TIM Pinney's claim (You Say, December 10) that the RSPCA is an animals rights organisation is inaccurate and misinformed.

The RSPCA is a broad church that attracts people with a wide variety of views from all sections of society.

The Society is a very democratic and scrupulously fair organisation that is here only to protect animals.

As an animal welfare charity we must work within our charitable remit, which is to prevent cruelty and promote kindness to animals.

Mr Pinney's claim that 63 per cent of vets favour the continuation of hunting is based on a highly contentious poll commissioned by the Countryside Alliance. Almost half of the vets contacted declined to take part in the sample.

Even then, and after the Countryside Alliance changed the questions midway through the poll, only 37 per cent of vets thought suffering would increase if hunting was banned - far from a majority!

Last year, the RSPCA spent £71m on animal welfare, found loving new homes for almost 100,000 animals, rescued or collected almost 200,000 animals and ran more than 20 national and international campaigns in four main areas - companion animals, research animals, wildlife and farm animals.

The Society provided subsidised veterinary care for more than a quarter of a million animals; lessons in animal welfare for half a million children; and grants and training to overseas animals organisations.

The RSPCA does not and has no plans to campaign against shooting or fishing.

Any reasonable person can see that there's a big difference between hunting with dogs and fishing.

Hunting with dogs involves dogs being set upon deer, foxes, hares and mink to provide sport or entertainment for hunt followers.

Bear baiting and cock fighting was banned because they involved the same cruel principle.

As far as fishing's concerned, the key issue for the RSPCA is encouraging best practice, and the 1980 Medway Report had some reasonable suggestions about how this can be approached.

JO CUNNINGHAM,

Regional Press Officer,

RSPCA.