THE number of reports of cruelty to animals has fallen, according to new statistics.

The RSPCA this week launched its annual review of cruelty statistics, which reveals a drop in the number of complaints received in Warwickshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire.

Despite the falls, the RSPCA is calling for the government to introduce new measures to reduce the number of neglect cases it deals with.

Figures show that in Warwickshire the number of complaints investigated fell from 1,668 in 2000 to 1,623 in 2001, although the number of prosecutions rose from five to 12. The number of animal rescues also rose from 277 to 327.

In the Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire region, complaints fell from 3,463 to 3,031, prosecutions went from 11 to 12 and rescues from 469 to 233.

Stephen Mulholland, the RSPCA's west central region manager, said: "The vast majority of cases could so easily have been avoided. We must try to make the public aware of the basic needs of animals and the long-term commitment owners are required to give them."

Among the cases highlighted by the charity was one in Wolverhampton dealt with by the charity's new inspector for the Vale.

Former farrier Jackie Hickman moved to the Vale from Wolverhampton in January and said: "It is a lot different and a lot more rural and there's a lot of difference between the calls. It was mainly domestic animals there, but this is more rural with much more livestock and horses."

So far, she has not had to deal with any cruelty cases on her new patch. Her case in Wolverhampton involved a kitten injured in a road accident, but the wound was left untreated for more than a month.

The kitten's owner was taken to court and ordered to pay £400 and banned from owning animals for three years.

Miss Hickman said: "The smell from the wound was putrid and she was obviously in pain."

She added: "If people have these animals they should take on the responsibility for looking after that animals. It was needless cruelty."

Her patch stretches from Bromsgrove and Droitwich to Stow and to Bidford, but with her farriery experience she is also the RSPCA's equine officer for seven counties.