George Adams (Letters, April 19) is wrong to say we are “superior” to animals.

After all we, ourselves, are just animals.

As a vegan, I see the production of dog and cat meat in South Korea for food just as bad our eating cows, chickens, pigs, sheep, lamb and fish: inflicting pain and death on any animal is immoral.

We also exploit dairy cows and egg-laying hens throughout their life until they become economically inefficient, at which point we turn them into meat.

In response to the point he makes about the growing human population, eating more animal products is not the solution. Vast amounts of grain feed, water and grazing land are required to keep and feed animals to make meat, dairy and eggs.

On the other hand, lower quantities of crops and water are required to sustain a vegan diet.

In reply to another letter on the same day about labelling meat clearly according to its method of slaughter, it is true that many people are unwittingly eating halal or kosher animal products when they eat out.

However, religious slaughter is just as bad as conventional slaughter.

Animal Aid is the UK’s largest animal rights group. Between 2009 and 2011, it filmed secretly inside nine randomly chosen British slaughterhouses. It found evidence of cruelty and law-breaking in eight of them. The films revealed animals being kicked, slapped, stamped on and picked up by fleeces and ears and thrown into stunning pens.

Even where no laws were broken, animals still suffered pain and fear.

Emma Richards, Halland Road, Brighton

George Adams says that we are the superior species.

Has he seen the papers recently? Modern day slavery, cruelty to children, paedophiles grooming young children for under-age sex, newly unearthed rape cases, cruelty to all animals, bullying by all ages, the elderly ignored or badly treated, those so drugged or boozed up that they don’t care who they kill by driving dangerously – the list is endless...

Superior to what? Superior to whom?

Joan Archer, Rusper Road South, Tarring