I WAS appalled this week to find puppies for sale at a car boot.

The two big black lab cross pubs were squashed into a cardboard box covered with chicken wire.

Mouth almighty. Animal lover that I am I just had to protest to the couple about their cruelty - which they just didn't see.

They'll get a home I was told. No doubt, but what sort, I protested.

"You always get one" the owner commented to passers-by.

YES you do!

A car boot sale is no place for the sale of puppies where they can be bought on a whim for a pleading child.

I fear for the little things. I hope they did get a loving home and won't end up being kicked out onto the streets after a couple of weeks when the novelty has worn off, and the hard work involved in rearing a pup has sunk in.

I appeal to all boot organisers to make sure that their stallholders are not selling animals of any kind.

This is something I hope I never witness again.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.