Source : Perth Now news
Reindeer have been pulled from a Christmas fair after organisers said they feared planned animal rights protests could cause “undue harassment and stress” for volunteers.
The animals had been booked to appear at Richmond Christmas Fair in North Yorkshire on November 29, but the Richmond Business and Tourism Association has now cancelled the attraction.
Organisers said the decision was partly prompted by “protests that were building” over the use of reindeer at the festive event.
In a statement, members of the organising committee said: “The decision was made to protect the hard-working volunteers from undue harassment and stress in the lead-up to the event, and also to protect the enjoyment of the day for everyone from protests that were building.
“In the end, we felt the kindest and most sensible course of action was to step back from this particular attraction and focus our energy on delivering a positive and enjoyable event for everyone.”
The committee said it respected differing opinions on the issue and acknowledged the “strength of feeling” surrounding the reindeer.
It also stressed that cancelling the attraction was not a criticism of the company due to provide the animals.
The organisers described the company as “professional, knowledgeable and clearly dedicated to the welfare of their animals”.
The North East Animal Rights group welcomed the decision.
A spokesperson told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “We welcome the decision to remove the reindeer and wish the organisers a successful animal-free event.”
However, the move has sparked a mixed reaction online.
One social media user said it was “sad when a few paranoid people ruin things for everyone”, while another parent said: “That’s a shame, as my son was looking forward to seeing them.”
Another user backed the move, calling it “a good decision”.
Organisers said they would instead focus their efforts on making the Christmas fair an enjoyable event for visitors, without the reindeer attraction.
The cancellation means families attending the November event will have to settle for more traditional festive sights, while the debate over animals at Christmas attractions looks set to continue.
