Verified Document

Animal Rights - Animal Abuse Term Paper

The fur industry is well-known to house minks and other animals raised for their coats in cruel conditions and to kill them by such devices as anal electrical probes designed to kill without damaging fur (HSUS 2007). The problem is that the underlying rationale for criminalizing animal cruelty is that animals (even those defined as "pests") feel physical pain the same as animals protected as "pets" in our culture. Unfortunately, the fact that killing an animal by drowning is legal does nothing to diminish its suffering.

In that respect, it is curious that so many people seem to believe that animals raised for slaughter deserve no protection from cruelty. Even many of those who support animal cruelty laws completely understand that animals raised for the slaughter house (or for harvesting their fur) can be housed humanely and in compassionate circumstances and in horribly cruel torturous conditions. Just last week, hidden video shot in a major cattle slaughter facility was widely publicized, prompting the largest beef recall in the nation.

While the reason for the recall relates to fear of Mad Cow disease, the video of animals too weak to stand being prodded by electrical cattle prods and shoved around by loading sleds also depicts the appalling lack of humanity associated with the beef industry. Except for the connection to potential transmission of disease to human beings, it is doubtful that the same video would have had much public interest. Animal rights organizations like People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) have been documenting...

In principle, they are right to oppose medical testing on animals, especially in connection with cosmetics and other non-essential products rather than important medical research into human disease. Similarly, even the fact that family pets are considered "chattel" (property) under civil law and only worth their purchase price when killed accidentally is inconsistent with the fact that pets can be, in a very real sense, family members.
Ultimately, the recent passage of felony animal cruelty laws in Hawaii represent progress, but cultural attitudes must still change further to eliminate animal cruelty in society.

References

The Humane Society of the United States; Press Release: Hawaii Set to Become 43rd State with Felony Animal Cruelty Law (4/13/07). Retrieved from the Human Society of the United States website, at: www.hsus.org/press_and_publications/press_releases/hawaii_felony_animal_cruelty.html

Innes, B. (2007) Serial Killers: The Stories of History's Most Evil Murderers. London: Quercas

Moussaieff Mason, J., McCarthy, S. (1995) When Elephants Weep: The Emotional Lives of Animals. New York: Bantam.

Schmalleger, F. (1997) Criminal Justice Today: An Introductory Text for the 21st Century. New Jersey: Prentice Hall

Sources used in this document:
References

The Humane Society of the United States; Press Release: Hawaii Set to Become 43rd State with Felony Animal Cruelty Law (4/13/07). Retrieved from the Human Society of the United States website, at: www.hsus.org/press_and_publications/press_releases/hawaii_felony_animal_cruelty.html

Innes, B. (2007) Serial Killers: The Stories of History's Most Evil Murderers. London: Quercas

Moussaieff Mason, J., McCarthy, S. (1995) When Elephants Weep: The Emotional Lives of Animals. New York: Bantam.

Schmalleger, F. (1997) Criminal Justice Today: An Introductory Text for the 21st Century. New Jersey: Prentice Hall
Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

Animal Testing There Are Individuals
Words: 1907 Length: 6 Document Type: Research Paper

By using animals in research, and through animal research science learns how certain chemicals "interact with living systems"; this knowledge can be "translated into protection of humans, animals, and the environment from toxic levels of natural -- as well as man-made -- exposures (SOT, 6). Legal and professional accountability In Canada there are Research Ethics Boards (REBs) that have the power to authorize or reject funding for experiments with animals; when

Animals in Captivity Zoological Parks
Words: 1788 Length: 6 Document Type: Term Paper

The well-being of an animal, preservation of species and biological diversity is always given first priority when it comes to deciding upon the appropriateness of research to be undertaken (Lin, 2013). It reaches a point in time when some animals have to be released to the wild from the zoos. This is normally conducted in accordance with IUCN/SSC/Reintroduction Specialist group guidelines. Before the animals are released to the wild, they

Right to Carry Handguns for Self-Protection: The
Words: 2532 Length: 8 Document Type: Essay

Right to Carry Handguns for Self-Protection: The right to carry handguns for law abiding citizens has been a continual social and political debate about the restriction or availability of firearms within the country. Actually, the right to carry handguns has developed to become one of the major controversial and intractable issues within the social and political environments in the nation. The main reason attributed to the development of this controversial issue

Rights and Developing Countries
Words: 1742 Length: 6 Document Type: Essay

Rights and Developing Countries Human rights are essential to protect humanity and development. Human rights represent rights of an individual, a community or a society. Human rights violation in the current world has its consequences on the offender. There are organizations that fund human rights activists. The need to uphold human right has made governments formulate policies, create institutions, and laws that promote human rights. Developing countries have policies that protect

Abused and Neglected Children an
Words: 1604 Length: 5 Document Type: Term Paper

Lastly, children that are abused and neglect tend to turn to spousal abuse and battering or intimate partner violence in adult life. The studies associate intimate partner violence with exposure to neglect, abuse, and witnessing parental violence in childhood (Widom & White, 2003). Moreover, children exposed to violence at home develop the same behaviors, by becoming more aggressive, and violence. This violence and aggression is alter turned to their peers

Abuse: Effects of Abuse in Children Abuse:
Words: 1702 Length: 6 Document Type: Term Paper

Abuse: Effects of abuse in children Abuse: Effects and Impacts on Children The purpose of this paper is to research the subject of childhood abuse in view of what is suffered both immediately and on the long-term basis in relation to the child's psychological, biological and social development. Child abuse is all too common in today's world and is a subject that is almost daily splashed across the news. Physical abuse is by Merck

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now