History, Issues, Landmarks, Laws, Stakeholders, and the Bible
INTRODUCTION In December 11, 2013 a group of Animal Rights activists from the Indiana Animal Rights Alliance was protesting near the Bankers Life Fieldhouse, an indoor arena located in Indianapolis, Indiana. Up to 100 activists showed up at the Fieldhouse before each performance; some of the activists came from as far away as Kentucky to support the cause. Their protests were based against the practices used by the Ringling Brothers Circus to train and take care of animals. Only few people stopped to talk to the members of the association, while several others yelled “shut up.”i According to Lori Lovely, “One father encouraged his two-year-old-daughter to ‘say it, say it!’ She uttered an expletive to the demonstrators.”ii People were not being receptive of the issue pertaining animal abuse. Linda Cridge, an activist of the animal rights said, "They try not to look at us because they don't want to know the truth."iii According to the article, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Animal Protection Institute had filed a lawsuits against the Ringling Brothers Circus for the mistreatment and use of endangered species. The lawsuit was filed specially because of the abuse the circus inflicts to the elephants they exploit. “Elephants are social, they shouldn’t be treated like this,”iv said Carrie Knight, from Greenwood, who came because of her love for animals.v (See Appendix A to read the full case.)
Animal Rights is the affection and kind treatment offered to every animal without discrimination. Animal Rights involves treating animals with respect and investing in their best interests, regardless if the animal is “cute” or useful to humans.vi The importance of Animal Rights is to protect animals from being abused and exploited. Animal Rights also protects endangered species from extinction. According to Tom Regan, “Animal Rights is to treat humans and other