Martin, you have said what I thought originally.
I have to say that there are many other countries where the animal cruelty situation is much more serious. In Cyprus there is no bear bating. There are no performing monkies or orphaned gorillas whose parents have been shot to make ornaments. There is work to be done, but don't get it out of proportion. And don't bring a sensationalist tabloid into the equation. Do you really think they care? If you could get the Times, Telegraph or Independent I would take their journalist a little more seriously with his claims of wanting to help. The NOTW is only after sensationalism and stuff that may sell papers. Ruth is right. They would show Cyprus in a bad light, and that is not the issue.
The UK also has a problem with animal cruelty. The charitable organisations cannot cope, and the amount of strays is unbelievable for a nation of "animal lovers".
I do care, and I feel the same as Tina. I worried about bringing my animals across, but I have to say that apart from finding Friday by the bin when he was a day or two old, and rearing him to a healthy kitten; and seeing a boy fling a rabbit across a garden and hearing the rabbit scream - which upset me greatly - I have not been party to anything else. But to be honest, I could have seen that with some of the children that you come across in the UK.
I know my view won't be popular, but I am a realist. There is work to be done in Cyprus. But there is work to be done in the UK and many other countries where animal welfare is concerned. Getting emotional will not help any animal.
I put my energies into supporting charities who support children who have been abused. People need to be cared for too. Abused animals are easier to rehabilitate than abused humans who are often damaged for life.
Occasionally it would be good to see that people on all forums care as much for their fellow man as they seem to care for animals. But that is just my passion, and I know that we are all different.
I am not belittling Mark's intentions. We all approach things from a different viewpoint. In my job I have to remain objective. I can empathise, but if I over-sympathise I would be in bits up the corner and neither use nor ornament. I commend his intentions, but Mark - you need to toughen up. And come back. We ARE on your side.
Verity.
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Verity.
Be who you are, and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.
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