Letter: Animal freedoms

Sir: Peter Allen (letter, 10 August) compares human and animal rights and suggests that animals can have rights without responsibility because children and mentally ill humans do. Animal rights, he says, are represented by the RSPCA's "five freedoms"; freedom from fear, pain, hunger, discomfort and freedom to express normal behaviour.

In fact in our society children and people with mental disorders experience severe restrictions on their rights. Children, for example, can be hit by their parents, and mentally ill people locked up against their will.

Many of us campaigning for the rights of people with mental disorders would be delighted if, for instance, people with dementia were accorded even the same five freedoms that animal rights campaigners would like for chickens.

HARRY CAYTON

Chief Executive

Alzheimer's Disease Society

London SW1