Animal Cruelty: The Universal Entertainment Industry

The universal entertainment industry, with its long history of treating all performers equally and respecting all forms of art with no judgement or prejudice, has paved the way for humanity to create negative consequences in the form of commercial zoos, aquariums, circuses, and similar institutions where the bravery of animals is continuously tested by the cruelty of humanity. Humanity, with its history of treating its own people like lesser beings, has now moved onto mistreating animals- confining animals into small enclosures and limiting their exercise, loaning and trading animals to other institutions, and tearing animals away from their families for the sake of profit and entertainment. These poor animals kept in captivity also have a shorter lifespan (with one example being orca whales who lose a median of ninety-one years from its maximum age of a hundred) and often suffer forms of extreme anxiety which could lead to further violence at the institutions. In spite of all of this cruelty, there is also a lack of income and customers being produced from these horrific actions- with customer attendance going down each year all around the world (especially in America). To me, I see

only one possible solution that could solve both issues while still continuing the legacy of the dying entertainment industry. I propose that every worker, sympathizer, loyal customer, or major donor of commercial zoos, aquariums, circuses, or other similar institutions where animals are used for entertainment or held in public captivity in every country be first and foremost be considered a prisoner of the country. These prisoners then should be forced to work their prison sentence at these institutions by providing the same entertainment the animals had previously supplied at these institutions.
Plan Implementation
First and foremost, while men and women over or at the age of eighteen are susceptible to this prison sentence- children or teenagers under eighteen years old will not have to serve a term of imprisonment. It would be cruel to children or teenagers to entertain at a young age when they are more susceptible or sensitive to problems. However, to implement this plan, every country will be forced to shut down every institution for six months and release every animal in the institutions to be free in their natural habitat. It will be required for the prisoners at zoos to try to make the transition for animals as smooth as possible. Then, the institutions will then be drained of all materials that concern or remind customers of animals or wildlife. It will be up to the government or other programs to determine whether extra funding is needed for remodeling the institutions. Now, as for the actual prisoners in the institutions- institutions will be in charge of equally dividing the prisoners up amongst the different exhibits or locations in the zoo while providing the prisoners with enough resources to keep them alive. Institutions are also in charge of employing additional and paid employees (that are not prisoners) with roles that include but are not limited to guides, additional security guards, custodians, doctors, nurses, or ticket sellers to provide for both the criminals and customers. Before opening, the institutions are expected to advertise and promote their institutions beforehand to attract more customers. Institutions should also make the price of tickets at least a dollar lower, but overall, cheaper than the original prices. When open, the prisoners will be expected to entertain the masses through dialogue, tricks, or performing arts. There are no limits to entertaining, but murders or significant damage to prisoners is frowned upon and will result in a longer prison sentence. If a prisoner is known to drive away customers or refrain from fulfilling his or her duties entertaining customers, the prisoner will be removed from the institution and have their prison sentence extended by a year in a prison cell. However, well-performing prisoners will be rewarded with a shorter prison sentence by a month. When the prisoners’ sentence ends, they will be offered a paid job at the institution.
Benefits
My proposed solution of letting people that work at institutions such as zoos, circuses, or aquariums work in these institutions themselves to entertain the public would result in less animal cruelty as there would be no mistreatment of animals in these institutions (especially when there are tens of thousands of zoos in the world). This proposal would also give workers who previously worked at these institutions more perspective on what an animal feels like in public captivity or when an animal is forced to be in an institution. These institutions would also generate more money from customers, and it would take less money to run these institutions rather than the expensive upkeeping of animals in these institutions. While traditional institutions would require expensive food sources specially catered to different species of food or many supplies for an animal’s habitat or many supplies for various animals’ recreational needs, the new institutions would require less diverse and inexpensive food or water. The institutions also provide job chances for prisoners. More than half of the time, statistics show that prisoners are often unemployed after released from jail or in a job that pays lower than the career they pursued before serving jail time. This proposal would give them at least one more job opportunity.
Refutation
A possible problem with this proposal is that the prisoners may rebel, try to escape from the institute, or try to hurt possibly one of the other prisoners or customers. While most institutes have security measures already put in place such as security borders or gates, the proposal does already suggest that there will be extra security guards put in place. The proposal would make sure to put extra security guards around the tanks and cages that the customers will be in from day to night. It should also be emphasized that the tanks and cages the customers are in would decrease the amount of damage inflicted upon others. However, if any damage occurs between more than one prisoner, the institution will take care of them with its paid staff of nurses and doctors. Ultimately, however, these prisoners are supposed to serve the customers to repay for their actions serving the institutions- if a murder or harmful incident occurs, the prisoners will, again, have a longer prison sentence for focusing more on themselves rather than the enjoyment of the customers when they are expected to entertain and be joyful or delightful toward them while working for the entertainment industry. The prisoners work for the public where the industry will be waiting for them.
Real Solutions
While imprisoning people in institutions was a ridiculous and morally corrupt solution, animal cruelty in these institutions is still a serious issue that plagues the world today and needs to be solved.

However, this cruelty is not common knowledge to everyone and needs to be spread widely in an educated and informed matter. I would suggest, first, making sure more people do know about the cruelty displayed in institutions and then to stop going to these institutions. With a decreased amount of support and money, these institutions cannot continue as plentifully. More people can also start protesting, writing letters, and petitioning to these institutions to stand up for animal rights in institutions. Donating money to animal rights activists or groups as PETA also progresses

change.