Animal Kingdom 54

Animal Kingdom Humans have always had an interaction with animals since the beginning of time. They hunted animals for survival, and humans were their prey. However, scientists believe that our ancient relatives “treated the animals with respect. ”(Stetson). So why do we continue to consume and brutally murder, and torture animals for the means of food and clothing when there is this claim to “love” and “care for” animals? We should treat all animals with kindness and respect. We should learn to understand them and not treat them as equals.

We owe it to animals to show empathy and treat them better to become better people at heart. Animals such as dogs or cats kept as pets hold strong companionships with their owners in our society. Some humans consider animals to be mindless while others don’t, but I believe that they are capable of love, emotion, and thought process. Although, animals do not speak a language we can understand we can certainly see their intelligence. They’re capable of unconditional love and learning. Humans should have respect to our fellow non human animals.

There are so many animals that serve a purpose in this life than just being a pet or for a means of food or entertainment. Dogs, for example are particularly helpful as certified service animals to help the blind. There are stories all over the nation of the selfless acts animals perform to save humans from death or accidents. Hurting poor defenseless animals is just cruel and inhumane and really says a lot about the person’s character that would actually do such a thing. The characteristics of animals are similar to those of humans.

They care for their young just like human parents nurture their young. They’re capable of showing affection, happiness, and sadness. So how is that not proof of feeling? Animals have different characteristics just like those similar to humans. But they rely more on animal instinct than anything else. We as humans rely more on logic. Animal abuse happens all over through various forms such as animal entertainment, animal testing, and hunting. These animals that are being used in the media industry, fights, circuses, and lab testing are treated poorly and these events sometimes even lead to death.

What do these actions say about humans? How can we carry out these inhumane acts where animals are being hunted for their fur, tusks, and feathers? People who are associated with trading animals for consumption treat the animals most cruelly. Those individuals care more about their profits than treating animals with respect. “We know what we see on undercover videos of factory farms and slaughterhouses is wrong. (There are those who will defend a system that allows for occasional animal cruelty, but no one defends the cruelty, itself. )” (Foer 431).

I don’t believe that eating meat can actually be a form of animal abuse, but “We have so internalized this behavior-“meat”-eating-that we do not even recognize it as a choice, but rather blindly accept it as a normal and necessary way of life; “meat” consumption is ‘just the way it is. ’” (Garbato). No one should be forced to stop eating animal “meat” because it is a choice that we all have. “Food is not rational. Food is culture, habit, craving and identity. ” (Foer 431). The horrific treatments of animals in factories which are later bought for consumption should have stricter regulations.

Animals shouldn’t have to suffer and be tortured in so many ways for our essentials. “100 years ago, animals were considered nothing more than possessions; the properties of humans. No thought was ever given as to how the animals felt. Nothing was done to prevent the suffering of animals. ” (Angelicguides). Many animals are still considered possessions, and are dying for a means of meeting the population’s needs for food, entertainment, clothing etc. There has got to be a better way to be more humane towards defenseless animals.

Cruelty towards animals reflects our true character and we should strive to be more kind. We should learn from animals and experience the same peace they live in on a daily basis. “But I might learn something of mindlessness, something of the purity of living in the physical senses and the dignity of living without bias or motive. ” (Dillard 351). For that reason we should treat animals with respect and kindness because they can show us the true beauty of life and I think we can learn how to become better people.