Grant Kovel
April 11, 2014
Class 8A
Unentertaining Facts about Animals in Entertainment
Throughout the past few decades, animals have been mistreated and in some cases killed in live entertainment facilities. (APNM 2006) Organizations like People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (“PETA”) and other animal right protecting organizations, try to protect and restore basic rights to the animals. Circuses, aquariums, and zoos have flaws in their systems, which allow for the animals to be mistreated. (PETA 2009) Animals should not be forced to do any tricks, stunts, or any harmful or life-shortening forms of entertainment nor be housed in inappropriate surroundings merely for the amusement of humans.
Using animals in live entertainment facilities is unethical and inhumane. Even if one does not care about animals, concern for human life might matter. Exotic animals are dangerous to the public. Exotic and potentially dangerous animals and humans were never meant to be in close quarters with each other. Recently, a woman leaned closer to a polar bear in a zoo and was attacked. (Animal Planet 2008) Despite the fact that the bear was significantly larger than the woman, the bear may have felt threatened. The bear was not in its natural surroundings and that, coupled with the woman invading his space, created a situation where the bear felt threatened. These are not domesticated animals, like a dog, who is used to being around humans. Despite years of training, animals can instinctively react to the invasion of their space by a human. Their instinct is to protect themselves, which might include attacking and killing a human. Sadly, such an act by the animal, would typically result in the animal being put to death. Animals can...
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...e entertainment facilities, there are humans who suffer injuries and even death. Fighting to change how animals are treated cannot be accomplished by one person, but requires supporting animal rights organizations, such as PETA, through donations of time and money. Animals should have the same basic rights as they would have in the wild. If the use of animals cannot be stopped, at the very least providing the animals with more rights, and better treatment must be pursued. The next time there is a headline speaking of the dangers of wild animals, think about the danger to the wild animal being kept in captivity. Swift and decisive action is needed now to publicize, educate, and prevent the mistreatment of animals in live entertainment facilities. History will judge humanity not only by what was done, but what was not done to prevent the mistreatment of animals.
Although it’s entertaining to watch these animals perform, most people don’t take the time to think about the issues that the companies that are involved in this type of entertainment encounter. The frequently asked questions of how
Every time we take the children to see animal performances, we are teaching them that cruelty is fun and that animals do not deserve respect. All those ridiculous acts that animals are forced to do, are causing them stress and fear. It is unfair, that while the animals are being treated like things, the public from their seats, applauds and even laughs. Animals are forced to travel in wagons for a long time. These wagons are narrow, unhealthy and have little ventilation.
PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) is one of several well known support groups for animal rights. Michelle Carr (n.d.) is an animal lover and member of the recognized animal rights group PETA who believes she is the voice for wild animals who are being kept from their natural habitats. Carr recalls her childhood memories and the excitement she felt when going to see what she thought was elated animals. She then began to realize that the animals she grew to love were actually miserable, lonely and bored (Carr, n.d., para. 2). Her response to zoos being used for educational purposes is instead of going to a
“Animal Entertainment” refers to any animals used to act, perform, or fight for the enjoyment of humans. zoos, circuses, and bullfighting are all examples of animals used for entertainment. While many applaud these firms for putting on a spectacular show, many others argue that the animals are treated unfair. All of these animals are taken out of their natural environment and forced to perform acts not typically in their behavioral range. If one pays close attention at the circus, for example, it is visible how these animals are treated. Trainers threaten tigers with a whip and often hit elephants with metal on their legs. These techniques are inhumane and best explain why animals should not be used for entertainment. The use of animals for entertainment is a form of animal abuse because of the way the
Circuses portray animals as talented and well-behaved beings, but behind closed doors, the animals are placed in pain and misery to perform the demeaning acts. Animals suffer without the publics’ knowledge of such torture. Laws protect these animals but are not sturdy enough to stop the overall sadness of the animals.
Should animals have to go through pain and suffering? Should they have to go without food and/or water? The answer is no. Animal abuse happens everyday and it happens because people are barbarous or because they don’t know how to take the best care of an animal that they have. Whatever the reason it’s still not right and will never be okay. This paper will cover a brief history of animal abuse, the statistics, the signs of animal abuse, and what can be done to stop animal abuse. Animal abuse needs to end for the animals that can’t speak for themselves.
For centuries animals have been taken from their habits and used to benefit humans. We go to events such as circuses or have a fun day with the family at Sea World and watch animals do silly and meaningless tricks just to captivate our attention. What we miss while being charmed is the curl training, the animal’s constant confinement, and if animals are pushed to their breaking point it can lead to the public being put in danger. We as a society have gone too far in benefitting ourselves at the cost many animal’s lives. Growing concerns over
There are many places where people can go to see live animals such as aquariums, zoos, and safari parks. A pleasant way to define a Zoo is to call it “an establishment that maintains a collection of wild animals”. (Google def) Another way to say that is a facility in which animals are “enclosed in cages for public exhibition”. I believe zoos are ethical; however, changes need to be made to eliminate problems I have discovered. In this argumentative essay, I will be arguing the ethics of zoos and certain problems that need to be addressed that people are not aware of. Zoos are great places to take the family out for the day to have entertainment; however, problems such as captive breeding, length of life, and animal stress need to improve.
The first point of view from this issue is the side that believes humans, zoos and other facilities should be allowed to keep animals. The places that captivate animals believe that they are doing a favor to the creatures. They believe that they are saving them from being killed by humans. They say that if they would not have taken in these animals they would have died in the wild. They say they’re giving them a fresh new start and a place to live without worry. For example, in this article they state that zoos try and h...
The difference between right and wrong is not always perfectly clear. A long-standing part of cultures across the world, zoological and animal parks have been around for hundreds of years. While in the past concerns and issues regarding the ethical problems zoos seem to impose were less prominent, in recent times the rise of animal rights activist groups and new generational values have influenced the way people view these parks. Critics believe that zoos are an unnatural habitat for animals and force them to live in captivity, having a negative impact on their health. Yet, there are still many who fully support zoos, citing business and educational reasons.
Executive Summary Every 60 seconds, an animal is abused. Dogs, cats, horses, and many other types of animals are being neglected and tortured everyday, yet resulting in few and minor consequences for the perpetrators. Animal abuse is prevalent in the United States and has been an ongoing issue since the 1970's, and prior to. Society as a whole has chosen to avoid the facts and arguments about animal cruelty, because to some it is seen as acceptable and typical. It becomes much more frowned upon when people actually see the results of the cruelty, especially in the media.
Since the beginning of the modern day circus in the early 20th century millions of Americans have enjoyed the performances by both the people and the animals that perform for our entertainment. However, the audience is blinded by shock and awe of the show from what really happens behind the curtain. Animal cruelty, poor living conditions, and lack of legal regulation scars the animals and becomes very dangerous to the overall health of the animals and those who are around them. The mistreatment of animals in circuses has been occurring for far too long, and new laws need to be implemented in an effort to prevent future acts of cruelty toward these animals.
The life of a circus animal is hard and demanding. It is not an acceptable way of life for an animal. Circuses would quickly lose their appeal if the public were more aware of their mistreatments of these animals. Many circuses do not have much money and as a result the animals suffer from inadequate care. These animals spend most of their time in small cages used for transportation. The Animal Welfare Act provides cage requirements, but many circuses fail to follow this law. Even the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey circus was cited for 65 violations over a two-year period according to Florence Lambert. When traveling, animals spend hours, even days between sites in confinement..
The world is constantly trying to invent and find new forms of entertainment. This being said, people often find pleasure in watching animals. When thinking about how animals are used in the entertainment industry, it seems that in most cases they are being mistreated. Owners of such animals that are neglected lack the care and knowledge to provide for them. This is a social issue because not only do we use animals for our own enjoyment, but we uproot them from their natural habitats and take them away from their families.
Doesn’t it kill you to see a movie and see an animal get killed or just hurt in it? Good thing that’s all special effects. Back in the day, around 1966, movies didn’t always use special effects. Khartoum, a movie based on a holy war in the Sudan desert, directed by Basil Dearden and Eliot Elisofon, used horses a great deal, but did not use the special effects in order to not hurt the animals. Many horses died in the making of this movie, as well as others, even including a major hit, Ben-Hur. Today, there are many activist groups that fight for and about the unfair treatment and protection for animals in everyday life. The People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is one of these groups. PETA was founded in 1980, and since then has been working on getting the point across to the public that animals “are not ours to eat, wear, experiment on, or use for entertainment.” (PETA: Official Page). PETA also focuses on educating policymakers and the public about the abuse of animals and making it known that animals deserve the right to be treated with respect.