Humane Treatment of Animals

Students will be able to:Give reasons why some people disagree with raising

animals for food.Explain how research using animals has helped humans.Give examples of animal cruelty.Demonstrate safe practices in animal care.Define the humane treatment of animalsDeal with conflicting views of animal treatment

Objectives

Cruelty-is indifference to suffering

Animal Cruelty - the willful mistreatment of animals

Animal Husbandry - the science of raising and breeding livestock

Castration- the removal of the male testicles

Elastrator- the band to castrate animals and docking their tails

Branding- marking animals for identification

Ethics-the moral principles governing or influencing conduct

Definitions

We interact with animals in many different wayspetsfoodclothingzoosleather goodsmedicines, shampoos, etc.hunting

Why do we raise animals??

We raise animals in order to cloth and feed our society. We also have certain animals for companionship.

Fair Treatment of AnimalsAnimals should:Be given adequate amounts of food and waterBe given proper medications when neededBe allowed adequate amounts of roomBe given suitable living conditionsBe stress-free

Activist vs. ProducersActivists see the places where animals are mass produced as ‘animal factories’ where producers only care about money.

Producers are in the business because they enjoy animals and have their best interests at heart.

CrueltyPeople have different views as to what is

cruel: Tagging/Notching BrandingOver-feeding/Malnutrition Castration Slaughtering PracticesRecreational use of Animals Why????What practices have you seen that you believe are cruel??

Is this animal cruelty?Keeping a dog in the house all day while you

are at work?Riding a horse?Keeping a bird in a cage?Forcing a cat to eat a vegetarian diet?

Groups that do or may oppose Livestock shows

PETA-People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals

Buck the Rodeo

Possible confrontation with animal rights activist

Many of these groups or individuals may confront producers, students and teachers.

What would you do? How should each of these be handled?

-A group of protestors have placed themselves in cages as part of a demonstration.- A person approaches you at a livestock show and begins questioning how you are treating your animal.

The entire idea behind most groups is to get people fired up so that they will in turn do something stupid to make the news.

Safe Practices Make sure that your animals have plenty

of food and water at all times.Watch for disease.Allow them to have plenty of room.Never mistreat the animal by hitting or

kicking them.

Animal By-Products

PerfumeMakeupMedicinesClothingGelatin Film CandlesToothpasteChewing Gum

A person commits the offense of aggravated cruelty to animals when he or she knowingly and maliciously causes death or physical harm to an animal by rendering a part of such animal's body useless or by seriously disfiguring such animal. A person convicted of the offense of aggravated cruelty to animals shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than one nor more than five years, a fine not to exceed $15,000.00, or both, provided that any person who is convicted of a second or subsequent violation of this subsection shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than one nor more than five years, a fine not to exceed the amount provided by Code Section 17-10-8, or both.

Laws

Animals as Objects of Respect

Animals as Rights Holders

Models of the Relationship between Humans and Animals

In this view, animals--and their pain--are seen as having some moral standing in the human world, even if it is not equivalent to human standing.

We are urged to reduce animals suffering unless there is a strong human benefit for such suffering (e.g., medical research with animals).

Animals as Objects of Respect

Animals are seen as holders of rightsWhat entitles a being to rights?

Some rights-conferring characteristicsintelligencesoul

What rights do animals have?LifeLife in natural habitat

Animals as Rights Holders

The exact argument here is not clear, but it seems to be that, if animals suffer as a result of our actions, then we should refrain from those actions.

Questions:Would killing animals be permissible if they felt

no fear or pain?Might alternatives sometimes produce more

pain—e.g., animal experimentation to develop human life-saving drugs.

Compassion for Suffering

"If the death of one rat cured all diseases,it wouldn't make any difference to me.“

 --Chris DeRose, director, Last Chance for Animals, as quoted in Elizabeth Venantand  David Treadwell, "Biting Back," Los Angeles Times, April 12, 1990

"I'm an insulin-dependent diabetic. Twice a day I take synthetically manufactured insulin that still containssome animal products--and I have no qualms about it." Sweetland adds, "I don't see myself as a hypocrite. I need my life to fight for the rights of animals."

-Mary Beth Sweetland,  PETA

Another argument against eating animals is that vegetarianism is healthier.

The argument seems to have this structure:Eating meat causes many health problemsVegetarianism/Vegan does not cause health

problemsWe should avoid meat and be

vegetarians/Vegans.Questions:

Should we always do what is maximally healthy?

Who should get to decide?

The Argument from Health

Some animals exhibit a high level of intelligence that requires a new level of human consideration.

Do we need to treat highly intelligent animals differently than less intelligent animals?

The Argument from Animal Intelligence

Some animal experimentation is avoidable or redundant

Can animal suffering count, even if it doesn’t count as much as human suffering?

Three R’s:Reduce the number of animals used to a

minimum Refine the way experiments are carried out, to

make sure animals suffer as little as possible Replace animal experiments with non-animal

techniques wherever possible.

Medical Experimentation

Should animals be held in captivity for humans to view?Promotes animal welfare programs

Should we try to preserve animal species that may otherwise die out?

Wild Animals, Zoos, and Animal Preservation

To end all human "exploitation" of animals -this includes, but is not limited to, raising and slaughtering of livestock for human oranimal consumption, eating meat, hunting, using animals for any medical or veterinary research, zoos (regardless of how wellmanaged), circuses, rodeos, horseshows, dogshows, animals performing in TV commercials, shows or movies (regardless of how well treated any of the above are), guide-dogs for the blind, police dogs, search& rescue dogs, and the practice of owning pets.

Animal Rights view point

PETA –People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals

HSUS - Humane Society Of The United States

ALF - Animal Liberation Front

Group Classifications

Several of PETA's latest exploits have been their campaign to speak to children at McDonald's restaurants and to hand them literature designed to frighten them from drinking milk.

"I openly hope that it comes here." Ingrid Newkirk, PETA Co-Founder, on her desire for a USA hoof-and-mouth epidemic.

"...the animal rights movement is notconcerned about species extinction. An elephant is no more or less important than a cow, just as a dolphin is no more important than a tuna...(In fact, many animal rights advocates would argue that it is better for the chimpanzee to become extinct than to be exploited continually in laboratories, zoos and circuses."

Feb. 4Fire set at scientist's houseAn incendiary device is ignited on the porch of UCLA professor Edythe London's house in Westside, Los Angeles. London conducts animal research. On Oct. 20, 2007, the same house was flooded with a garden hose.

Feb. 4Fire set at scientist's houseAn incendiary device is ignited on the porch of UCLA professor Edythe London's house in Westside, Los Angeles. London conducts animal research. On Oct. 20, 2007, the same house was flooded with a garden hose.

Aug. 13Mink farm raid in Massachusetts500 mink are released at Carmel Fur Farm in Hinsdale. Many are killed on a nearby highway. Breeding records lost. Estimated damage: $75,000 to $100,000.

Dec. 18Bird farm raided in New JerseyAbout 2,500 birds are released from Griggstown Quail Farm in Somerset County. All are believed to have died in traffic and from cold. ALF claims guilt. Damage: $80,000.

Apr. 29Pet ferret farm attackedUSA: Pet ferrets are released, breeding records destroyed in Howard Lake, MN, in a case of mistaken identity for mink. ALF claims guilt.

To prevent suffering and cruelty to animals.  And to provide care and good homes for pets in need.  This often includes, but is not limited to, the funding and running of animal shelters (to provide a sanctuary for abandoned, abused, homeless, or unwanted pets, and to place them in good homes where possible, provide painless euthanasia for those that cannot be adopted, and to educate the public about the need for spaying/neutering their pets to prevent more surplus animals ending up in shelters), enforcement of anti-cruelty statutes (where their authority permits),initiating, lobbying for, and monitoring enforcement of legislation to ensure more humane standards of care for livestock, laboratory animals, performing animals, and pets.

Animal Welfare view point

AHA - American Humane Association

ASPCA - American Society For The         Prevention Of Cruelty To Animals

Group Classifications

"In the early 1990s when the demand for fur was lower and trappers were going out less, in many areas people immediately began seeing problems caused by beaver. When this happens, the wildlife department has to go out to hunt beavers, trap them and break up dams at the taxpayers' expense. It's at these times that you start to see the management role that the trade plays.“

Alan Herscovici

"While our survival depends on the use of other species, we need not and should not use them cruelly or wastefully."

"We have a right to the benefits of nature but these will not be available unless we care for the system that provides them."