Distressing level of animal cruelty

I AGREE with Catherine Galvin’s observations about our treatment of animals in this country (Irish Examiner, June 4).

As a nation we are regarded throughout the world for the warmth of our people. It is difficult to correlate this with the barbarism and cruelty meted out daily by some Irish people to so many defenceless animals. As someone involved with a small animal welfare charity, I can identify with the scenarios outlined in Catherine’s letter: the abandonment of animals, the indifference of people to stray dogs and cats and “it’s only an animal” attitude.

It is distressing to witness the cruelty and neglect inflicted on these animals, the dogs that are thrown out of the car on a country road, or tied up in a wood and left to starve, or the often botched attempt to end the animal’s life. If these animals are fortunate enough to be rescued, their response to love, food and a safe place to sleep is gratitude and loyalty. As Mark Twain observed, “If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and a man.”

In Britain, which has a population of about 64 million people, 8,000 dogs are put to sleep each year. Ireland, with a population of four million people, puts in excess of 16,000 dogs to sleep. That is the official figure; the unofficial figure, according to people working in animals rescue, is double that.

The Irish Government does little or nothing when it comes to animal welfare. Prior to the election, Fianna Fáil promised to introduce stricter legalisation and allocate responsibility to a specific department. Two years ago, Fianna Fáil’s Dick Roche promised to introduce legalisation to improve the lives of dogs in puppy farms around the country. He did nothing.

Angela Browne

Blarney

Co Cork