Nigel Mifsud, 14, Sliema.
Dear Junior News, this year did not start too well because, being a great animal lover, I felt really sad and sick when I read one of the newspapers.
It is indeed shocking to open the newspaper and come across a photo of three dogs hanged.
God only knows the pain and terror these three dogs must have gone through!
Whoever did this is a coward. This barbaric act was done probably during the night when no one could witness what was happening.
Such heartless people are a nuisance to society and cause great heartache to others because whoever has the nerve to cause such great pain to innocent creatures surely would not think twice about hurting humans.
Whoever cannot appreciate the love and happiness a dog can give is indeed missing a great deal because a dog will risk his life to save that of his owner.
I pray that whoever did this barbaric act will regret his mistake and will realise that love for all humans and creatures makes us worthy and free citizens, while cruelty makes us feel worthless.
May similar acts of sadism never take place anywhere in the world and may everyone be aware that animals feel the pain, feel afraid and that their happiness depends so much on us humans.
Thank you for reading my letter.
This act was indeed horrific, Nigel. We agree that anyone who could commit such cruelty is totally despicable. We also look forward to hearing when the perpetrators are caught; so long as anyone is still on the case. Junior News is also appalled that certain papers saw fit to print pictures with the report. Shocking the public in the hope that it will expose the guilty party cannot justify the upset and misery an image like this has caused.
Daniela Aquilina, nine, Marsascala
Dear Junior News, I would like to tell you about the feast of Our Lady of Graces, at Zabbar. Every year my parents promise me and my two brothers that when the feast of Zabbar comes we will go and spend a day at our grandparents' house.
Mum and dad took us on the Saturday night. There was also our cousin Andrea, who was going to sleep with us. Nanna laid a large mattress on the floor. It was very late when we slept but we had great fun.
In the morning we had an English breakfast. Then we went to Mass. As soon as Mass was over there was the pilgrimage in which bicycles and motorbikes come all the way from Rabat and Mosta to Zabbar. This is an old tradition of the feast. My brothers always look forward to this event. I have never seen so many bikes and motorbikes!
Afterwards, when we went home, we found the table laid with good food, Nanna prepared a delicious lunch. She cooked chicken drumsticks, roast potatoes and grilled vegetables. They were very tasty. Then she gave us the desert. It was a gateaux, especially dedicated to the Lady of Graces. In the afternoon we played board games with nannu and had a nap.
In the evening our parents came and we all went to celebrate the feast. There was a band and a lot of stalls. Mum bought us some Maltese traditional nougat. It was really good. Then we went to follow the procession of the Lady of Graces. I could see a lot of fireworks up in the sky. They were like colourful splashes. There were crowds of people everywhere. We also visited the church museum. There were plenty of interesting things to see such as very old paintings and objects.
Time flew by and all good things come to an end. We thanked mum and dad and our grandparents for making this such a happy occasion for us!
It's sometime since the feast, Daniela, but reading you letter really brings it all to life. We hope you will enjoy it again this year too. And you've won a Lm 5 voucher and VIP Toyland's discount card for sending this week's star letter. Well done!
The sender of the star letter each week will receive a Lm5 voucher to exchange and a VIP 10 per cent discount card for all toys at Toyland for a whole year!
Send your letters, together with your full name, age and address to Junior News.
The sender of the star letter wins a Lm5 voucher to exchange for toys plus a VIP 10 per cent discount card for all toys from Toyland in Mosta.
Dear Junior News, this year did not start too well because, being a great animal lover, I felt really sad and sick when I read one of the newspapers.
It is indeed shocking to open the newspaper and come across a photo of three dogs hanged.
God only knows the pain and terror these three dogs must have gone through!
Whoever did this is a coward. This barbaric act was done probably during the night when no one could witness what was happening.
Such heartless people are a nuisance to society and cause great heartache to others because whoever has the nerve to cause such great pain to innocent creatures surely would not think twice about hurting humans.
Whoever cannot appreciate the love and happiness a dog can give is indeed missing a great deal because a dog will risk his life to save that of his owner.
I pray that whoever did this barbaric act will regret his mistake and will realise that love for all humans and creatures makes us worthy and free citizens, while cruelty makes us feel worthless.
May similar acts of sadism never take place anywhere in the world and may everyone be aware that animals feel the pain, feel afraid and that their happiness depends so much on us humans.
Thank you for reading my letter.
This act was indeed horrific, Nigel. We agree that anyone who could commit such cruelty is totally despicable. We also look forward to hearing when the perpetrators are caught; so long as anyone is still on the case. Junior News is also appalled that certain papers saw fit to print pictures with the report. Shocking the public in the hope that it will expose the guilty party cannot justify the upset and misery an image like this has caused.
Daniela Aquilina, nine, Marsascala
Dear Junior News, I would like to tell you about the feast of Our Lady of Graces, at Zabbar. Every year my parents promise me and my two brothers that when the feast of Zabbar comes we will go and spend a day at our grandparents' house.
Mum and dad took us on the Saturday night. There was also our cousin Andrea, who was going to sleep with us. Nanna laid a large mattress on the floor. It was very late when we slept but we had great fun.
In the morning we had an English breakfast. Then we went to Mass. As soon as Mass was over there was the pilgrimage in which bicycles and motorbikes come all the way from Rabat and Mosta to Zabbar. This is an old tradition of the feast. My brothers always look forward to this event. I have never seen so many bikes and motorbikes!
Afterwards, when we went home, we found the table laid with good food, Nanna prepared a delicious lunch. She cooked chicken drumsticks, roast potatoes and grilled vegetables. They were very tasty. Then she gave us the desert. It was a gateaux, especially dedicated to the Lady of Graces. In the afternoon we played board games with nannu and had a nap.
In the evening our parents came and we all went to celebrate the feast. There was a band and a lot of stalls. Mum bought us some Maltese traditional nougat. It was really good. Then we went to follow the procession of the Lady of Graces. I could see a lot of fireworks up in the sky. They were like colourful splashes. There were crowds of people everywhere. We also visited the church museum. There were plenty of interesting things to see such as very old paintings and objects.
Time flew by and all good things come to an end. We thanked mum and dad and our grandparents for making this such a happy occasion for us!
It's sometime since the feast, Daniela, but reading you letter really brings it all to life. We hope you will enjoy it again this year too. And you've won a Lm 5 voucher and VIP Toyland's discount card for sending this week's star letter. Well done!
The sender of the star letter each week will receive a Lm5 voucher to exchange and a VIP 10 per cent discount card for all toys at Toyland for a whole year!
Send your letters, together with your full name, age and address to Junior News.
The sender of the star letter wins a Lm5 voucher to exchange for toys plus a VIP 10 per cent discount card for all toys from Toyland in Mosta.