Baldivis has been named and shamed as the worst suburb in WA for animal cruelty for the second year in a row.

By May this year Baldivis had racked up 45 animal cruelty complaints - more than half the number reported in the suburb for all of 2018.

It comes after recent data revealed there had been a 32 per cent increase in the number of dogs deliberately poisoned this year compared to last, and a 14 per cent increase in malicious beatings or woundings.

A report released exclusively to The West Australian by RSPCA WA revealed Armadale had the second most animal cruelty reports behind Baldivis so far year at 41.

It also predicted the ever-increasing number of calls received by the Cruelty Hotline would break a shocking 21,000 before the year’s end.

Eight metropolitan hotspots that racked up dozens of complaints in five months were Midland (40), Ellenbrook (34), Gosnells (33), Kelmscott (32), Rockingham (28), Byford (26), Geraldton (25), and Morley (23).

The trend devastated Perth local Damian Herbert, who fostered and later adopted a two-year-old rescue dog from Canine Welfare Australia after he had been subjected to unimaginable abuse and then “discarded”.

“It is depressing and so saddening to see how people don’t respect or care for a lot of these animals,” Mr Herbert said.

Since taking Toohey in, Mr Herbert and his fiancee Rebecca Stewart have managed to “fatten him up” and heal some of his emotional scars.

“He seems to smile more than half the time now. He has an extremely expressive face. He likes to show a lot of human emotions whenever he’s happy, upset or can sense you’re upset,” Mr Herbert said.

“He gives you the puppy dog eyes every second of the day.”

Camera Icon Damien Herbert and Rebecca Stewart rescued their dog after it was abused by another owner. Credit: Ross Swanborough/ The West Australian

But not all Toohey’s wounds will heal, and the scars dotting his body are a daily reminder for his adoptive parents.

“We’re not sure how he was abused exactly but I don’t know how you could do something like that to any dog, let alone him. It’s very upsetting,” Mr Herbert said.

According to RSPCA’s report, City of Swan recorded 683 reports of animal cruelty last year - a figure that increased by five per cent from the 650 in 2017.

City of Stirling (579) saw a 32 per cent increase in complaints last year compared to 2017, while City of Wanneroo (528) only worsened by seven per cent.

The most common cruelty complaints received across the state last year included ill treatment of animals (like physical abuse and punishment), abandonment, and insufficient food and water.

Chief Executive Iain Torrance said RSPCA WA received more than 50 reports of possible animal cruelty a day, making it impossible to “get to every animal in time”.

“In these hot spots where we know cruelty is prevalent, RSPCA WA works hard to improve standards of animal welfare ... but there is so much more we need to do,” he said.

“With more resources, we can rescue more animals. It’s that simple.”

Regionally, Kalgoorlie-Boulder City topped the list with 210 reports of cruelty in 2018. City of Albany (187) was next and City of Geraldton was third (186).

Donations can be made at www.stopanimalcruelty.org.au.