Britain has a reputation as a nation of animal lovers - but do we go too far?

The "Tamworth Two" - two ginger haired pigs that escaped from an abbattoir and have been roaming the countryside - have dominated the front pages of Britain's press.

About 100 members of the international media have camped out to keep up with the pig-tale, along with members of the public ready to snap the elusive hogs.

Is public interest really motivating the story? The British are known for caring about animals, but have we just gone mad over this story?

Each pig was originally worth just £40. One is in custody, and police say they are close to re-capturing the other. The owner is reported to have been offered more than £15,000 for the pair by members of the public who are concerned to protect the pigs' future.

Friendship and safety for Blackie

Blackie the donkey is another example. In 1986 one of Britain's tabloid papers launched a campaign to save a donkey in Spain from a local tradition where the fattest man in the village sat on the animal whilst other villagers beat it with sticks. The campaign succeeded and Blackie was brought to safety in Britain.

Or is it part of a deeper imbalance in the British, or even the human psyche. Why do so many people make more effort to take care of an animal than they do a human being? When British newspaper The Express can lead its front page with "Found, the runaway pigs our readers pledged to save" - are animals too high a priority?

Do we care too much about animals?

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