People like Pauline Williams restore my faith in human compassion and love, Canal kitten rescuer in line for RSPCA award (Mercury December 10).

I've lost count of the number of kittens which have been callously dumped recently. All of these kittens have mothers who should have been spayed and fathers who should have been neutered. Will these irresponsible cat owners ever learn?

As a campaigner against animal cruelty I am almost ashamed to belong to the human race which is capable of such despicable acts of barbarity.

Mark Twain said, "Of all God's creatures there is only one that cannot be made a slave of the lash. That one is the cat. If man could be crossed with the cat it would improve man, but it would deteriorate the cat", and in many circumstances I am inclined to agree!

Elizabeth Allison, Aylestone.