IT is becoming more and more widely accepted that animals experience many of the same emotions and sensations as humans do, such as fear, contentment, anger, happiness, sadness and physical pain.

So perhaps it is about time we recognised that animals are not here for our convenience.

Obviously animals do not need exactly the same rights as humans, but the right to a life free from suffering and exploitation is as important to them as it is to us.

A good place to start would be to stop intensively farming and slaughtering them for food, and to stop cruel experiments on them.

ASHLEY OWEN, Animal Aid, Bradford Street, Tonbridge, Kent