A SWINDON animal sanctuary saw more cruelty cases last year than in the previous six years put together.

The owner of the sanctuary, John War-wick, can see no reason for the sudden increase.

Mr Warwick, who runs the Swindon and District Animal Haven near Wootton Bassett, said: "We had more cruelty cases in the last three months of last year than in the previous seven years we have been operating.

"We had nine in this short period."

Mr Warwick gave the example of Midnight, a kitten found near the M4. who had cigarettes stubbed out in his eye.

Last month the Evening Advertiser reported that he had made a full recovery, been renamed Lucky, and had found a new home.

In June animal cruelty was in the headlines again.

The Adver reported how Mr Warwick was called out by the police to identify a snake in a bag that had been dragged out of a lake at Cheney Manor by an angler.

When Mr Warwick arrived he found three more bags, with a total of ten dead snakes.

Three of them were pregnant.

He said: "That business with the snakes was totally wicked and horrible.

"We've also had quite a few wild animals shot with pellets, for example kids shooting ducks with pellet guns, when they have young. And we have had cats with pellet wounds."

Mr Warwick said there was a particular problem with people dumping dogs.

"The police bring them in to us. About 12 per cent of the dogs that came in last year were dumped," he said.

"Perhaps it's because people worry about taking them to the RSPCA because they think they can be sued.

"Perhaps it's because we're getting more well known and people are bringing more cases in to us.

"I don't know why people treat animals like this.

"There are some strange people about."

David Andrew