I AM not an anti-testing terrorist from the lunatic fringe but I am a teacher leading a peaceful life with my family and two dogs, hoping to appeal to law-abiding members of our community with or without pets.

My young niece, who is passionate about animals, has made me aware the EU has commissioned a programme called REACH which calls for the testing and re-testing of thousands of chemicals on animals.

It is estimated more than five million animals will suffer and ultimately die.

I like to think I buy products which are not tested on animals, but she has made me aware most of the hygiene and cleaning products I use have been tested on animals.

Ironically one of the offenders is IAMS dog food. Anything by Proctor and Gamble will have been tested on animals.

Thankfully, there are compassionate companies among them - Waitrose, The Co-op, John Lewis, Kwiksave, New Look and Next.

I am appealing to people to visit BUAV.org - a respectable organisation working against testing on animals - or lush.co.uk, a shop selling beauty products which is currently collecting signatures for a petition to send to the Government and the RSPCA.

I expect many people will wonder why I put animals before humans. I don't. But animals have as much right to live without pain and torture as we do.

SARAH CHANT
West Wickham