"Sheep have rights too"

Now I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I am NotaSheep and that is why this story really pissed me off. Apparently, following protests by animal rights activists the sheep shearing competition has been axed from the line-up at the Kent County Show (held in Detling, near Maidstone, each July) this year.

Forget that "anti-cruelty activists claim the ewes and rams could be hurt by the electric clippers that are used."

Forget that "Farmer Tony Mowbray said: "This is just complete madness. Shearers are trained professionals. "Of course sheep get the odd nick, but it's ridiculous to stop that from being shown to the public to protect their sensibilities."

Forget, if you can, that "One animal rights activist, who did not want to be named, said: "Sheep have rights too. I thought it was cruel, so complained. A lot of people agreed with me.""

Forget "The RSPCA said it backs scrapping the Kent contest. Julia Wrathall, from the charity's farm animal department said: "If you are going to shear a sheep, it should be on its home farm where there would be enough time to do the job without worrying about the speed aspect. "If you bring speed into it, you may sacrifice care and quality and we would have genuine concerns.""


I like watching sheep shearing, especially the way they hold the sheep up so it looks so vulnerable and stupid. You would never catch a goat looking like this...