JON Burgess (letters September 19) has a strange attachment to war-like terms.

There is quite a difference between attacking farmers and asking them to sign a petition to protect their animals from the horrors of live export, which incidentally has nothing to do with being in the EU.

Likewise, there is quite a difference between attacking the vegetarian diet and attempting to inform the public of the realities of animal farming.

I was vegetarian before becoming vegan because I believed that non-meat animals were allowed to live their full lifespan so there was nothing wrong with using dairy products and eggs. In fact, all farmed animals are killed well before their allotted lifespan, and the life they have is not one I would want.

As a supporter of the RSPCA Mr Burgess must be aware of the treatment meted out to the vast majority of other animals by our species. A pet that is well looked after is a lucky animal.

I and most other vegans would love to see a vegan world but that is obviously a long time in the future, although moving closer. At the moment we have to deal with the reality and try to bring about improvements in the lives and deaths of farmed and other animals e.g. in laboratories.

Most of us know in our hearts what happens to the animals who come to our tables as food, as witness the reluctance to watch undercover footage in farms and slaughterhouses – we know it is going to be a horror film.

I avoided it for a long time until I realised it wasn't half so painful for me to watch as it was for the animals that were the subjects.

I have given nothing up. I have merely exchanged one set of habits for another set of habits and I love my vegan food – it is healthy, tastes good and I can feel good about it.

Roberta Balfour

Malvern

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