THE latest figures published by the RSPCA show that animal cruelty is on the increase and the worst offenders are the young. Well, what a surprise!

A lot of young people have no self respect, so how can they respect anyone or anything? They have no respect for their elders who are often a target of abuse; no respect for people's property or possessions.

Maybe this is because they don't have any possessions of their own. And no respect for animals. Too often we read of cruelty and neglect, but the offenders get away with it. What's the point of banning them from keeping an animal? They are still able to abuse some other poor creature, even if they don't own it.

Animal cruelty must be one of the most cowardly acts a person can commit to a helpless, trusting and faithful creature. How many humans can boast these qualities? Yet they are tortured, ill-treated, neglected and abused by the so-called human race.

How often do people refer to wrong-doers as behaving like animals? If only they did, we would have a much nicer society.

These yobs were once children and that is where they learn right from wrong, respect for pets and other creatures.

A trip to an animal sanctuary to see the work that is done to help abused animals can be an eye-opener, and lots of young people get a great amount of satisfaction from helping out at animal shelters.

I admire the young who really do care, and many go on to work with animals later in life.

Parents are responsible for teaching children to have some respect and they should work with teachers and animal charities to get this message across.

The animal abusers of today could be the child abusers of tomorrow.

Animal lover

(Name and address supplied)