I WAS sickened and disgusted to read the sad story of the gull who was painted by “yobs” (Yobs paint seagull bright red, August 23).

What sort of upbringing do these creatures receive from their parents, are they never taught kindness and decency? Everything starts in the home with parents who either bring up their children to respect other people and living creatures or bring them up in their own destructive, cruel and thoughtless ways. It is about time that social services got to grips with weeding out parents of this type and thus preventing the poisonous results of these backgrounds.

It makes my blood boil just thinking of what that poor gull, and others like it, go through at the hands of these people.

Heather Causnett, Escrick Park Gardens, Escrick, York.