Animal rights protestors criticised for demonstrating outside children’s hospital

‘Someone has to speak on behalf of the deer’

Demonstrators have been criticised for protesting outside a children’s hospital in Brisbane during a Christmas celebration in order to raise awareness of the “exploitation” of the reindeer involved.

The young patients at Queensland Children’s Hospital, some of whom suffer from rare forms of cancer, were taking photographs with the animals who had been dressed to look like one of Santa’s reindeer.

They were interrupted when a group of eight animal rights activists began filming them and handing out leaflets about animal cruelty.

Police soon intervened and ordered the demonstrators to move across the road, where they continued to watch the celebrations before being moved along.

One protestor named Daniel Heggie explained why he was so keen to voice his concerns.

“Under the costumes and sleigh, these deer are exploited animals,” he told Brisbane Times.

“Someone has to speak on behalf of the deer, because they don’t have a voice.”

The protestors were condemned on social media, with many taking issue at their choice of timing and location.

“I’m all for standing up for what you believe in but how could you ruin a little bit of joy these children can have at this time of year, especially if they have to spend it in hospital away from their own home,” wrote one person on Facebook.

“Time and a place to show your beliefs,” another added, “this was not it and is low and pathetic.”

Despite the disruption, parents and children in attendance on the day said they enjoyed the festivities.

Maddison, 6, who was diagnosed with an aggressive form of soft tissue cancer 18 months ago, was among the patients taking part and her mother, Vanessa Challen, explained how her daughter had been “so excited” to meet the animals.

“It means the world to us to have this experience. We had a big scare with Maddison’s scans last week, so this has made her really happy,” she said.