Stop urban cowboys

THE Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has pointed out that animal cruelty cases have risen by nearly one-third in the last year.

In 2005, there were 1,050 reported cases. By mid-December last year, there had been 1,350 cases.

The physical abuse of all animals is reprehensible. There are several housing estates in Dublin where horses live either in back gardens or nearby public spaces.