THE horrendous suffering that Molly, the German Shepherd, was put through by her owner, and how she was put in the River Tyne, must have upset every animal lover (Echo, Jul 5).

Every day we read or hear of animals caused suffering by their owners, or slaughterhouse employees treating them cruelly before the slaughter, or even the general public hunting them.

It’s good we have charities like the RSPCA and Animal Aid and many, many more trying to help and prevent this.

What good is a suspended sentence? Nothing at all. Is that all poor Molly’s life was worth?

People who hunt and abuse animals are the lowest form of a human – how would they feel if they were hit in the same way.

The law must get stricter as the animals can’t speak up.

M Walton, Newton Aycliffe