Template Letter to your Local Authority

Dear [Add name of your local authority]

As a local resident, I am writing to ask whether the council are planning to use live animals in their festive calendar this year. If the council is planning to use live animals, I am politely asking you to reconsider.

The noise and lights of a festive event can be hugely stressful and have severe impacts on the health and welfare of animals, such as reindeer. Often displayed in a pen or led along a busy street as part of a Christmas parade, the animals have nowhere to hide from noisy crowds demanding interaction. Animals can also endure the additional stress of being transported around the country to be exhibited.

Each year Animal Aid and other animal protection groups voice concerns about the welfare of reindeer used in festive events. The environments of festive events are totally unsuitable for reindeer. Factors such as bright lights, noisy crowds and interaction with excitable members of the public can all appear as threats to reindeer. Unable to escape anything which they don’t like, this can lead to them experiencing fear.

A report written by Dr Tayla Hammond and commissioned by OneKind highlights the health and welfare concerns for captive reindeer in the UK. Reindeer are susceptible to a range of diseases in captivity, and their health can be compromised further by the stress of being transported to and from events. In addition, the dietary changes that occur at events can lead to problems with the reindeer’s digestion and even death.

The founder of the Veterinary Deer Society stated that: “They [reindeer] are not well able to cope with the stress of captivity, and most of the diseases we see here in reindeer are stress-related”.

As a concerned local resident, I would like to be reassured that reindeer and other live animals will not be subjected to the stress of Christmas events in my area. Therefore, please would you confirm that the council will not be using live animals in festive events this year and that you will not be granting permission for such events to take place on council owned land in 2024.

I would also like to ask you to consider creating a compassionate legacy by making a long-term commitment not to use captive animals in festive events as part of council policy.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards

[your name here]

Local resident