THE increasing cruelty against animals is a symptom of a general breakdown in society. Until we learn to live in harmony with the natural world and respect animals, we are on a slippery slope.

We have been brainwashed into viewing farm animals as little more than objects for future consumption and we cannot go on treating sensitive animals in the way we do as mere objects of production, with high yields and profits the only motive.

Look at human-kind - predatory, destructive, killing more fauna and flora: the earth cannot sustain without destruction of habitat and natural resources. If we, as human beings, are to make this the best we can, then we must create an environment in which all is tolerated.

What can and will you do to stop the terrible waves of cruelty sweeping the world - bear-baiting in Pakistan, bull fighting in France and Spain and in our own country, fox and deer hunting?

What moral right have we to lay on sentient creatures our own vanity, greed and cowardice? Animals, in a similar way to people, have a right to their dignity too.

SHEILA BRENNAN (Mrs), Bombay Street, Blackburn.

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