WHILE it is flattering to know that some people read my letters to your newspaper, it would be even more so if they understood them.

Sheila English is obviously an anti-vivisectionist and has every right to her opinions and any actions she may take regarding vivisection. Has she ever been into an animal house or watched an experiment on an animal at the University of Oxford or anywhere else?

I have done quite a bit of both and I can assure her that standing in the rain, cold hands and feet, will not help humans with epilepsy or Alzheimer’s disease.

Nor will it help someone’s much loved pet dog, cat or horse recover from intestinal diseases, blindness or other horrid things.

My letter was nothing to do with antivivisection – it was to do with wanton cruelty by ignorant, unfeeling humans who are by no means professors at a university.

The man who observed his neighbour thrashing a dog with a stick went indoors and rang the RSPCA at once – he didn’t need rain or snow to spur him on. People who knew of the Russells’ behaviour and did nothing should be ashamed of themselves.

There is more cruelty to animals in private homes and business buying and selling than in Home Office-inspected laboratories. I have met some of these people too.

Why should I know this case (the Russells) was going to be in court? Why should SPEAK attending be of any use? They should have been there when the cruelty was going on.

PAMELA ST CLAIR Argyle Street Oxford