"Even though Britain is proud of its reputation as a nation of animal lovers, RSPCA inspectors continue to uncover cases of barbarity and cruelty," the RSPCA's Tony Crittenden told a news conference.

The case of Sylvester the iguana was one example. She was found in a field in Somerset, suffering from an abscess and a severely burnt tail with its tip missing.

At Tuesday's news conference, she sat happily on her new owner's shoulder, her skin restored to its natural bright green.

Her situation highlighted the need to inform people about proper pet care. "Without sufficient knowledge, there is no way people should take on these kinds of pets," said RSPCA inspector David Steele.

The RSPCA are pushing for more owners to implant identification microchips into their pets, to speed conviction in cases of cruelty.

"I would love to see every animal in the country microchipped. The Utopian situation would be to make it a legal requirement," said Crittenden.

The RSPCA said the rise in convictions was partly a result of more efficient cooperation with the public but cruelty was also growing.

"Our inspectors work tirelessly to prevent cruelty but they continue to see an increase in the number of animals found abused and living in appalling conditions," Crittenden said.

Inspector Simon Parker told reporters how he found a Rottweiler dog hanging from a bridge one day. The body had been there for at least two weeks.

"The sight that greeted me on arrival, I will never forget. This has to count as one of the worse cases of cruelty I've seen in my nine years as an inspector," he said.

On the positive side, the majority of Britons are staunch defenders of animals, as circus trainer Mary Chipperfield found out when she was convicted of beating a baby chimpanzee with a riding crop.

At her court case recently, about 200 animal rights protestors hurled bananas at her.