Animal rights

Animal Rights- who does it affect other than the obvious? Everyone all over the world from farmers, activists, Seaworld, tourists, medical researchers, hunters, adoption centers, humane societies, the list goes on. There are many problems that are faced when the topic is brought to light. The definition of animal rights is rights (as to fair and humane treatment) regarded as belonging fundamentally to all animals. One of the most detrimental and disheartening acts of animal abuse is seen in China. The Yulin Dog Meat Festival where a number of dogs are slaughtered. The dog meat industry is said to be worth over $200 million dollars. Campaigns have been established to end this type of treatment and cruelty.

The FBI added cruelty to animals as a category in the Uniform Crime Report, a nationwide crime reporting system. While only about a third of the United States communities participate in the system, the data generated will help create a better picture of animal abuse and guide strategies for intervention and enforcement. The data collection covers four categories: simple/gross neglect, intentional abuse and torture, organized abuse (such as dog-fighting and cockfighting) and animal sexual abuse.

Animal rights goes hand in hand with animal abuse. The fact that animal rights has to be addressed is rather discouraging. There have been at least 1, 000 new animal laws developed. Few animal welfare groups focused on state policy, and fewer still on national policy. Since 1990, HSUS and its affiliates (The Fund for Animals, Doris Day Animal League, and HSLF) have been involved in 42 statewide ballot campaigns, and have won 30, for a 72% win rate, one of the highest of any social movement. With citizens directly voting in favor of animal protection reforms at the ballot box, it has sent a message to lawmakers that there is widespread and bipartisan support for these policies, and has helped to provide support for additional laws passed through representative government.

With new innovations over the last 20 years, there have been new issues to confront. Who ever thought, for example, that the Internet would be used to allow people to shoot animals at canned hunts remotely with the click of a mouse or the stroke of a keyboard? Now, 40 states have taken action to ban Internet hunting. And with the progress made on animal protection issues around the country, our opponents are fighting back with new tactics of their own—such as the “ Ag Gag” laws proposed in Florida, Iowa, and Minnesota to ban journalists and whistleblowers from reporting on factory farm abuse.

There are so many groups actively promoting and advocating for animal rights free from any funding or assistance from the government. However, in my opinion, I do believe that law enforcement and vet clinics should be more actively involved with the welfare of animals. While, most states have laws restricting people from animal abuse, it is still a widely common event. If there is suspect of animal abuse or neglect, these laws should be highly implemented and there should be more consequences for action against the animal owner.

According to the Humane Society, there are two kinds of animal cruelty: direct violence and neglect. Common signs to look for with animal neglect are as follows:

• Direct violence. Signs include open wounds, multiple scars, limping, or difficulty walking. Many dogs that suffer direct violence will also display behaviors such as hiding, walking with their head down and tail between their legs, or cringing when people approach, but since those can also occur for other reasons, those behavioral signs alone shouldn’t be taken as definitive proof that a dog is being hurt.
• Neglect. Neglect the needs of their dog. Signs of neglect include injuries or illnesses that linger untreated, poor living conditions including improper health care, being left outside, mistreated in general.
• Stakeholders: Humane Society. ASPCA. BARC Rescue Group (Local). Local Veterinarians. Local law enforcement officers.
• Solutions to resolve animal cruelty and uphold animal rights-Enforce stricter rules/laws/regulations. More advanced and thorough screening upon adopting from a shelter/rescue group.

I decided to interview regarding Animal Rights, I would interview my sister, she is the Business Manager for River Hills Pet Clinic in Minnesota and has worked for them for 13+ years, she has also volunteered at the local animal petting park and attended seminars across the United States for pet/animal education. I also briefly interview Ms. Henderson who works at an amusement park in Valdosta, Georgia who is the animal keeper for the rhino named Graham.

Question: In your experience and education with animals, what is the most common neglect that you have seen with household pets? Answer: ” Typically neglect. It is very common for pet owners to believe that just because they are feeding their animals or bringing them to the vet when they are sick, that they are caring for their pets, this is not true. Pets and animals that are not accustomed to the wild, require screening, shots, certain types of food and medications. More often than not, if these things were done properly, the animal would not have sick visits”.

Question: What is one thing that the clinic you work for has done to prevent abuse/neglect? Answer:” If there is a situation when the animal is in danger, there are actually several procedures that are followed, we cannot simply just take the animal away without authority. However, if there are any signs of abuse, we have animal control involved and then we keep the animal until it is well again, then if someone in the clinic does not want to adopt the pet, we usually place the animal in a no kill shelter or adoption center.

Do you have suggestions on how we as a society can go about making animal rights more prevalent? Answer: ” Yes, absolutely. If there were more screenings before adopting, more laws in placebefore breeders were able to breed their pets, then there would be less cause for euthanasia in the over-run shelters. We see an over-flow of cats mostly, because they are usually stray and keep breeding”.

Question for Animal-keeper: What have you experienced in your time actively advocating for animals? Any issues? Answer:” One of the most informative conferences I attended was Rhino Conservation in Texas, certain animals are becoming more and more extinct and the issues we face mostly are trophy hunters.

So many hunters illegally shoot and kill animals simply for the reward in their eyes, what can be done? More conservation for these extinct animals. Sure, they live in the wild but these areas need to be more protected.”

Policy Recommendation

According to the local newspaper, Valdosta Daily Times, a dog was recently shot by a police officer after a 10 year-old boy was attacked. The owner of the dog was charged with restriction of confinement, nuisance animal, and failure to provide proof of rabies. While, it is never acceptable for any one of anything to hurt another human being, why was the first response to kill the animal? Shouldn’t law enforcement officials be prepared for these scenarios or even call for assistance and the animal could have been tranquilized and taken for assessment and care? How is this the dog’s fault? Yes, he was aggressive. However, dogs are not born mean, they are taught by their owner’s. While the owner did receive ramifications, why was it necessary to kill an animal simply because he was not under the proper care of his owner?

The definition for animal rights is the idea in which some, or all, non-human animals are entitled to the possession of their lives and that their most basic interests, such as the need to avoid suffering should be afforded the same consideration as similar interests of human beings. Would a police officer shoot and kill a human simply for being a nuisance and biting a child? Probably not. At least, I would hope not. I realize that animals and pets can be dangerous but that is why there are other methods of containment in these situations.

Rescue groups are readily available and often successful in sheltering an animal and providing it with the care it needs including those with temperament issues or special needs. Many volunteers work day in and day out to ensure the safety and well-being of all pets. I propose stricter laws governing the care of animals. Law Enforcement officials should be required to not overlook a situation where a dog may be being neglected such as chained up without water in the backyard, no food, no pet records of vet care. I also propose more loopholes to be jumped through in order to breed, adopt, or purchase and animal and the process must be reported to the county so that the animal is registered of record with their owner and required to provide necessary documentation of well-visit exams, exams, etc. on a quarterly basis.

Why are we overlooking that pets/animals are capable of being therapy dogs, best friends, seeing eye dogs, drug dogs, etc. but we aren’t giving them all the same chance? Just because one person decides not to provide adequate care doesn’t mean that we should be punishing the animal.

Efforts to stop and control animal abuse/neglect

• ASPCA-Monthly donations to assist in animal neglect, dogfighting, puppy mills, hoarding.
• Reporting to law enforcement when an animal is being abused.
• Local events including animal rescue organizations that provide education and donations are made directly to the rescue centers.

Not every animal can be saved or rescued from abuse and neglect. Even when proper action is taken to prevent the animal from further harm. A particular local case where law enforcement, animal control, and other citizens were involved in actually took the dog owner to court to fight him on his rights to keep the dog. The dog in question was malnourished, his bones were protruding from his body, he had mange, he was dehydrated but yet the dog owner won back the rights to the animal with the argument that the dog simply did not eat or drink water. He was fined but was still able to keep the dog. Success stories happen everyday. Many fosters in the rescue groups and centers will take on the care of an animal and become so attached that it ends up becoming their own.