Animal neglect and cruelty convictions up by a third Our inspectors investigated 150,833 suspected cruelty cases and issued 78,090 advice notices last year - these are extremely effective in improving the care of animals. However if there is evidence of a crime and serious animal abuse then we will take legal action to protect the animals and prevent further abuse. Successful prosecutions relating to cruelty to small mammals such as rabbits and hamsters more than tripled in 12 months, rising from 97 in 2011 to 354 in 2012, while convictions linked to the treatment of farm animals rose from 22 to 49 in the same period. The number of convictions relating to the treatment of equine animals, such as horses, ponies and donkeys doubled from 230 in 2011 to 500 last year. Animals rescued or collected by the RSPCA increased by almost ten percent from 119,126 to 130,695. The animal welfare group also helped rescue 64,000 farmed chickens from a flooded barn. RSPCA Week 2013, which raised more than £395,000 last year, runs from April 29 to May 5.