THE RSPCA has launched a major campaign to find homes for almost 1,000 animals in care across the North West.

The Animal Adoptathon began this week asking people to consider offering a home to one or more of the animals.

At 24 RSPCA branches across the region staff are providing a temporary home to 422 dogs, 331 cats, 95 rabbits, 12 rats, eight ferrets, three goats and two chipmunks.

Kay Brandist, regional RSPCA manager, said that while many of the animals had been brought to them for genuine reasons, such as the death of an owner, there were also many that had been abandoned or cruelly treated.

"The animals are with us through no fault of their own. They have a right to live in loving homes with an owner that has both the time and commitment to take care of them," she said.

The RSPCA has also called for the Government to introduce a five step "duty of care" for owners, after revealing neglect was at the heart of most cruelty cases.

It would mean all animal owners having a legal responsibility to make sure their pets have adequate food and water, appropriate shelter, and access to proper veterinary care. They would also be responsible for providing adequate room to prevent undue distress.

Cruelty figures released this week showed that, in north Manchester alone last year, there were 2,188 cases of cruelty investigated, resulting in 70 convictions.

In one case, an owner, then living in Oldham but now in Prestwich, was jailed for two months for slashing a puppy's throat up to 15 times.

Across the North West, the RSPCA responded to 154,184 phone calls, picked up 22,000 animals, and secured 237 convictions.

The Bury (Lancs) and district branch, which covers Tottington, Radcliffe, Unsworth, Whitefield, as well as Bury, currently has one dog and three cats in its care.

The Manchester and Salford branch, which covers Prestwich, is presently looking after five dogs and 13 cats.

If you think you can offer a home to any of these pets, the Bury branch can be contacted on 0161 761 5081 and the Manchester and Salford branch on 0161 881 3464.