A campaign to bring in harsher punishments for animal abusers is making headway as the Government announced some crimes should face “the full force of the law”.

Animal charity Battersea Dogs and Cats Home launched a campaign in February to increase the maximum sentence in England and Wales for the worst cases of animal cruelty. It is currently six months in prison.

In the Commons on Friday, July 21, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Michael Gove said he was “actively reviewing” penalties.

He said: “I am not someone who will automatically reach for stronger criminal sanctions as the only route to dealing with a particular problem, but there are particular cases of animal cruelty where we may well need to revisit the existing criminal sanctions in order to ensure that the very worst behaviour is dealt with, with the full force of the law.”

Battersea has backed the announcement, the Chief Executive Claire Horton saying it was “heart-warming” to hear the Mr Gove felt so strongly about the issue.

Ms Horton said: “Battersea welcomes the Government’s apparent change of heart on this vital welfare issue and it’s very encouraging to see Mr Gove acknowledge that some of the sickening animal cruelty cases that pass through our courts are not being properly punished, offering no deterrent for serious offenders.”

The charity wants the maximum sentence to be increased to five years.

The campaign has gained support from some of the UK comedians such as Paul O’Grady, Ricky Gervais and Sue Perkins.

More than 50,000 people have so far contacted their MP to call for stronger sentences and 79 MPs have already done so.