Animal Trainer Cruelty Charges

As an animal trainer for 17 years, I am tired of the absolute lies from groups like Cleveland Amory’s Fund for Animals (“Circus Barkers,” Metro, Aug. 7). It is only in the best interest of the trainers to teach these animals or raise these animals under the best conditions. Any stress, whether it’s in training, or farming, or medical research, produces an inferior animal. And yes, we trainers, ranchers, and researchers are animal lovers as well.

Some of those big Hollywood stars who protest animals used for circuses or zoos own pets that have been trained to live in their homes. I have seen probably the most humane conditions for animals on dairy and fur farms and especially in the medical research laboratories. And the most “inhumane” treatment of animals I ever saw was one cold summer in Montana when even the hunters couldn’t leave their homes to harvest the deer surplus. To see those beautiful creatures all stricken with disease and starving was just unfair. The activists should protest Mother Nature.

ROBERT TOWNLEY

Los Angeles