THE number of stray dogs wandering the region's streets has fallen in the past year, according to a poll released yesterday.

News of the decline in the figures for the North-East and Yorkshire are in stark contrast to both the national increase of three per cent and the region's shameful reputation of animal cruelty and neglect.

In April, RSPCA figures were released showing the region had the highest number of convictions for animal cruelty in the country - for the eighth year running.

A total of 549 convictions had been recorded during the past year from almost 20,000 complaints made to RSPCA inspectors.

However, the latest figures, released by the National Canine Defence League, (NCDL), which had jointly commissioned a survey by Mori with the National Dog Wardens' Association, suggested the region's dog owners' record of neglect was improving.

In the North-East, the drop is five per cent on last year.

However, the estimated 9,273 stray dogs collected by local authorities in the region amounts to an average of one stray dog per 344 people.

That is still well above the national average of one for every 506 people.

The NCDL said it was encouraged by the drop of 33 per cent in the number of dogs put to sleep, after the statutory seven-day period, to 1,486. However, many of these deaths could be avoided if dogs are neutered and microchipped.

In Yorkshire, the annual drop in the number stray dogs on the streets is 14 per cent, to 5,893.

That is one stray per 856 people, and the NCDL believes it is a reflection that owners are beginning to appreciate the importance of neutering and microchipping.

Denise Gilgallon, NCDL campaign manager for the North-East, said: "It is encouraging that the number of strays being put to sleep has dropped - but there is still a long way to go before there are zero dogs destroyed for lack of a home."

Catherine Gillie, manager at the NCDL rescue centre in Sadberge, near Darlington, said: "We care for so many unwanted dogs at this centre, but unfortunately we simply don't have room to take them all in."

There is a waiting list of about 200 dogs needing kennel space.

The survey covers the period from April 1, last year, to March 31 this year. Questionnaires were sent to 432 UK local authorities.

Thousands left to wander

An estimated 117,564 dogs are wandering the streets of Britain - an increase of three per cent on the previous year's estimated figure of 113,746.

Despite this, the number of strays being put down dropped 13 per cent from 14,787 to 12,932.

Worst-hit was Northern Ireland, with approximately one stray for every 154 residents. London came out best, with just one for every 1,558 people.

There was only one stray for every 1,287 people in the Borders, and one for every 960 in Central Scotland.

In Wales and the West, there was one stray for every 222 people and in the North-East one for every 344.

About 16 per cent of dogs were rehomed by the local authorities themselves. Another 46 per cent were reunited with their owners, while 23 per cent were passed on to welfare organisations such as the National Canine Defence League.

* Famous stray dogs have included Laika, the first dog to travel into space, and the children's TV favourite The Littlest Hobo.

Laika became the first dog to enter space when she was sent to test the Russian space satellite Sputnik 2 in 1957. Laika was a stray, mostly a Siberian husky, rounded up from the Moscow streets.

She died a few days into the journey as the capsule ran out of air.

One of the stars of BBC soap Eastenders is Wellard, a German shepherd who was first mistaken for a stray by Robbie Jackson. His owner reclaimed him but Wellard was mistreated and ran back to Walford to stay.