Dear Editor

Why don’t people understand that the blame for this praedial larceny problem is not restricted to just those who take and slaughter the animals? And in the end, we will all pay for the problem.

Those who take the animals are guilty. But so are those markets who purchase the stolen meat and those customers who then buy it from them. If they could not sell the meat, those slaughterers wouldn’t bother with the animals.

Ultimately, we’ll see less and less farmers willing to raise cattle, sheep, goats and pigs. Why bother, when so much of their flocks get stolen?

Then where will people on budgets get their meat? They will be forced to buy the more expensive imported meats, because it will be the only products available.

And all those wonderful thoughts about the country becoming agriculturally independent by producing its own food will die.

Every action has consequences so consumers should think before they buy.