The Human Wrongs Behind Animal Rights
Re “Animal-Rights Measure Gains in Surf City,” June 23:
The story about Huntington Beach considering a ban on animal acts, and even pony rides, really raises my blood pressure. The so-called animal-rights activists are up to their usual “terror” tactics. They want to dictate how people should act and think, and if they are not in agreement with them they destroy businesses and property.
I am pushing 80 and was the first female circus press agent. I married into the circus. In those days you had to work at something, and I wasn’t built for a trapeze. Aside from my ringmaster husband, my great love was the animals.
In all the years of working for the circuses, I never saw an animal mistreated; however, I am not saying it never happened. Circus animals, or any animal act, for that matter, means bread and butter for their trainer, and wouldn’t it be stupid to endanger your livelihood?
Shirley Carroll O’Connor
Laguna Woods
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