The ugly scenes of confrontations between police and protesters at the Queen Victoria Markets on the weekend were bad enough.
But right in the middle of the shouting mob were a team of police horses, with placards and hands being waved in their faces, their sensitive ears assailed by the shouts and screams of the protesters.
Horses and other animals shouldn't fight our battles for us.
They are innocent of the conflict and do not need to be brought into it.
Horses are extremely sensitive and have to undergo rigorous training to de-condition themselves not to flee, a natural instinct for a prey species, when there is noise, confusion, and so on.
Animals don't start riots, and unlike human officers, they have not volunteered to be placed in these violent and stressful situations.
In light of the dangers posed to horses and humans, the use of horses in riot control is clearly not the best method of approach, and should be discontinued immediately.
Mimi Bekhechi
PETA Representative
Have an opinion? Send your letter to editor@mandurahmail.com.au
Opinions and letters published in Mandurah Mail do not reflect the views of the editor or the publisher. Mandurah Mail reserves the right to edit letters before publishing them. Should anyone wish to challenge the contents of any letter published herein, they should put their argument in writing to Mandurah Mail.
