Animals are sentient

I TOO was sad to hear Geronimo had been put down but no fuss is made about the 27,500 farm animals with TB that are killed every year.

The public also, conveniently, forget that for their benefit and enjoyment, thousands of healthy animals are being slaughtered every day. Animals are sentient beings who, like us humans, experience sadness, fear, distress, love and pain – but not a word is expressed in their defence.

Hundreds of animals are also killed in the name of science so that we humans can choose to live our lives on the medication that we take. Not a thought is given to these creatures who, out of our sight, suffer pain and distress every day.

The farm workers and farmers that work long hours every day of the year in all weathers are never spared a thought, nor are they properly remunerated for the work they do.

They should be praised for their work and receive adequate return for their labours, by us the public paying the economic price for the goods they produce and they should not require subsidies.

We, the public, constantly make demands, and have enjoyed cheap food for years, yes cheap food!

Consequently the farmers and the animals suffer because of our actions. If we all tried to put a little less pressure and eat a little less farm produce paying a proper price this would help enormously. Maureen Harrison

Bristol