AS someone who is concerned about animal suffering, I sincerely believe that animals in war should be recognised, but not in the way that the director general of the RSPCA, Peter Davies, is about to achieve this.

He has set up an outside committee with the help of a donation from the RSPCA of £80,000 to build a memorial for animals in war.

The overall cost of the memorial will be £850,000. That will not include maintenance over the years. This memorial will be erected near Marble Arch.

I for one, like many others I am sure, believe this to be a publicity stunt.

Surely it would be better to use this money to increase the RSPCA Inspectorate, to set up free neutering and spaying clinics or increase animal homes throughout the country to save the countless animals destroyed by the RSPCA each year (because they say there are no homes and not enough space for them).

Perhaps it might be worth his while to visit the North West sometime in the future and educate himself in the fight to help animals in the present day.

F Gavin, Ex RSPCA member.