Another horrendous act of animal cruelty has been discovered. The police have been called in and the media are once more thankfully covering the story. Make no mistake, this is not a sudden string of events: this is something that has been happening for decades, with the difference that it is only in recent years that awareness has grown through Animal Rights Coalition, Animal Welfare and the voice of caring animal lovers.

All creatures have feelings that have to be respected and are not simply there for man to make use of as objects or worse. The importance of their well-being has reached our shores and justice may start being carried out, perpetrators are being caught and offenders being brought to trial.

The judicial system is the final step: tougher sentences meted out to these perpetrators together with psychological help would go a long way in stopping these hideous crimes. A positive stand will prove to all that there will be no more tolerance for any hideous acts on these defenceless beings.

Yet, it is baffling that certain cases have not been given the attention they merit, such as the case of the remains of a burnt dog found in a field in Wied Rini, which had all four legs amputated halfway. This sadistic perpetrator tried to cleverly conceal his crime by igniting a fire. Were any photos taken on the scene to allow easier investigations to take place? How far have the investigations on this case and the Gozo pharaoh hounds advanced?

It is alarming to think that around us there are those capable of committing these crimes, crimes that can later be targeted at man.