I read with utter disbelief the letter by Katya Cassola (Helplessness In The Face Of Animal Suffering, January 12). Let me state, against my “will” in this case, some private facts.

On December 3, 2010, I drew a will in front of a notary which included, among other things, two animal welfare organisations as beneficiaries. The amount of money these two particular organisations will get, after my death, is not vast but substantial. I was reluctant to divulge something so private and personal as a will but the disturbing letter overcame my need for privacy.

Was I emotionally assassinated by calendars showing Brownie, Shaggy, Brutus and Daisy looming at me with soulful eyes? I am having second thoughts about my will!

It’s time we real animal lovers check whether we are being taken for an emotional ride by animal welfare services and various NGOs.

When the animal welfare division was set up I believed in it. I still do. Mario Spiteri seems so keen and enthusiastic.

So why are people like Ms Cassola writing such letters? What about the animal ambulance, the Ta’ Qali centre and other services?

I hope they remain true to their mission statement and not get desensitised after witnessing so much pain, cruelty and suffering. These NGOs and animal support services should realise one thing: people who really care about animals don’t discriminate between a dog, cat, horse or a chicken running bewildered in Valletta (another disturbing letter with a person claiming she phoned several organisations for help, with no response).

I sincerely hope that people claiming they got the cold shoulder when they phoned such services were the exception not the rule.

But if one calls an emergency number and gets no response, I urge readers to name and shame. The pen, not the dog, becomes a man’s best friend.

Here I feel I must pass on this message to all genuine animal lovers. In the coming election do not vote for any party/candidate who shows no humanity, compassion and concern for animals. This denotes a cold and heartless person.

But do support, even across party lines, candidates who will propagate our cause. No need to quote Ghandi again. I end this letter with the last two lines of a poignant poem I read years ago: “If animals don’t go to heaven as well/I’ll take my chance in hell”.