A nation of animal lovers? A look at harrowing animal cruelty cases from across the West Midlands

> See today's story here

Although we claim to be a nation of animal lovers, there are sadly scores of animal cruelty cases every year concerning abuse of all animals both wild and domestic, ranging from cockfighting and dog fighting through to badger baiting and lamping.

1. Barbaric cruelty in the name of sport

It is part of the shady underworld of the Black Country, where criminals put their dogs' lives on the line in the name of sport.

Dogs are bought and sold, bred and trained all so that callous owners can get a kick from dog-fighting.

Ian Briggs, chief inspector with the RSPCA special operations unit, has been working on dog-fighting cases across the country for 15 years.

The charity issued a warning in 2010, after a number of dogs had been found with horrific injuries caused by dog fighting around the Black Country.

2. Dog hanged 15ft in the air by metal chain just yards from primary school

A dog was found hanged by a metal chain just yards away from a primary school.

The body of a male Staffie/Mastiff cross was discovered by a member of the public hanging by a chain which had been tied to a railing 15 feet above the street.

The grim discovery was made in Bishop Close, Dudley, close to Kates Hill Primary School.

RSPCA inspector Dave McCartney attended the scene after a member of the public reported what they described as a 'dog nailed to a wall'.

3. Suspended sentences for barbaric trio set out to trap wild badgers

They were carrying a fox's tail, a tomahawk axe and an air rifle to commit a 'barbaric and medieval' crime.

But Jake Berry, Rhys Dwyer and Daniel Fry avoided an immediate jail sentence after being convicted of offences related to badger baiting.

The three men, who denied doing anything wrong, were stopped by police and arrested after a member of the public reporting having seen the men with dogs entering private woodland in Essington.

When police arrived at the Landywood Lane scene, they saw two men lying on the ground – one of whom had their hand down a hole, a court heard.

4. REVEALED: Shocking toll of animal cruelty across the Black Country and Staffordshire

Britain is renowned for being a nation of animal lovers, a title its citizens claim with pride.

But a shocking investigation by the Express & Star will put that boast to the test as we expose appalling levels of cruelty and neglect taking place across the Black Country and Staffordshire.

On average, someone in England and Wales calls the RSPCA's 24-hour cruelty line for help every 30 seconds. Last year they received 1,327,849 phone calls, and inspectors in the West Midlands investigated almost 6,500 incidents.

5. Police round up 100 illegal danger dogs

More than 100 illegal dogs have been seized by West Midlands Police in the last year, new figures reveal today. Officers also seized 28 dogs said to be out of control.

Figures released through the Freedom of Information Act show a total of 106 illegal dogs were picked up by police between April 2008 and March 2009. There are four different types of dogs banned in the UK – the pit bull terrier, Japanese tosa, dogo argentino and the fila braziliero. But the Government says that whether a dog is a banned type depends on what it looks like.

This is rather than the breed or breed name by which it is called.

Sometimes banned breeds can be used for dog fighting, a problem the RSPCA says is on the increase.

6. Wild birds slaughtered in spate of sick attacks in Essington

Dozens of wild birds have been killed in 'sick' attacks in woods in a South Staffordshire village, it emerged today.

Up to 30 birds have been found dead over the past three months in woods off Blackhalve Lane, Essington.

Woodpeckers, song birds and woodland birds have all been targeted, and their bodies have then been left in trees and seen by passers-by. Evidence has also been found of badger baiting nearby. Parish council chairman Councillor David Clifft said Staffordshire Police were investigating the apparent killings.

7. Man jailed in dogfighting case

A man thought to be a major figure in British dogfighting has been jailed for 121 days and banned from keeping animals for life.

RSPCA officers uncovered what was in effect a training school for pit bull terrier-type dogs at the Wigan home of John Psaila.

The 49-year-old, of Thornvale, Abram, was sentenced at Wigan Magistrates' Court after he admitted 14 allegations including training dogs for the purpose of fighting, possession of equipment designed or adapted for use in dogfighting and possession of pit bull terrier-type dogs.

Officers even discovered one dog being trained on a treadmill when they arrived at Psaila's address last summer.

8. Fighting dog killed by fire extinguisher spray

An aggressive fighting dog died after police were forced to spray it with a fire extinguisher to subdue it, a court was told.

The American pit bull terrier's owner Tyrone Spence has now been ordered to carry out unpaid work for having the dog, which was not stopped by electric shock shields giving out 40,000 volts.

The 24-year-old cried throughout the proceedings and asked the court if he could not be forced to litter-pick during his community order.

9. Wildlife is easy prey for poacher gangs

Picture the scene. It is the dead of the night, pitch black and not a single person in sight.

But then, a group of men pull up in a van armed with a dog and they head into a deserted field. When they get to the middle they pull out a huge lamp, turning it on and shining the light across the vast space until they hit the jackpot they are looking for – two small circles of colour.

They have found a wild rabbit, hare or fox.

10. Man arrested as cockerels seized in raid

Eight cockerels have been seized and a man arrested in connection with alleged cockfighting in Staffordshire.

Police seized the birds from a home near Stafford in an early morning raid.

The 37-year-old man from Gnosall was arrested and bailed pending further inquiries.