Sample letters
To the editor of the local paper:
Dear Editor,
So Circus --- is coming to [town], along with a number of performing horses and a donkey. But before rushing to book your ticket, please consider what life is like for these animals: a far cry from the glamour of the circus ring as seen by the spectator.
Many circus animals are trained using whips and electric goads, and kept in appalling accommodation on and off the road. This varies between individual circuses. However, even when no intentional cruelty is used the conditions these animals live in are generally far from good. They spend long periods of time being transported from place to place, it is impossible to create ideal conditions for them at most sites, and they are forced to perform tricks which are often unnatural and degrading.
Contrary to popular belief, the above applies to domestic animals such as horses as much as to the more exotic species: in fact, a recent investigation by Animal Defenders showed that horses often had a worse deal than other species.
Please, for the sake of these animals, boycott the circus. An evening�s entertainment for you is a lifetime of despair for them. If you want more information, you can contact Animal Defenders or Captive Animals� Protection Society.
Sincerely, (name)
To the clerk of the Town Council, objecting to the use of Council land by circuses
Dear Mrs ----,
I was not pleased to hear that Circus --- were coming to [local common], along with a number of performing horses.
I am well aware that circuses are banned from exhibiting �caged or wild animals� on council land. However, there is no reason why domestic animals such as horses and dogs will not suffer just as much as their more exotic counterparts when placed in the circus environment.
Individual circuses may treat their animals with varying levels of kindness or cruelty. Regardless of these individual variations, however, some level of cruelty is intrinsic: circus animals spend a high proportion of their time travelling from place to place and have no choice about whether to perform. This applies to horses as much as to elephants.
I therefore ask that you extend your ban on circus animals to include domestic animals as well as those who are �caged or wild�.
Sincerely, (name)
To another local council:
Dear Sir or Madam,
I am strongly in favour of ---- Borough Council�s policy of not allowing circuses which use animals to perform on Council land. It was a shock, therefore, to discover that the Council was running circus workshops in conjunction with the [local permanent circus]: an establishment which is proud to feature animal performances and which was featured in a recent investigation into cruelty in British circuses.
By using the [circus] premises and advertising in their programme (and giving them free publicity into the bargain), the Council gives the impression of supporting the use of animals in circuses: hardly in line with the compassionate and forward-thinking policy usually adopted.
Sincerely, (name)
To yet another council: asking that the daughter of two circus owners convicted of animal cruelty should not be allowed to take over her mother's Dangerous Wild Animals licence. (i didn't organise this one, Animal Defenders did.)
Dear Cllr. Hope,
I am concerned to hear that Suzanne (Chipperfield) Cawley is applying to your authority for a new Dangerous Wild Animals Act Licence for the facility owned by her parents at Croft Farm, Over Wallop, Hampshire.
As you will be aware, Ms Cawley�s parents, Mary and Roger Cawley, were convicted of cruelty offences earlier this year. Their convictions were based on over 400 hours of video evidence, authenticated during the court proceedings and never challenged. At the time of their trial, the directors of Mary Chipperfield Promotions (the company which owned the animals) were Suzanne, David, Mary and Roger Cawley. According to the 1911 protection of Animals Act, all directors of a company are responsible for ensuring the well-being or otherwise of their animals.
Mary Chipperfield Promotions is very much a family firm: Croft Farm has for many years been the home of Mary and Roger Cawley, along with their children and Mrs Cawley�s mother. It is therefore unrealistic to assume that Mary and Roger Cawley would not be directly involved with the day-to-day care of the animals, especially as Suzanne Cawley�s career has to date involved spending long periods on tour abroad.
I hope that you will use all the powers of the local authority to ensure that this animal trading and training business is not allowed to continue at Croft Farm, since it is apparent that the law is inadequate when it comes to protecting the welfare of the animals owned by this family and their company.
Sincerely, (name)