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Why we should care about animals

I fully endorse the sentiments expressed by John Tierney (Letters, Jul 14) when he rightly criticised our appalling record in caring for our animals.

The thousands of abandoned and starving horses around the country recently got press coverage in the New York Times which did little to enhance our already shameful reputation in animal welfare.

Decades of indifference from our politicians who appear to show little or no interest, compounded by ineffective and useless legislation continue to ensure the plight of Irish animals is ignored and, even worse, tolerated and accepted.

Horses can be found on unused council lands, many of them starving and without shelter, yet the authorities apparently turn a blind eye as they refuse to confront the sector of our society that avails of these “free grazing lands”.

When it comes to our courts, it is a rarity to witness any individuals who perpetrate appalling acts of cruelty brought to justice, or held accountable for their actions.

There will, of course, be the usual brigade who rush to label anyone who raises a voice for the animals as “extremists and activists”. This old adage is trotted out in an effort to dismiss and ridicule the genuine concerns of compassionate and decent people. When it comes to the animals, the question is not ‘Can they reason?’ but ‘Do they suffer?’ Sadly this is the case for far too many of them in Ireland.

Chris McCarthy
Clondalkin
Dublin 22

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