PEOPLE who work in the world of animal welfare presumably become hardened to scenes of suffering. We can only guess at the inner feelings of RSPCA staff when they witness the actions of the so-called superior species.

Over the recent festive period, we carried a number of stories about the potential misery caused to creatures acquired by impulse buying. We would like to think that our Twelve Dogs of Christmas series also helped to spread the message of goodwill to all things, including those other life forms with which we share this planet.

However, it looks as if we were casting pearls before swine. Sadly, given the context, this would appear to be an altogether unfortunate expression that somehow implies the pig is inferior to some individuals.

For we have to say that when it comes to utter barbarity, Homo Sapiens has no equal. Today's story of animal abuse is a litany of shame, a catalogue of cruelty that this newspaper - along with the vast majority of its readers - finds utterly repugnant.

Have we now sunk so low that the dumping of dogs and cats on the side of main roads no longer stirs feeling of compassion? Are our brains now so befuddled by consumerism that we can find no trace of morality? Is the word "guilt" still to be found in our dictionaries - or are we too busy with our computer games to care?

The appalling irony is that Britain is supposed to be a nation of animal lovers. We beg to differ.