Letter: No living creature deserves that

Last weekend I received two messages from The Star with the same headline: “Warning: distressing images. RSPCA Launch investigation after dying dog found dumped in Sheffield layby with brick on his head.” I don’t know why I received two messages but the headline itself was far too distressing for me to attempt to open the message.

That message came on the heels of a report on social media about a dog being beaten with a lead by its owner in a Rotherham park. A cruel act which was witnessed by a couple who took photos and reported it on social media – I’m not sure if it was reported elsewhere but I hope so.

I’m not sure how far the RSPCA will get with any investigations as mentioned above because I’m not sure how much authority they have to carry out such investigations. Such investigations also take a long time and the perpetrators may never be brought to justice.

It’s heartbreaking to know that people are continuing to not only abuse, torture and kill animals but that they appear to enjoy abusing animals and that is exceptionally worrying.

Torturing and killing all defenceless creatures has to be stopped and I’m appealing to Boris Johnson, to do something to stop it. I cannot stop thinking about and mentally picturing (without being brave enough to look at the message or any photos), the ordeal of the poor dog who was tortured and left to die, in pain, in a layby in my home town. With a brick on his head. No living creature deserves that.

I have been wondering whether dog licences could be reintroduced, although I am aware that historically many dog owners didn’t bother to get them. However, I feel that if prospective owners were charged a licence fee – and their details recorded – when they adopt or buy a dog then at least there would be a reason for them to stop and consider what they are doing – it’s a fact that people always think better where money is involved.

I’m aware that all dogs in the UK are now supposed to be microchipped but I am not sure how that law is being enforced. Obviously records are kept but I don’t know if they are kept individually by vets or if there’s a national database.

To be honest, I’d love to be involved in some kind of record-keeping process, I’m not just throwing out this idea in the hope that someone else will take it up.

As well as licences, prospective owners should be encouraged, maybe even forced, to sign up for dog training courses since a lot of cruelty appears to be caused by dogs not doing what their owners think they should do, without any specific training ever having been given.

Most important of all is to train children at a very young age that all life is to be respected. At school or nursery. Because it’s very apparent that it cannot be left to caregivers to teach that kind of respect.

Something must be done. It’s a known fact that some of those who enjoy torturing and killing animals graduate to torturing and killing humans.

I am sickened by reports of deliberate acts of cruelty to all animals, everywhere but feel powerless to do anything.

I am sending a copy of this message to my MP Ms Olivia Blake as well as to Boris Johnson and The Star. I do thank The Star for sending me the email no matter how devastating and no matter that I haven’t read it – because it has shocked me into action.

We the public need to be outraged and we also need to start to do something to stamp out this terrible scourge of our society.

What can be done? And where can we start and how can I help – something HAS to be done because nothing has worked to date.

I am aware that the prison sentence for animal cruelty has been increased from six months to five years but that in itself is depressing because incarceration isn’t the answer. Education is.

Many thanks for reading this. Animals do matter.