I was horrified to read about the increase in cruelty towards dogs in Worcestershire (Cruelty to dogs was ‘abhorrent’, Advertiser, November 12) and I agree totally with Councillor Mark Bullivant that people should think twice before they “buy or give a pet for Christmas” and that before getting a dog they should “look into the costs, including time and money it takes to provide a good home that every animal deserves”.

However, it isn’t just cruelty to dogs (and cats) that is a major concern, but the number of these animals that are being “put down”

every year because both deliberate and irresponsible breeding is producing far more of them than there are good homes available.

Members of the public can help prevent this appalling situation by only obtaining animals from rescue centres (rather than from pet shops or breeders) and by making sure they have their dogs and cats neutered or spayed as soon as the animals are old enough for this to be done.

Louise Jones, Redditch