Proud Briton that I am, I have to concede that we as a nation have our faults. To my mind, sentimentality and hypocrisy are well to the fore, especially where animals are concerned.

Apparently, Argentina is the country with the highest number of pets per head of population, but the UK cannot be too far behind. Indeed, the pandemic has led to an explosion in the number of dogs being kept as pets and prices of favoured breeds have shot up exponentially. Add to this the extortionate costs paid to veterinary surgeons to keep them healthy – as is our duty being responsible as we are for their welfare – and it is clear that many Brits hold their pets very close to their hearts.

So often, though, the indulgence of domestic animals almost defies belief. Whilst many of us will have succumbed to the urge to buy our four legged friends a toy or treat at Christmas, I know a family that spent almost £70 on a special cake and gifts for their Labrador on his birthday; daft surely. Even more baffling though is the current craze of purchasing pet dressing up outfits so that the poor creature can be paraded for all to ‘enjoy’ on social media.

There is a flip side to the coin, however, for some of these people who dote on their pooch will also have a budgie in a cage plus several tropical fish in a small tank; these probably will be well cared for, but it puzzles me that folk are not aware of the perversity – fawning over their dog, yet preventing a bird from flying and fish from swimming more than a couple of feet.

Sadly, mind you, there are those who have animals but are neglectful of them – worse, cruel. Thus the essential existence of sanctuaries which care for them and find them new homes; here, those taking ‘rescue’ dogs and cats are monitored to ensure the creature is going to folk who really want them and will care for them humanely.

Also there are rescue projects for wild creatures such as seals and otters; so be it, but it is hard to appreciate the real need. I feel, with this, we may be moving into the field of sentimentality and emotion. I strongly believe we do so with the badger; someone once suggested that ‘Brock’ is better protected in law than the Queen’s corgis, despite strong evidence to suggest the former are the principal spreaders of bovine TB; yet there are those who guard these animals with dedicated zeal.

The rat, however, which probably has little malign influence on our lives, is universally loathed and is subjected, legally and enthusiastically, to a painful demise by poisoning; whilst with mice, largely harmless little beings, people have no compunction setting traps to eliminate them.

There are, though, other wild animals viewed sympathetically by mortals who see them as being ‘cute’ and attractive but which, in reality, are a menace. Principal amongst these, in my view, is that ‘serial killer’, the fox; if ever an animal enjoys a ‘better press’ than it deserves, it is Reynard.

Possibly my original farming background influences me here for I well remember the vicious carnage wreaked by these cunning beasts on hens and lambs on our farm; their savagery does not change; recently I read of a fellow who, for some incomprehensible reason, encouraged this vermin into his garden; he was ‘thanked’ for his kindness – the fox killed his cat.

The rabbit – though it certainly is not savage – is also wildlife which has to be culled; they breed rapidly and can decimate crops. Now this is a creature whose flesh, to me, is delicious; indeed, during the War it was a crucial part of the nation’s diet. These days, though, it rarely appears on British menus, as many seem to have an overly nostalgic view of bunnies, possibly seeing them in the romantic light shone by the likes of Beatrix Potter and Enid Blyton – or even that genial Hollywood character, ‘Bugs’.

In the bird world – rightly or wrongly – some are unwelcome, such as gulls, that can swoop and devour your pasty, and magpies that often are viewed as unlucky. The cuckoo, though, is popular – possibly because its coming heralds spring; yet when its habits are studied, it is a most unpleasant visitor. For it lays its egg in someone else’s nest, and when its progeny hatches, that chick murders the young of the rightful occupiers.

Animals, fish, birds and the like answer to instinct; the human race, however, does not; we have intelligence. Now this grumpy old man must admit to often being a hypocrite, but I do eschew, fervently, sentimentality; would it not be a positive move for all to banish such, replacing it with common sense and logic?