REGARDING Mrs Mary Stanton's pet monkey, Joe, (LET, August 17), it would have been better all round for the monkey to have grown up in the jungle.

But, surely, in view of all the neglected dogs, left to howl away their miserable, unloved lives in filthy back yards, cold, wet and half-starved, the tortured, ill-treated cats and bullied and beaten horses (ask any animal sanctuary), by comparison, Joe, being loved, warm, dry, fed and growing up with a host of other animals -- parakeets, budgies etc -- that Mrs Stanton owns and loves, must surely be a thousand times better.

Wouldn't we be a lot happier, in cosy country cottages, stately homes or detached houses with gardens and orchards? But we have to make do with what we've got -- a two-up, two down, with a window box.

I cannot but think of the title of James Herriot's book and the famous verse by Margaret Farrant: "He prayeth best who loveth best all creatures great and small."

Some may say Mrs Stanton loves, not wisely, but too well, I say that she loves wisely and very well.

She has made the animals and birds her friends and they trust her and love her. I'm sure that if a fund was put up and donations of say 50p were accepted, with 20p from children, the £1,000 or so needed to fight her case to keep Joe would soon be collected.

This world needs more Mrs Stantons and fewer rules and regulations.

EILEEN BURROWS, Redlam, Blackburn.