Aesthetics and well-being

I THOUGHT your editorial letter of April 7 addressed the central issue of the recent discussion of mutations in bird varieties.

Likewise, Roger Everard’s letter in the May 12 issue addressed what his experience has been of some of the mutation psittacines. I have no experience of those birds, but Mr Everard concisely explained the process of human exploitation of animals.

In the dog-breeding world over the years, the human idea of what is aesthetically pleasing has had clear detrimental welfare effects on some breeds: spaniel rage, German Shepherds with strange backs, deaf Dalmatians, Chihuahuas