THOUSANDS of complaints of animal cruelty were investigated during the past year by RSPCA inspectors in the York, North and East Yorkshire area.

Dedicated officers looked into more than 3,078 allegations in 2005 and carried out 6,464 visits as part of their investigations.

About 198 verbal warnings were issued with 41 convictions secured and five written cautions issued.

The charity also collected more than 2,569 animals, many of which were sick or injured while others were orphaned, neglected, found straying or simply unwanted.

RSPCA Chief inspector Paul Stilgoe said: "We have a team of eight people investigating those complaints. It shows how busy they are. It doesn't seem to get any less."

The York group of inspectors covers York, most of North and East Yorkshire, and Hull. He said the big challenge ahead is the new animal welfare legislation due next year.

"That will raise the standard of care pet owners have to provide for their animals. The challenge will be getting that message across. We don't want to prosecute people just because they are keeping animals in a certain way that's been fine for hundreds of years and now is not.

"In the past we have had to wait for animals to be caused unnecessary suffering before we can prosecute. In the future the owners have a duty of care. That's a big step."

He said the "five freedoms" for animals which had been established for many years would become enshrined in the new act.

These include freedom from hunger and thirst, pain, injury and disease, fear and distress and the right to express normal behaviour.

"In the past, we have given advice," said the chief inspector. "Now we will have to give advice and written warnings. If they don't follow that we will have to prosecute. It could be that prosecutions rise sharply and the amount of work for inspectors will go up dramatically.

"But it will have a dramatic effect for the welfare of animals. The quicker the public can grasp that the better it will be."

The annual report also revealed 549 complaints in York were investigated, with 33 verbal warnings issued and 14 rescues.

Elaine Murdoch, manager of York RSPCA's animal home in Clifton, reported 387 dogs came in during 2005 - 338 of which were rehomed, while 355 of the 356 cats brought in were rehoused. Of the 144 small animals rehomed by the centre one rabbit came in the hutch it had lived in for seven years. "It had been bought for a child who had tired of it after two years - so for five years that was its life in a smelly box at the bottom of the garden."