How many people who condemn trophy hunting as vile and depraved (Arsenal owner ‘appals’ Corbyn, 2 August) are vegans who’ve never profaned their body with so much as a slice of cheese, have never worn leather shoes or belts, have suffered nobly through illnesses without taking medicines tested on animals, or have never shackled an animal into the slavery we dub “keeping a pet”, and have never called Rentokil to purge an infestation? Many anti-hunting advocates are rank hypocrites are quite happy to benefit from the exploitation and death of animals, provided it’s hidden from sight. At least hunters have the honesty to look their prey in the eye.
Robert Frazer
Salford, Greater Manchester
• I disagree with Linda Rodriguez McRobbie’s claim that “our animals can’t tell us whether they are happy being pets” (Should we stop keeping pets?, G2, 2 August). My half-grown ginger kitten tells me clearly he is blissfully happy as he follows me about the house, purring loudly and demanding cuddles. He has a cat flap into my wild garden so he could vote with his paws and leave anytime. I don’t think it’s just the warmth and food he comes back for. This feels like love.
Lindy Hardcastle
Groby, Leicestershire
• Yet another bizarre episode at the White House (Analysis, 1 August). But I take comfort from Tacitus, who observed about the alarming goings on of emperors in first-century Rome: “Nothing in human affairs is so transitory and precarious as the reputation for power without the ability to support it.”
Ivan Laud
Ashbourne, Derbyshire
• The preposterous picture of the prime minister bending her knee in deference to the Duchess of Cambridge at Tyne Cot cemetery (1 August) epitomises the case for a republic.
Mike Walsh
London
• Your letter (2 August) about excessive production of semen purports to come from Staines. Locative determinism?
David Cooper
Nafferton, East Yorkshire
• Will this discussion go onan on?
Michael Cunningham
Wolverhampton
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