Readers get the hump in row over South Shields camel event

The South Shields Christmas Camel Parade, which animal rights activists want banned.

Members of the Northern Animal Welfare Co-operative (NAWC) – a group set up in 2013 to campaign against animal cruelty – has gathered more than 1,000 supporters for a petition calling on South Tyneside Council to ditch the event in 2016.

Camels have been used as the centrepiece of South Shields’ festive celebrations for the last three years.

Animal rights activist Jay Lord has slammed the Camel Parade.

Jay Lord, chairman of NAWC, said: “It is totally unnecessary. It sends out a message to the younger generation that it is acceptable to use animals in any way we see appropriate for our entertainment.”

The council insists the animals receive the highest standards of care and that the parade has been an ‘overwhelming’ success.

Scores of Gazette readers have taken to our website and Facebook to wade into the row – and plenty have the hump with animal rights campaigners, rather than the organisers.

Brian Rutter said on the Gazette’s Facebook page: “What about the rights of the children having the chance to see an animal they might not get to see if it wasn’t for the parade. I agree with stopping cruelty but they are well looked after.”

Shug Hugh Mcgurran added: “It gets very cold in the desert at night time, well below zero, so that’s not a problem. As long as they are looked after and not ill- treated then I don’t see the problem.”

Helen Rossiter is also in favour of the parade.She wrote: “You can clearly tell that these beautiful giants are well looked after and kept at a distance from the public. For some people it’s their only chance to see these animals.”

Neil J Souter wrote: “It’s great at Christmas. The camels are looked after.”

Some readers backed NAWC’s call for the parade to be halted.

TTAR wrote: “All I can say is some people will always be selfish and bury their head in the sand. The members of NAWC have spoken out for the camels. We’ll done! Animals are not for entertainment. Whether they are cared for 100% well is not the issue here, it is the fact they are being used.”

Lyndsey Clarke added: “Animals are not here for our entertainment, any contact or experience we should you have with animals should not be for our own selfish needs or benefit and to use them for entertainment is simply unforgiveable.

“It’s not how they’re used, it’s that they’re used at all but in this instance they’re being subjected to stressful situations which they are not used to with loud people and lots of noise – fireworks too – would you subject your dog to that?”

People can view the petition at www.change.org/p/leader-of-south-tyneside-council-animals-are-not-for-our-entertainment.