Sir, Animal circuses are an anachronism and have been for decades. Dea Birkett (Comment, Jan 16) says that many animals, like people, enjoy performing. The difference is that people have a choice, animals in circuses do not.
She says cruelty to animals should be punished, but there have been cases of horrendous cruelty within circuses.
The Animal Welfare Bill comes not a minute too soon and will, hopefully, protect animals that should be treated with dignity and not perpetually degraded for so-called entertainment.
PATRICIA KING
Shepherdswell, Kent