Dear Editor,

Cockfighting is a sport of abuse. The roosters are raised, fought and all too often left to die hideous and lingering deaths while being taunted and further abused by undisciplined kids, if observing the cockfighting on the Cul de Sac beach is anything to go by.

It appals me that supposedly educated and one would expect thinking St. Maarteners and St. Martiners would still endorse this activity.

Mr. Simmons' letter published in your paper on February 1 draws similarities between boxers and cockfighting. I disagree. Boxing is a "sport" taken up by humans with some degree of control over their lives. If they wish to batter themselves to a pulp for such a reason that is their choice! But cocks – what choice do they have to live quiet and peaceful lives when they are tossed into the screaming ring with some other aggressive and frightened bird? It is do or die, and quite often both.

As for horse and dog racing, in most cases the horses and dogs are trained and loved and cared for during their careers. There is documented evidence of abuse to make them go faster or work harder, and quite often those trainers are punished and warned off the courses. The fate of the retired animal is not pretty. Many of them are summarily herded into slaughter vans, but many of them do take up second careers as privately owned dressage, competitive jumping or show horses.

A lot of the dogs are adopted as pets and have a good life after that. I have met a number of them which come to visit St. Maarten each year.

If kids see it as okay to torture and abuse animals what is it doing to their souls?

Happy Lyn