I wonder if the readers of the Oxford Mail are aware that the UK still exports live animals.

Animals exported live to the continent endure hours tightly crammed into hot lorries, often with little access to food or water.

The journey can often leave them stressed, exhausted and dehydrated and it can take days for them to recover from the ordeal. In the worst cases, animals can die from the conditions during live export. Last September, Ramsgate was the scene of catastrophic animal suffering when large numbers of sheep arriving at the port were found to be suffering from broken legs and other injuries and six animals fell into the water, with two drowning. Forty-one sheep had to be shot due to the extent of their injuries.

Live exports have no place in modern British farming. Most farmers don’t do it. Not many people in the modern day would consider live animals to be goods.

However, while the outdated Harbours, Docks and Piers clauses Act of 1847 remains in place, live animals are treated as nothing more than inanimate objects. This law was put in place 166 years ago before the more modern recognition of the sentience of animals.

I would urge all your readers to sign the petition calling on MPs to amend this outdated act and stop this trade from all UK ports.

The petition can be found on the CIWF website (Compassion in World Farming).

JEN MARKS Foxburrow Lane Hailey, nr Witney