TODAY, we take the unusual step of publishing photographs that many readers will regard as in bad taste, possibly disgusting, and certainly shocking.

We do so for two reasons. The first is to draw attention to the unacceptable state of animal welfare in a distressingly large number of cases. The second is to highlight the equally unacceptable delay in modernising legislation that might go some way towards helping the defenceless.

While the pictures we publish on pages 24 and 25 are horrible and might be regarded as evidence of actual cruelty, it is what we rejected that tells the real story of neglect, ignorance and actual cruelty towards animals that is going on in this island today.

Some were truly horrific and too graphic to be published. We have attempted to steer a path between giving islanders at least an indication of the seriousness of some of the cases that exist and not revolting people as they read their Guernsey Press.

We hope we have got that balance about right – and bear in mind that this is just a selection of the cases that welfare campaigners actually get to know of – but if people are disturbed by what they see, then they need to act.

Not only is the law deficient, attempts to update it have been allowed to drag because preventing the suffering of animals is not a priority in Guernsey. No one in authority actually cares enough to push through the legislation that could have spared the maiming, injury and death of unknown numbers of pets and larger creatures.

If islanders believe that to be unacceptable, and welfare campaigners hope they do, then they should contact their deputies, Commerce and Employment, the Policy Council and St James’s Chambers to urge them to act now.

We were shocked when we went through the file – how could this be happening in a place like Guernsey and why isn’t it being stopped?

The reasons it isn’t are as unpalatable as the pictures we publish today.

We do not lightly publish images we believe might offend readers but if any islanders are upset by what they have seen then they need to make their voices heard because the animals can’t speak for themselves.

Without help, they remain the silent victims.