Senseless attack

The brutal attack on defenceless caged animals in Dundee's Camperdown Wildlife Centre that left animals dead, injured and traumatised (your report, 4July and Letters, 5 July) is truly shocking.

There must be serious concern over the background and personality of individuals who would carry out such a sadistic attack on animals.

The zoo is one of the few remaining visitor attractions with captive wild animals to be funded and run by a local authority in Scotland. Over the last four years, the council has spent over 1.1 million of public money funding the running costs of the zoo and a further 500,000 on capital expenditure. We have asked the council to consider whether subsidising a zoo is a worthwhile and valid use of taxpayers' money. In 2001, Fife Council decided to end funding of all animal collections.

ROSS MINETT, Campaigns director, Advocates for Animals, Queensferry Street, Edinburgh