The Pros And Cons Of Animal Rights

In the article “PETA urges L.A. to ban all wild animals from circus performances”, Alexia Fernandez highlights the speed with which animal activists go in order to free wild animals from being used in circuses. According to the spokesman for the Ringling Bros, after L.A. “banned circuses from using bullhooks to manage elephants” in 2014, PETA activists demanded that circuses remove wild animals from their performances and Barnum & Bailey Circus begged to differ by arguing that animals in their facilities are taken good care of and are not mistreated (Fernandez, 2016). In conclusion, both sides of the arguments believe that neither is misinformed.

Some might ask what cosmetic animal testing truly entails. Companies use small animals such as mice, rabbits, and guinea pigs to test the safety and hypoallergenic properties of their products before releasing them to the public. Numerous tests are run for a singular product, such as the Draize test, the Acute Toxicity test, and the Skin Irritation test. The notorious Draize test shows the “irritation or damage caused by chemicals by putting them into the eyes of rabbits” (Abbott 144; Mcnamee et al.). After the substance is applied onto or into the eyes, they wait and see if there is any sign of eye irritation, corrosion, or permanent blindness. The Acute Toxicity

Hunting is not a form of animal cruelty because its serves a purpose to the population of certain animals. Animal cruelty is when people force pain on animals which lead them to suffer a slow agonizing death. This is a large moral issue today that just keeps growing into a nationwide problem. For instance, morally humans believe it is okay to harm non-domesticated animals rather than domesticated animals such as our pets. Domesticated animals and non-domesticated animals still have behavioral instincts. A domesticated dog will attack if threatened and a non-domesticated wolf would do the same. Thinking of ourselves as the dominate species is untrue in the state that animals kill other animals for food, just as we as hunters do and anyone who eats animal products. Many will ask what the differences are between hunting, poaching, and true animal cruelty.

Animal testing is harsh and brutal treatment. These innocent animals are force fed, deprived of food and water, locked up for long periods of time, inflicted with burns, wounds and pain from the recovery process, and even killed. Cosmetic companies will often spray or apply products to the eyes of animals to make

Animal rights activists have rallied and petitioning for an animal bill of rights because they are stating that animals are only being considered “property” by law, being no different than a table and chair. The Animal Legal Defense Fund is really passionate about the document being published even having specific rights for animals with numbers and strong evidence to back up each right and claim, leaving little detail out. Also, in the article “A Change of Heart About Animals” written by Jeremy Rifkin states “What these researchers are finding is that many of our fellow creatures are more like us than we had ever imagined” (Rikin 2). I agree with his statement, because animals and humans have many similarities pointed out by many researchers over the many years. Rifkin provides specific evidence like Koko the gorilla, who passed an IQ test with a score of 70-95 or close to that range. I think it's pretty outstanding, depressing, and convenient that Koko is smarter than a majority than humans. There was also a parrot named Alex, who could communicate with it's owner. Alex was able to tell her owner how many of each colored shape was on a plate, he then asked for a glass of water and I think that is incredible that a bird was able to communicate with a human and they were both able to understand each other.

“The Draize Eye Test is used to test shampoos, weed-killers, pesticides and household detergents. The substance under test is sprayed or instilled into one eye of a rabbit. Generally, no anesthesia is administered and the test often proceeds for 7 -14 days, during which the cornea, iris and conjunctiva are examined for signs of opacity, ulceration, hemorrhage, redness, swelling and discharge. The rabbit’s eye is then monitored over several days for signs of healing or deterioration. Typical reactions include tears, swelling, inflammation , bleeding and even blindness. Not only does this test cause immense suffering to the animals used, but it is also known to be unreliable and imprecise”(onegreenplanet). Animals are being tested on and being killed for humans humans don’t deserve all the animals in the world they are alive for a reason. And NO that reason is not for them to be tested on the reason they are alive is for them to live the best possible life they can, and same goes for

The way in which animals are treated during testing is enough to make one's stomach turn. Starved, burned, shocked; the list goes on. For example, monkeys are restrained while chemicals are injected into their skin and eyes. Metal bolts are also screwed into their heads and shocked with electrodes. PETA states that “every year, more than 100,000 primates are experimented on in the United States.” Evidence has been uncovered showing sedated mothers struggling to stay awake and comfort their panicked babies, while scientists laugh in the background. Additionally, thousands of rabbits are victims everyday to the Draize Eye Test, where rabbits are physically restrained while chemicals are placed into their eyes to determine the effects. The products stay in the animals’ eyes for weeks at a time and cause extreme pain and blindness. This may seem like the most horrific thing an animal subject could endure, but it is not even the worst one of all; the list goes on. The horror never stops either: for their entire lives, the innocent

Did you know that 56 billion animals are slaughtered each year? People believe that farmers are abusing and causing stress on the animals. Farmers use confined feeding operations to maximize the production. By having the confined feeding operations, it gives the animals no room to graze. When they can’t graze, it restricts the animal to move or to exercise (“On The Farm”). The animals are not given any pain relief during certain practices like castration or dehorning. Animal welfare is not needed in the farming aspect, because the animals are meant for food.

For years, society has the controversy of allowing veterinarians to legally perform ear cropping and tail docking as a cosmetic surgery on dogs or perceived as crossing the line of animal cruelty; yet, the aspect of animal cruelty comes into action after surgery, during the recovering process of “taping and bandaging that sometimes needs to be done after the surgery amounts to animal cruelty and is indefensible” (Dunn) [Figure 1]. In other words, your companion has to go through a painful recovery that is inhumane in order for the results to turn out “normal”, and it cannot be denied. This does not include the unexpected future risk and problems that could arise at any moment just to change your dog’s appearance. Although animals cannot express their opinion, research suggests not to allow owners to perform tail docking and ear cropping procedures on their dog because of the risk and health problems affiliated with this painful procedure.

The most popular argument made against researching on animals is that it is cruel and inhumane. The methods researchers use on animals are very painful. Animals used in experiments are commonly force-fed, forced inhalation of any substance, food and water deprived, prolonged periods of restraint, and purposely caused burns and other wounds to study the healing process. A test that shows its cruelty towards animals is the Draize test. This test involves rabbits; the rabbits are used to evaluate the eyes reaction to cosmetic products. This test involves having the rabbit’s eyelids being held open by clips for multiple days so they wont blink away the product. The test is used to measure

Throughout history morality has been a topic of intense debate. Innumerable thinkers have devoted immense amounts of time and energy to the formulation of various ethical theories intended to assist humans in their daily lives. These theories set out guidelines which help to determine the rightness or wrongness of any given action and can therefore illuminate which choice would be morally beneficial. And while many of these theories differ substantially, most have at least one common underlying principle, namely that humans deserve to be treated with a certain level of respect. This idea comes from the belief that all humans have interests which are significant enough to be considered, hence no one should impede another

Another point why animal testing is wrong is because of the brutal things that happen to the animals. For example, the Draize Test is used on white albino rabbits. They use white albino rabbits because of their sensitive eyes. In this process scientist, rub shampoo, soap, toothpaste or lawn products into their beautiful red eyes. Then they record the damage, they have observed. The test lasts up to 18 days, with the poor animals eyelids held open with a clip. Many of the rabbits end up with broken necks trying to escape from terrifying pain. First, it is unreasonable to keep the product in their eye that long. Not even a child would keep a product in their eye that long. The whole experiment was unnecessary to do. The eye tissue of a rabbit is very different from a human eye tissue. The pain they go through had no benefits.

The study of good and bad, right and wrong, moral principles or value held by a person or society, promoting human welfare, maximizing freedom minimizing pain and suffering is called ethics. The discipline that studies the moral relationship of human beings and also the value and moral status of the environment and its non-human contents is called environmental ethics. It considers the ethical relationship between the humans and the environment. Animal and animal rights are the highlighted topic in the environmental ethics.

Seems rhetorical, but the fact is animals live through this everyday, without even given the choice. As humans, we establish our authority among all living beings, but for what reasons? Are humans better than all other species? Or is it true that we should hold a precedence over nonhuman animals? The ultimate question then remains, should animals have as much or equal to the same rights as humans? Their are endless arguments for and against this question, and many sub arguments that go hand in hand with each side. In this paper, I will discuss the definition of what animal rights entails and expand on the history that developed it’s meaning. Furthermore, I will thoroughly discuss, reason, and explain each opinion presented by our current society as well as the positions held by previous philosophers. Lastly, I will draw a conclusion to the opinions presented by discussing my personal position on the argument of animal rights.

The statement by Paul McCartney rings true, “If slaughterhouses had glass walls everyone would be a vegetarian.” Animal rights is a concept which people hardly ever consider in a serious light. Being born as a human being, having a superior mental capacity and sense of times makes people think that they can rule this world and use other living beings as they see fit. This mentality leads to people say things like “animals are born to eaten” or how Aristotle claimed “all of the nature exist specifically for the sake of men” and “that animal are merely instruments for humankind.” (Pg. 495). This way of thinking often leads to overconsumption of animals, cruelty to animals and loss of species.