ANIMAL owners in Hampshire are taking better care of their pets, new figures from the RSPCA have revealed.

The number of cruelty cases in the county dropped in 2006 with only ten convictions against animal owners compared to 30 from the previous year.

RSPCA inspectors have welcomed the fall despite still having to bring court action against a number of pet owners for cases of neglect.

One case involved rabbit owner Yolanda Baker from Southampton who was convicted after leaving her rabbit to starve in a cage where another had died. Southampton magistrates found her guilty after hearing how she moved the cage with the dead rabbit and her living companion on to the balcony of the flat. Baker then ignored the second rabbit until it had starved to death.

Figures released today show that across the UK more than 122,000 animal cruelty cases were investigated by inspectors in 2006, which is 10.5 per cent more than the amount the previous year.

In Hampshire the figures of cases reported were actually lower, with 24 cases investigated against 26 in 2005.

"It's encouraging to see a fall in animal cruelty generally," said Jonathan Silk, RSPCA regional manager for the south and south west.

"We hope it's a sign that our animal welfare messages are being heard. But the rise in crime against horses and ponies is a worrying anomaly."

The society warned that incidents involving horses and ponies was on the rise, as equine cruelty increased by 33 per cent across the whole of the UK to 104 offences in 2006.

Regional spokeswoman for the RSPCA Jo Barr added: "There is a worry for Hampshire and the New Forest area where a lot of people keep horses. They are completely dependent on their owners and are expensive to keep," she said.

"Anyone looking to keep any animal should always consider how much it takes before taking on a pet.

"On average it costs £8,000 just to look after a pair of rabbits properly for their lifetime," she added.