For 13 years I have shared my home, life and many of my activities with a cherished dog. The idea of someone purposefully causing this loving companion pain or harm is inconceivable. The young people involved in the shooting of two horses, and those involved with torturing a cat, or dragging a dog behind a vehicle are dangerous.

I don’t know anyone who hasn’t expressed horror and outrage at such cruelty, and knowing there are people living among us who could commit these atrocities is disconcerting. I believe there has been a failure in their nurturing, and if children were taught love and caring before they are taught to use rifles or to drive cars we would have fewer incidents of this type.

One wonders if people should be having children just because they can, and it’s clear these children should not have been born. Someone is going to say those are strong words and that I am expressing hate. I hate sharing the planet with people who are capable of such violent acts.

William D. Skinner

Bangor