No hiding place for animal abusers

Pet-lover or not, a rising tide of violence against animals in the area is something we should all be concerned about. While there is some dubiety over the reliability of evidence suggesting those responsible for violence against animals are more likely to be violent toward humans, the bottom line is the assailants are dangerous individuals who must be brought to book.

Scottish SPCA chief superintendent Mike Flynn yesterday described the figures relating to attacks on dogs as “disheartening”.

It is hard to disagree.

Just as with violence perpetrated against fellow human beings, there can be no justification for attacks on defenceless animals.

It is hard for most right-thinking people to imagine just what goes through the minds of perpetrators of such crimes.

Deterrents are significant, with severe punishments available to the authorities.

So why is it that animal cruelty appears to be on the rise? It may well be that, despite the figures, it remains a crime that many people are seen to “get away with”.

As ever high profile examples will help the cause and today we report on the case of a cat shot with an air rifle.

Let us hope those responsible are quickly traced – and then given a punishment to fit the heartless crime.