Starving horses and slaughtered dogs: we are a nation of animal abusers

AS an animal lover I read with interest your article headlined ‘Wildlife detective lays down the law’ (November 30). It makes two points I take issue with. Firstly, it states Irish people, generally speaking, respect and love animals.

The tens of thousands of dogs put down annually in Irish pounds, the horses left starving in fields around the country, the puppies and breeding dogs incarcerated in hellholes of unregulated puppy farms would totally negate this assertion.

Secondly, it noted there are many cases of the perpetrators of appalling cruelty being prosecuted in Irish courts. This is not the case as the legalisation is ineffective and outdated and very few of the cuplrits are punished.

How often do we read of court cases relating to animal cruelty in Irish newspapers? Successive governments, including this one incorporating the Greens, continue to renege on their commitment to introduce legislation to help improve the lives of these defenceless creatures. On the topic of foxhunting, which was alluded to in the article, I think Mark Twain’s observation is most apt: “Of all the creatures ever made, man is the most detestable. Of the entire brood, he is the only one ... that possesses malice. He is the only creature that inflicts pain for sport, knowing it to be pain.” As a nation our moral progress, when it comes to caring for the creatures with whom we share this earth is sadly far too slow.

Jon Daly

Woodview

Arklow

Co Wicklow