THANKS to a massive effort from everyone who has written letters, sent postcards and emailed their MPs, Parliament finally pledged to ban the use of “wild” animals in circuses once and for all.

This is a massive victory for circus animals in the UK. Now we must ensure that this pledge is turned into a reality.

When we think of performing animals we tend to think about circus animals and their life on the road and the training they have to endure to perform tricks to entertain the public.

But what about all the animals that are used in the film industry and on TV? How often do we read the line “No animal was harmed in the making of this film”? Ever wondered how true that statement is?

And what about all the animals used in advertising? Then think about all those greeting cards with cute pictures of kittens in shoes and puppies wearing hats. These are also performing animals. Bred, reared, kept in cages, transported about, trained and no doubt discarded when they are no longer financially viable. To find out more, Animal Defenders International (ADI) are giving a talk at the Bournemouth Animal Aid meeting on Wednesday July 13 at St Michael's Church Hall, Poole Hill, Bournemouth at 8pm.

STEVE TOMS, King John Avenue, Bearwood