IN the Comment piece last week ( VR , March 4, 2017, vol 180, p 210), Adele Waters poses a number of questions about the response of individual vets and the profession as a whole to the question of sentencing for those found guilty of animal abuse. Ms Waters states that the BVA not having a position on the issue can lead to confusion. I respond as a past officer of the BVA but also as a general practitioner with more than 30 years' experience, during which time I have dealt with several cases of potential non-accidental injury and neglect. It is entirely appropriate that a veterinary representative body should expect sentencing to be appropriate, proportionate, consistent and robustly applied. I don't think any member of the veterinary professions or their associations would take …