ANIMAL WELFARE vs. ANIMAL RIGHTS
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"You can truly judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals"
Immanuel Kant -German Philosopher
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Animals rights organizations like PETA (People for Ethical Treatment of Animals) HSUS (Humane Society of the United States....not to be confused with local animal shelters) and ALF (Animal Liberation Front) are pushing our legislators to further their cause of total animal liberation. They routinely make false and misleading statements regarding all domestic and exotic pets. If pressed for an honest answer, they reluctantly admit to their common goal: The total elimination of all animals from homes, zoos and entertainment. They would have you believe that a feral cat is far better off than one cared for in a loving home. They must think the short, tragic life of homeless animals left to their own defenses is a far better life than one in a warm home with vet care and food. They believe that neutering is inhumane. Are they clueless to the suffering that animal overpopulation brings? They profess to love the animals, but what is their reasoning? I've yet to hear one argument that has any intellectual merit or basis in fact.
All responsible pet owners, not just those of us with exotics, have to join together to protect our rights from these radical groups. The fact is that right now many of the small primates we have as members of our family are all but extinct in their natural habitats. As human population continue to destroy their habitat, zoos and private ownership are the last hope for many of them.
In the United States the importation of endangered species is carefully monitored to prevent further depletion of the wild populations. Exotics bred in captivity are contributing to the very survival of many of these animal species.
We all want animal welfare. As animal lovers we want all animals to be treated with love and respect as one of God's creatures. Expecting them to fend for themselves in an overpopulated world won't do anything to secure their survival. Removing them from our lives, would greatly diminish our existence as well. They hold up as examples for their cause the few misguided people who get in over their heads with exotics or those guilty of animal cruelty that are looked on as pariahs by any thinking person. By failing to present honest facts or a semblance of balance to their arguments, these so-called animal rights groups are doing far more harm than good. If we can't find some common ground, let's at least demand some common sense.
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