Sir, - Susan Kelly (May 6th) was of course absolutely right to call for public funding for animal welfare groups following the burning out of one of our inspector's vans. She may inadvertently have caused some confusion, however, and perhaps you will allow me to correct it. The Dublin Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is not the same as the ISPCA; it is a separate and independent body. The ISPCA is the national representative and co ordinating body for local societies and the Dublin SPCA, like most local societies, is affiliated to it. The ISPCA does not involve itself directly in animal rescue and cruelty prevention work. That kind of work is done in Dublin, for example, principally by ourselves but also, to a lesser extent, by two other affiliates of the ISPCA. It was we who the recent prosecution to dogs. it was our inspector's van that was burned out, so we would be very glad of help in replacing it. Yours, etc.,
Vice-Chairman,
Dublin Society for
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals,
Woodtown Cottage,
Stocking Lane,
Rathfarnham,
Dublin 16.