I have received information from an animal welfare organisation concerning an alarming trend among some city youths and their treatment of dogs.

It says "certain types of dogs have become a must-have fashion accessory", or "status dogs". These are used to intimidate the public, used as weapons and to commit crime. They are also pitted against each other in dog fights.

In order to make the dogs vicious their owners deliberately kick, beat or stab them. One dog was covered in cigarette burns. The abuse and cruelty inflicted on these dogs is beyond belief.

Gandhi said: "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by how its animals are treated." Given this standard, not only is our country's morality in steep decline but also our reputation as an animal-loving nation.

There have been a number of cases of cats being shot, hostile dogs attacking those of responsible owners and other examples of gratuitous violence inflicted on defenceless animals. The sick, disaffected thugs responsible for these crimes need to be identified and dealt with before their behaviour escalates.

Elizabeth Allison, Leicester.