Animals aren’t actors, circus clowns or prisoners. So, how come it’s okay to force them to perform confusing tricks or travel across the country in cages and trailers? Why are they exploited for human amusement? Unfortunately, some of these animals even lose their lives from incessant physical punishment and abuse. Animal suffering can be seen in many forms of entertainment including rodeos, circuses, and zoos. There are around eight hundred professional rodeos and a number of smaller ones in the United States each year (Francione 25). They involve a series of timed events using horses and other farm animals designed to challenge the skills of the contestants. Circuses are also a very popular form of entertainment that began in the late eighteenth century and involve acrobats, clowns and a variety of exotic animals. Lastly, zoos have remained popular tourist sites for centuries. In Canada and the United States alone, approximately 112 million people visit zoos each year (PETA 203). Though these attractions seem fun and harmless, many of the animals used in these practices suffer greatly. Every year thousands of animals are injured or killed in rodeos. Circuses also cause animal suffering through cruel punishment and improper housing. Finally, animal hardship is displayed in the terrible conditions of zoos. Animals in the entertainment industry are purely exploited for profit and endure great suffering shown through the conditions of rodeos, circuses, and zoos.
The cruel and inhumane practices of rodeos cause great concern for the welfare of animals in the entertainment industry. First of all, unnatural behaviors are often provoked in rodeos in order to secure a thrilling competition. “Bucking straps” are put on the abdomens of th...
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...UP, 2000. N. pag. Print.
Jobst, Rob. "Rodeos Are Cruel and Inhumane." The Rights of Animals. By Tamara L. Roleff and Jennifer A. Hurley. San Diego: Greenhaven, 1999. N. pag. Print.
Laidlaw, Rob. On Parade: The Hidden World of Animals in Entertainment. Markham, Ont.: Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 2010. Print.
Laidlaw, Rob. Wild Animals in Captivity. Markham, Ont.: Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 2008. Print.
MALIN RISING - Associated, Press. "Thousands Of Zoo Animals Killed In Europe Yearly." AP Regional State Report - Maryland (2014): Points of View Reference Center. Web. 6 Apr. 2014.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. "Zoos Are Prisons." The Rights of Animals. By Tamara L. Roleff and Jennifer A. Hurley. San Diego: Greenhaven, 1999. N. pag. Print.
Ritter, Christie. "Animals Use in Education and Entertainment." Animal Rights. Edina, MN: ABDO Pub., 2008. N. pag. Print.
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
Peoples Trust article “Zoos & Conservation” touched surface solely on zoos located in Britain. What about the rest of the world? Luckily there is a group called the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) that inspects zoos and aquariums making sure that they are fit for conservation. For instance, the Giza Zoo In Cairo was shut down for killing two gorillas that may have been infected with disease and for extra pay putting visitors in danger so they could pet any animal they requested. Now if one of these animals were to attack a visitor then they would put down the animal in which is just doing what its instincts tell them.
Regan, Tom. “The Case for Animal Rights.” In Animal Rights and Human Obligations, 2 ed.. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1989.
Rodeo is a sport with long American traditions and loved by many spectators and participants. Past history has shown that rodeo needed to make way for a new era of riders and trainers with a larger emphasis on the welfare of the animals and not be discontinued or banned entirely. Today’s rodeos do not present a danger to the animals because the animals are well-cared for and protected, rodeos have strict rules and the stock are treated as prized animals.
Wyckoff, Jason, and M.A Bertz. "The Animal Rights Debate: Abolition or Regulation? - By Gary L. Francione & Robert Garner." Journal of Applied Philosophy 28.4 (2011): 414-16. Print.
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.
"Do We Need Zoos?" : An All Creatures Animal Rights Article. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 May 2015.
The history of change regarding the varying displays of animals has been gradual yet profound. A clear shift has been evident surrounding the role and nature of a zoo’s position within society. When assessing zoological history it seems that there are three distinct phases. From the early collections where animals were kept and used for religion, hunting and entertainment to the private menageries in which wild animals were contained as a sign of wealth, dominance and privilege and more recently the development of zoos as modern ins...
This essay proposes to investigate the ethics of training, and subsequently utilising, circus animals for the purpose of human entertainment. Therefore, the essay will respond to the question “what moral or ethical obligations do humans have in respect of other animals? How can these obligations be filled?” It should be noted that a distinction is made between morals, which are personal standards of behaviour – and ethics – which are moral principles that govern societal behaviour. This essay will focus on ethical obligations. Specifically, the treatment and training methods of circus animals will be researched to ascertain what, if any, physical or psychological discomfort results for the animals. More precisely, investigations will be undertaken to gauge circus animals’ quality of life, and thus arguments that circus animals both enjoy and loathe this treatment will be explored. Additionally, specific cases of cruelty to circus animals, together with various legislation that either allows or prohibits such behaviours, will be examined.
The article “Animals Used as Entertainment” lists rodeos, circuses, bullfighting, horse racing, cockfighting, dog fighting, and zoos as examples of the many ways animals are used in entertainment. Circuses and zoos are the two most relevant forms of animal mistreatment. Both of these are sources of entertainment for children and adults. Zoos declare that the...
Flynn, Clifton P. "Acknowledging the "Zoological Connection": A Sociological Analysis of Animal Cruelty." Society and Animals 9.1 (2001): 71-87. Print.
Waples KA, Stagoll CS. Ethical issues in the release of animals from captivity. Roundtable. 1997; 115-120.
Some aspects of Animal abuse are completely avoidable, the cruelty brings no scientific knowledge, food, or testing. In the entertainment industry “wild and exotic animals are trained through the use of intimidation and physical abuse. Former circus employees have reported seeing animals beaten, whipped, poked with sharp objects and even burned to force them to learn their routines!”(dosomething) Cruelty for entertainment is not a fair trade by any means.
Smith, RaeLeann. "Circus Animals: Abused and Dangerous." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 Nov. 2007. Web. 6 Apr. 2014.
There has been a long-standing debate surrounding the nature of zoological parks. In recent years, the concern over the health and safety of animals in captivity has grown significantly. This is due, in part, to the rise in attention people have started paying towards the way these animals are treated and held captive within zoological parks. On the news, more cases pop up yearly involving animals that have been abused, neglected, and even killed. Furthermore, animal rights groups have become larger in numbers and more outspoken regarding the problematic existence of zoos. Though despite these facts, there has not been a decline in the amount of people visiting zoos, the economic revenue is as strong as ever, and the establishments are still