THE North-East and North Yorkshire have been shamed again by their record on animal suffering and neglect.

RSPCA figures show the region - for the eighth successive year - has racked up the highest number of cruelty convictions in the country.

A total of 549 convictions were recorded during last year from almost 20,000 complaints made to inspectors.

The number of convictions dropped from 825 in 2000.

But the figure was still way ahead of other areas such as London (83) and Wales (144).

Illustrating the problem was the latest case of cruelty to emerge in the region.

Two puppies narrowly escaped death yesterday after they were tied to a rock on a beach and left to drown under the rising tide.

The crossbreeds were found by a passer by on Seaham beach, County Durham, and have been placed in the care of Deerness Kennels, at Langley Park.

Commenting on the newly-released figures, Alan Wolinski, RSPCA regional manager in the North-East and Yorkshire, said: "We are supposed to be a nation of animal lovers, and yet our inspectors come across the most distressing cases of neglect and suffering day in day out."

Inspector Garry Palmer, who patrols the Cleveland and Durham areas, said his experience indicated that cruelty to animals was getting worse.

He said that last year, on average, one in every 72 calls in the area resulted in a conviction.

He said: "This year it has been about every 46. We hope we are getting on top of things - but I fear it's getting worse. A lot of the problem is down to ignorance, nothing else."

The RSPCA is proposing new legislation which would include a statutory duty of care to cover animal owners.

This would be based on five freedoms: freedom from hunger and thirst; freedom from discomfort; freedom from pain, injury and disease; freedom to express normal behaviour; and freedom from fear and distress.

Any breach of the duty care would automatically be an offence.

It says current animal cruelty laws are outdated and hinder its work.

* The Northern Echo's Animal Watch campaign highlights cruelty cases in the region. It was launched two years ago and has the backing of the RSPCA.