The RSPCA has highlighted two animal neglect cases in Oxfordshire in its campaign for new anti-cruelty laws.

It said a five-point 'duty of care' was needed to prevent suffering such as that experienced by a pony and foal, owned by Melanie Goodchild, 28, of Henton, Chinnor.

The pony's head collar was so tight that it had cut into his face and had to be surgically removed.

A vet had to tranquillise the distressed animal, called Busket, and remove the collar sections at a time.

Foul-smelling sores had developed on its face and behind its ears. Ms Goodchild said she noticed the straps were tight but claimed she had been unable to catch him.

Five months after a court hearing last year, at which she pleaded guilty to causing Busket unnecessary suffering, Goodchild was prosecuted again. She admitted causing unnecessary suffering to a foal, called Pepsi, which had been left without adequate shelter.

She had failed to follow an RSPCA inspector's advice to bring the foal under cover.

The foal was later removed from her care. A vet later found it to be emaciated, hypothermic and depressed, with rain-scald along his back and flanks.

In the earlier prosecution, Goodchild appeared before Aylesbury Magistrates' Court in June last year and was banned from keeping horses for two years. She was also ordered to do 40 hours' community service and pay £500 costs.

Busket and Pepsi have been found new homes by the RSPCA, and have both made a good recovery from their injuries.

The RSPCA is highlighting the two cases, which it argues were entirely preventable, and is asking the Government to ensure that animal owners are under a duty to provide:

Food and water

Shelter

Veterinary treatment

Space to express normal behaviour

Room to avoid mental suffering and distress

Statistics show that neglect is at the centre of virtually all cruelty cases which the RSPCA prosecutes.

Of the 1,977 cases prosecuted last year under the 1911 Protection of Animals Act, 89 per cent were classified as basic neglect charges. RSPCA east central regional manager John Hancock said his team handled 16,000 complaints of cruelty last year.

He said it was frustrating that so many cases could easily be prevented if the law enabled the charity to act more quickly on complaints.

Mr Hancock added: "We hope the Government will update the animal welfare law to enable us to act earlier in cases of suffering, instead of having to wait for a complaint that an animal is unwell, injured or dead."

The charity has made the call for changes in the law in response to a consultation paper issued by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the treatment of domestic and captive animals.