My highest praise to Mrs Elizabeth Allison for her excellent letter "Animal cruelty is a scandal" (Mailbox, October 17).

It was a very comprehensive account of all sorts of animal abuse and I agree with every word she wrote.

It takes courage to stand up for the rights of animals because people in power in Westminster and in the Church like to ignore this issue.

It is time to see the ill-treatment of animals no longer as a frivolity. And just as we make our voice heard when something happens to people, we should speak out loud against the abuse of our fellow creatures and not stay silent for fear of being ridiculed or being seen as a crank.

Therefore, Elizabeth keep writing and fighting.

Mrs Anneliese Bilson, Leicester.