Animal charity the RSPCA has launched a new appeal to highlight the thousands of horrific attacks on animals - as well as the officers trying to protect them - each year.
The charity rescues thousands of animals from abuse, with many left badly injured - or dead - in attacks.
In a bid to highlight the problem, bosses have released images of animals subjected to terrible injuries from the use of weapons including metal bars, knives, guns and crossbows.
Figures revealed as part of the Everyday Heroes appeal show that air rifle injuries on animals rose by almost 40 per cent to more than 800 reported attacks in 2012.
One attack included cats being shot in the face and whose eyes had to be removed - and some who sadly died.
Others include a dog beaten with a pole, leaving it with 30 fractures; a swan shot with a cross bow; a cat beaten against a tree; a three-week-old lamb with its ears cut off; a lurcher stamped on, run over and stabbed with a potato peeler; a bird shot with a blowgun dart through its eye and a mouse tortured with a power tool.
RSPCA officers themselves are also becoming increasingly subjected to violence - with three out of four inspectors suffering abuse while doing their job.
Last year alone, inspectors were assaulted or threatened 246 times.
Wildlife expert Chris Packham said: "I take my hat off to RSPCA inspectors, I don’t think I could go into the situations they do and deal with people who have inflicted such barbaric cruelty on defenceless animals – that takes real courage and professionalism.
"Sadly, dealing with the most stomach-churning suffering is every day work to these men and women. I dread to think what would happen if they weren’t there to help."
Charity bosses say attacks on officers include threats and violence with claw hammers, knives, crossbows, shotguns and machetes.
RSPCA vice president Brian Blessed added: "We are all revolted by reports of dogs being stabbed, swans being shot and cats being strangled, but we never stop to think about the brave inspectors who pluck these animals out of such dangerous situations.
"It’s shocking that these men and women face threats and violence as they rescue the most neglected and abused animals but without them there would be no RSPCA.
"I urge all animal lovers to be heroes too and support these brave inspectors and the vital work they do."
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