I still believe that, on the whole, we are a nation of animal-lovers, but I also believe there are a lot of thoughtless, ignorant people around who have not been taught, and don’t fully realise, that dogs are not “things” – they are creatures with feelings, like ourselves.

They feel the heat, the cold, get hungry, get thirsty, feel pain, get frightened, lonely or bored.

Unlike many of us, they are intensely loyal and forgiving – look at the affection you get from a rehomed dog. They deserve better from us, as supposedly civilised human beings.

How can someone tie up an animal and then just walk away? Or put them in bin bags for the refuse collectors to put in the crusher? Or drive it to a remote spot and throw it away?

We have a long way to go before we can call ourselves civilised.

Thank God for the likes of Billy Elliott from the Worthing and District Animal Rescue Service, and Trevor Weeks from the East Sussex Wildlife Rescue and Ambulance Service, both of whom do so much to help undo the harm and suffering we humans cause.

Mrs J Archer, Rusper Road South, Tarring