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.”