The report of the 20 dogs incarcerated in cages at Birkirkara makes one wonder whether some people realise the cruelty they are causing to these animals. It is unfortunate that, from time to time, we read about cruelty to animals in The Times and we never seem to read about follow-up action by the police.

The courts should come down hard on those who willingly cause suffering to animals.

A simple miserable fine is not enough. The culprit should be treated in the same way he has treated his animals.

In these days of human rights, data protection and the like, it is sometimes necessary to forget all these measures and name and shame those who abuse of animals may they be dogs, cats, horses or any other animal.

Legislators should wake up and spend just one hour on a law that would condemn people who are cruel to animals to prison with no alternative of a fine.

It is no good for the government to blow its trumpet about building an animal welfare clinic at Ta' Qali without backing this up with hard-hitting legislation.