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BRITISH VILLAGE TANGLES WITH PETA OVER FUZZY-HEADED CALL TO CHANGE NAME
The fact that the unassuming Dorset village of Wool derives its name from an ancient word for well, or water spring, has fallen by the wayside.
Animal rights activists have declared the village’s name an affront to sheep the world over, claiming it promotes animal cruelty.
They have asked that the village is renamed Vegan Wool, forcing the local parish council to debate the issue.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the residents of Wool, along with many others, have lined up to ridicule PETA, the animal rights charity behind the request.
Elisa Allen, director of PETA, has written to Wool parish council to request the change in order to “promote kindness to sheep” and to soften the blow, she has promised to give a “crueltyfree” woollen blanket to all 2,000 households in the village if they agree.
Cherry Brooks, a member of Dorset county council, said: “It is a ridiculous request. A few people are quite offended but most people seem to find it amusing.
“The proposal will now need to be discussed at the next council meeting.”
She pointed out that PETA had failed to do its homework, noting that the village name was derived from the ancient word “welle” and had nothing to do with the wool industry.
Other villagers defended Wool, which is perched alongside the Frome river and has a population of 5,310. Jayne Merchant said: “The idea of renaming the village is utterly ridiculous. It’s the most idiotic idea.”
Allen said the request was a “creative and fun way to reach the public with the facts” and said they hoped it would highlight the abundance of “warm, cruelty-free fabrics such as cotton, bamboo, hemp, and soya-bean fibre.” In her letter to the parish council, she wrote: “I’m writing on behalf of PETA with a suggestion that would put Wool in the spotlight and promote kindness to sheep: renaming the village Vegan Wool.
“Why make this animal friendly update? Unlike wool that is stolen from sheep, vegan wool is good for animals and the environment.
“Sheep’s wool, on the other hand, has been shown to be a product of extreme cruelty. A recent PETA Asia investigation of the British wool industry revealed that shearers punched sheep in the face, stamped and stood on their heads and necks, and beat and jabbed them in the face with electric clippers.
“Fast, rough shearing left sheep with large, bloody wounds ... several sheep even died during shearing from possible shock. With a simple name change, your village can take a stand against this cruelty.”
In a joint statement, British Wool, the NFU, National Sheep Association, National Association of Agricultural Contractors, and Farmers’ Union of Wales, said: “Having not had access to the footage taken by PETA, we are unable to comment on this specific claim.
“However, farmers and contractors in the sheep industry take animal welfare very seriously and any behaviour that is found to fall below that standard is not tolerated.”
On Wool’s outskirts is Woolbridge Manor, reimagined by Thomas Hardy as Wellbridge House, the setting of Tess and Angel’s illfated honeymoon in Tess of the D’Urbervilles. Alongside it is the Grade II-listed Wool Bridge, which also features in the 1891 novel.
This week, it emerged the Shoulder of Mutton pub in York changed its name to Heworth Inn to attract vegans.