Forgotten victims of Storm Desmond | Letters

The devastating floods in parts of northern England have resulted in a massive collaborative effort to save the lives and property of those affected ('We never thought that this could happen again', 7 December). But amid the understandable concern for these human victims, we must also remember the hundreds - possibly thousands - of animals that will perish, largely unremarked upon.

As in the spring of 2013, when heavy snow and freezing weather led to the traumatic deaths of more than 100,000 animals - mostly sheep - the latest flood victims have received virtually no mention in any of the national media. And even in the online farming press, there are just sketchy accounts that are devoid of any mention of welfare impacts. They amount to a brief audit of losses.