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This RSPCA film, which features Tony, shows examples of cruelty to animals across the UK. The video contains scenes which viewers may find shocking and upsetting.
THIS happy, healthy lurcher is a far cry from the emaciated dog rescued from a shed by RSPCA officers just over a year ago.
Three-year-old Tony was found barely alive after being locked up without food or water for five weeks in Geoffrey Abel's Mixenden shed. He had lost 70 per cent of his body weight.
Abel's other lurcher, who had been locked up with Tony, was found dead next to him.
But now Tony is a picture of health after being rehomed with Jenny Bentley, of Trimmingham, Halifax.
She said: "They say dogs live in the moment and I hope so. I don't want Tony to remember those awful weeks when he was locked up with no hope.
"Thankfully the RSPCA managed to save Tony – his friend wasn't so lucky."
As reported on the front page of the Courier in June 2007, Abel, then 22, was given a three-month jail sentence, suspended for 12 months. He was also banned from keeping animals for 10 years.
Kath Airey, chairman of the RSPCA Halifax branch, said: "It's a miracle we found him alive."
Figures released today show there have been 122 convictions for animal cruelty in West Yorkshire in 2007 – the most convictions in the north region.
The north had the second most convictions in the UK for animal cruelty. The West Midlands region was top with 222.
"These animals are the helpless victims of our throw-away society," said RSPCA Superintendent Dave Millard.
The full article contains 270 words and appears in Evening Courier newspaper.
