cases in recent weeks -- but claimed it was just the tip of the iceberg.

Inspector for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Charles Whited said both he and Police Animal Protection Officer Yvonne Ricca had received an increased number of calls from concerned residents.

As a result, a number of investigations are on-going, which could lead to charges being brought, and some animals had been placed in the care of vets and the charity.

However, he said the high number of complaints investigated did not mean a growing trend in animal cruelty.

They had always been there, he said, but people were becoming better educated and more sympathetic towards animals.

Animal cruelty on the rise He said: "About 99 percent of the cases we are actively involved in have been exposed by members of the public. That is a huge step forward.

"The number of cases we are looking into has increased in recent months because the number of calls we are getting has gone up.

"These kinds of cases have always been here, but we did not know about them all. We, and the dog wardens, cannot be everywhere at once and so cannot know everything that is going on.'' The problem with animal cruelty on the Island was epitomised earlier this month when a member of the public called the SPCA after witnessing somebody burying their dog alive in the St. Monica's Mission area.

Unfortunately, when the SPCA arrived on the scene very soon after, the dog was dead, but its body was still warm to touch.

That inquiry is on-going.

The welfare officers are also investigating the alleged neglect of two horses in the Sandys area.

The were found during routine checks on animal owners in the west end of the Island.

Mr. Whited said: "There was no complaint received, but as we were doing our rounds we noticed that the physical body condition of the horses was below par. It was cause for concern. That is being investigated at the moment.'' The SPCA and Police visited an address in Hamilton Parish where various dogs and farm animals were being kept in sub-standard conditions.

That is also on-going.

And a female Pitbull dog was also seized from a Pembroke home after the SPCA found it to be almost half its proper weight.

On that occasion, it was a call from a member of the public that alerted the SPCA. The dog is now in the care of a vet.