Last updated 13:47, Monday, 06 October 2008

Today we reveal the full shocking figures of animal cruelty in Cumbria. We are known as a nation of animal lovers but these shocking incidents make you wonder how.

Police files have been specially opened up to us to show officers were called out to more than 40 cases over the past year.

That is on top of cases dealt with by the RSPCA – they witness scores of ill-treated animals every day.

Cumbria is not as bad as some areas of the country and the 12 convictions of animal cruelty recorded in the county last year place us near the bottom of the statistics chart.

But that is no cause for celebration.

There is absolutely no excuse for cruelty to any animal.

Many of the defenceless creatures were shot, but how anyone can kick, beat or, most sickening of all, stamp an animal to death is beyond any sane thinking.

One incident police were called to even involved killing goldfish, for pity’s sake.

The offences we detail today are criminal acts and the police and the courts must deal with the culprits severely.

Thankfully, that does seem to be the case, but we must also be vigilant in reporting any suspicion of cruelty.

The RSPCA does an amazing service and needs all the support we can give it.

The real animals are the people who commit these sickening crimes.