Animal Deserves Rights

Animals Deserve Rights

When one thinks about animal rights, one usually thinks about the rights or privileges of men. Perhaps, after a little extra thought, one may wonder: What about the other living creatures that we share the environment with? What rights, if any, should they have? Animals and man have shared this planet since humans first appeared on earth. Animals have provided transportation, food, clothing, shelter, companionship and entertainment and even medical testing for thousands of years. Therefore, it is our duty to treat animals with respect, care and kindness and not cause them undue suffering, because they have, in many ways, made it possible for man to survive on earth and they too deserve rights. "The philosophical foundation of most animal rights groups grows from a view that all living species are equal and equally worthy of dignity and freedom," said Sheldon (1). Animals have come a long way, biologists note that god gave animals to humanity for its use and so human, properly have "dominion" over these creatures. Sheldon stated that, "There for humans' superiority to other animals concede that humankind should take care of animals (1). Animals are given to us by god for use; humans are commended to be good to all living creatures, as gifts from god (1).

Second, animal activists oppose all animal-based medical research. Murray said, "If we had listened to their arguments 50 years ago, children still would be contracting polio (the vaccine was developed in monkeys) (1). Diabetics would not have insulin, a benefit of research on dogs. We would also be without antibiotics for pneumonia, chemotherapy for cancer, surgery for heart diseases, organ transplants and variety of different tests, especially to test the products that we use in our everyday life. An animal have been used to test tobacco, cosmetic products, and sometimes cures for diseases, but these animals are rodents that people could care less about, such as, rats and mice. Animal testing on any animals except rats, mice and other rodents, have been banned (Owen 1). People use animals but only to benefit human beings, so they could live longer and healthier lives. Owen mentions that, "The need for animals to be used in Medical Research will undoubtedly continue to exist for the foreseeable future (1)." "Everyone has reason to thank animal research, and its value to medical progress, it's backed by overwhelming weight of serious scientific opinion," said Owen (1). Third, activists have never been taken seriously because of how violent they've become, but they just want to be heard. There are a lot of different opinions about public support for the Animal-Rights movement and also about whether peaceful protests and destructive acts are having the intended impact (Knickebucker 2). According to Knickerbucker (1), "The number of attacks against such activities is increasingly markedly, including ….. Activists, who are violent, feel like their losing the war and must show more action (2). Even young people are more interested in animal cruelty and many are becoming radical animal activists and very violent (2). Scientist and Activists have been having a war of their own because of how animals and activists themselves are being treated. Plous stated in his article Signs of Change with in the Animal Rights Movement, "If animal researchers will stop trying to portray animal rights activist as terrorists. Then animal rights activist will condemn all violent forms of activism, including arson, break-ins, vandalism, and bomb threats." "If animal researchers hold regular open houses at laboratories and address any problems that the public detects. Then animal rights activist will stop using exaggerated or outdated photographs from animal research that is no longer conducted." "If animal researchers report the number of rats, mice, and birds used in research, even if tallies are not required by law. Then animal rights activists will stop using old or inflated estimates of how many animals are used in research" said Plous (2). Activists have tried to make agreements but people just don't want to listen and that's why they become so violent (1). Fourth, throughout the years hunting has become a regular hobby. Hunters can't wait for hunting season, they say that hunting, fowling, and fishing is the very essence of American self-sufficiency (Johsson 1). These hunters hunt for fun, and they believe that their not bothering anyone, but Americans don't want people hunting around their land (2). "For them shooting game is a much of a god-given right as plowing the land" said Johsson (1). In at least 13 states hunters are trying to unite to make hunting and fishing a right (1). According to Johsson (2), "Even if America is increasingly a suburban nation, polls show that hunting is almost as popular today as it was when Davy Crockett roamed the south." Hunters talk about how hunting is traditional so why are there so many organizations fighting against the right to hunt (1). It's because their taking it to far, Johsson said that, "In 1996, 80 percent of Americans found shooting sports as acceptable as golf and tennis." Animals shouldn't suffer for the unneeded pleasure of people.

Lastly, there are people out there that are killing animals for no good reason who are not hunters, it's the PETA organization. PETA employees are killing many animals that aren't sick, including puppies (Helson 1). What good reason does one have to kill an innocent puppy? Helson (2) says, "We are shelter of last resort offering a human death to animals who would otherwise suffer a slow and painful end." Maybe some animals must be put to sleep but killing over 10,000 cats and dogs seems outrageous. What seems even more shocking is that there are restaurants, food companies, and consumers who make donations to PETA (1). Overall, there are many people who really could care less about these animals, but never bother to think about that if it were one of their children would you want them to be tortured and brutally killed for no good reason? Animals should have rights in this world, we need them, so why not respect them, use them wisely, take them seriously, not mistreated, or kill them for no motive. Killing these animal species off without any purpose but for the pleasure of hunting is cruel. It is not fair to conduct experiments on animals to make sure a product or procedure is safe for us to use or endure. There are no legitimate reasons that an animal's life is worth less than our own. Animals deserve rights just like humans, so why treat them any different?

Citation

Helen, Cothran. "Animals are Equal to Humans."
Animal Experimentation. 2002: Pg 1-3

Helson, Jeff. "PETA Kills Animals." Ontario Out of Doors.
August 2005: Pg12

Johsson, Patrick. "Rights to Hunt V.S. Animal Rights:
What's Fair Game?" Christian Science Monitor. April 3,2002: Pg 1.

Knickebucker, Brad. "Animal Activists get Violent."
Christian Science Monitor. August 29,1997: Pg 1-2.

Murray, Joseph E. "Animal Experimentation Benefits AIDS
Research." Animal Experiment.2000: Pg 1-4 Owen, Ed. "The Danger of Cuddly Extremism." New States Man.
September 12,2005: Pg 20-21.

Plous, S. "Signs of Change with in the Animal Rights Movement.
"ComparativePsychology. March 1998: Pg 1-3.

Sheldon, Garratt Ward. "Animal Rights" Encyclopedia of Political
Thought. 2001:Pg 1-2.