Essay On Animal Entertainment

Courtney Karuza

Mr. Richard

English

8 April 2014

Describe the history of using animals as a form of entertainment. Throughout the ages animals have been used in numerous ways to provide “entertainment” to humans. Animals used for entertainment has been documented as early as 2,000 B.C.E (Jasper). Animal entertainment today was derived from animal entertainment thousands of years ago. In Rome, Italy, the Coliseum held many events involving animals for the peoples enjoyment. For instance, Circus Maximus in Rome, Italy was one of the most well known entertainment venues in history. It drew crowds upwards of 300,000 spectators. Another popular form of entertainment in ancient times was chariot races. A chariot race involved horses and a chariot. They would race around a track several times to declare a first place winner. Often times this resulted in the horse being beaten or sometimes even killed. Another form of entertainment to watch was the fighting between 2 animals until death.

Circuses and the use of animals for entertainment today are just are popular. Although most legal forms of entertainment involving animals today no longer involves fight till death the act of making animals perform against their will and live in terrible conditions suggest animal cruelty.

Define animal cruelty. Animal cruelty is “Cruelty to Animals. The

infliction of physical pain, suffering or death upon an animal, when not necessary for purposes of training or discipline or (in the case of death) to procure food or to release the animal from incurable suffering, but done wantonly, for mere sport, for the indulgence of a cruel and vindictive temper, or with reckless indifference to its pain” (Blacks Law Dictionary).

In toda...

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...nly are drugs for pain given to these horses, trainers also pump horses full of illegal drugs everyday to make them bigger, faster and stronger (Horse racing). Horses are just one of the few types of animals who suffers with being put to work and put through pain just so humans can be entertained by them. Animals who are held in captivity for circuses face confinement, social deprivation, and violent methods of training. Animals who are trained to perform circus acts are trained through use of intimidation and physical abuse. Former circus employees have reported seeing animals being beaten, whipped, and denied food and water, all to force them to learn their routines (ASPCA).

There is minimal state and federal protection for animals used in entertainment. Most of the animals used for human amusement are not even covered by the Animal Welfare Act (Born Free USA).