are still being cared for at RSPCA centres.