In response to dog column

The letter below appeared in last week's Wicklow People and Bray People.

Dear Editor,

It was with great hope and admiration that I read the article by Fr Michael Commane in last week's Bray and Wicklow People, December 14.

I don't usually read religious articles but the photograph of the caged dogs drew my attention.

The article was full of compassion and caring and has gone some way, I hope, to highlight the plight of the many abandoned and unwanted animals in our country today. It is also in complete contrast to the dreadful images of priests blessing hunt dogs and horses whose masters force them to hunt and destroy peace-loving creatures in our countryside.

Every creature has a right to life and no animal should be used or abused by anyone. It is hard sometimes to reconcile that we 'humans' are the superior beings, but then someone like Fr. Commane comes along and reaffirms that noble conviction.

Hopefully the compassionate humans will outnumber the uncaring and cruel ones.

Puppy farming is another industry in this country that we should be thoroughly ashamed of. People who breed and sell pups just to anyone with no regard to the suitability of either dog or owner ought to be ashamed.

How many people have bought a pup when there are thousands being put to sleep in Irish pounds every year? Most by the very organisation that purports to protect and prevent cruelty to animals.

The ISPCA destroy about 50 per cent of the dogs that come into its pounds. Compare this with 27 per cent of dogs that go into local authority run pounds. There has to be something seriously wrong there.

Please don't ever buy a dog. If people refused to do so there would be more homes for unwanted animals. Most people do not realise that what they are told by most breeders and what is the actual truth about the conditions these unfortunate animals are kept in are often miles apart.

Please listen to the words of Fr. Commane and re-home a dog or cat rather than perpetrate a life of misery on 'puppy farm' dogs. Always neuter your pet, they would thank you for it if they could.

God bless all the caring people out there who do their best for animals everywhere.
Happy Christmas and keep up the good work.
Yours faithfully,

Fiona Gammell
Wicklow Animal Welfare
Ballinaclash
Rathdrum