animal exploitation

The circus: does it exploit animals? Why isn’t someone protesting this? I have read that it Does exploit them. How about zoos?
Personally, I see no attraction of going to the circus or a zoo.

The circus: does it exploit animals?

Wild animals being forced to perform tricks that are not normal to the animals and are done just for the enjoyment of the audience? You tell me if this exploits animals.

Why isn’t someone protesting this?

I remember hearing about Bob Barker and a group for animal rights speaking to the U.S. government a few weeks ago about considering a ban on performances of circus animals. One of the reasons for the ban was that the animals were abused and treated very harshly by the trainers to force the animals to do the tricks. Another reason was the risk of the animals getting revenge on the trainers for all the abuse and the out-of-control animals injuring innocent people.

I have read that it Does exploit them.

Good for you.

How about zoos?
Personally, I see no attraction of going to the circus or a zoo.

Comparing a zoo to an animal circus is a bit of a stretch. Although the animals in the zoos are confined in a space, they are not treated with such abuse as the circus animals. Also, zoos are sanctuaries for some animals who wouldn’t survive in the wild.

I think the circus comes dangerously close to exploiting animals. However, places like zoos, water world use entertainment as a way of education. For example, when I went to Six Flags and saw some elephants do some tricks, at first I was uncomfortable with the thought of trained animals to entertain the masses. But then I realized that in order to educate, you must first get people’s attention. If making them laugh at watch an elephant balance on two feet forces them to learn about how elephants live, breed, and function, well then, so be it.

Some years ago there was a discussion about banning horse drawn carriages in Washington DC (it was passed and they were banned AFAIK)

Again I can see both sides of the issue here but I remember some footage from the news and found it so ironic. They were shooting outdoors, in the sweltering heat, the poor horse… in fact the horse was just standing there and it did not seem like they were overworked as most of the time there were no passengers.

In the background a bunch of hispanic workers digging a trench in the street in the same sweltering conditions. Any pity for them? Nah! They do it because they want to unlike the poor horsies…

Only in America :slight_smile:

BTW if you are concerned about animal welfare you should never go to China or you’ll be sick. They have no concept of kindness to animals.

It seems that the animals LIKE to do those “tricks”, and enjoy it, especially the rewards. And what is wrong with an animal working for its food & keep? We do.

Yes they are exploiting animals. But then I’m contributing to the exploitation of animals every time I eat one of them. PETA has a big problem with circus animals. Well, not the animals themselves mind you but their exploitation at the hands of the evil humans.

Marc

pepperlandgirl:

This, folks, is the same person who has a problem with PETA telling children where their dinner came from and how it got there. Apparently torturing animals is OK for any end whatsoever, but trying to help them is not.

Daniel:

I’d like it as well, if the alternative was an electric shock or a beating. Well, at least until all the independent spirit was completely sapped out of me and I was little more than a slave.

Say, how many of these animals walked up to the Barnum & Bailey front office and asked for job applications?

Wonderful, Phil! Wonderful! You go, my man!

Just yesterday I read that there is a bill in congress to stop the use of elephants in carnivals and circuses. I can’t remember how I got to it but I’m sure it can be validated. Don’t know though whether or not congress will ever get around to bothering with it.

Needs2know

In a world full of sick and hungry people I have a hard time crying over circus animals.

Well, labdude, nobody would ever ask you to clutter your obviously expansive mind with more than one idea at a time. :rolleyes: