The Unethical Treatment of Animals

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“Man is the highest rated animal, at least among all the animals who returned the questionnaire (Brault, 2009).” For years humans have been using animals for experimentation, food, clothing, sport and entertainment, manual labor, and let us not forget man’s best friend. The unethical treatment of animals can best be resolved by deontology contrasted with ethical egoism.

Being human indicates the feeling of pain, pleasure, fear, and love; if animals can display these emotions, are they not human? The unethical treatment of animals is largely due to the fact that we as humans do not believe animals are sentient (capable of feeling pain or pleasure). Would it not be feeling pleasure when a kitten purrs when being stroked? How about when you beat a dog and they howl out; is that not pain?

Experimentation has been performed on animals such as rats, mice, and primates in testing various products from cosmetics to drugs. The experimentation of animals usually involves pumping a substance into the animal’s stomach or applying it to the skin and eyes; they are confined to cages and not allowed the freedom of their natural way of life. According to a report by PETA (People for Ethical Treatment of Animals),” this causes great stress and discomfort to the animals (2011).” The animals may not die, but they are scared and maimed for the rest of their lives. Practices such as this are still used today even though there are cheaper and more conclusive ways of conducting this testing; in vitro (test tube), genomic, computer modeling technique, and human volunteering. These research methods are more humane, cost effective alternatives to animal testing. “The harms to the animal conflict with perceived societal benefits that will result if ...

... middle of paper ...

...ter all they are just animals-who cares?

Works Cited

Brault, R. (March 22, 2009). A thought for today. Retrieved from http:// www.robertbrault.com

Housknecht, Gary (September 18,2010). Cruelty to animal entertainers-animal actors & human

caretakers. Retrieved from http://www.suite101.com/content/cruelty-to-animal-

entertainers---part-one-a287434

Orlans, F Barbara. (1990). Animals, Science, and Ethics--Section V. Policy Issues in the Use of Animals in Research, Testing, and Education. The Hastings Center Report, 20(3), S25-30. Retrieved April 28, 2011, from Research Library. (Document ID: 1658998).

PETA. (2011). Animals used for experimentation. Retrieved from

http://www.peta.org/issues/animals-used-for-experimentation/animal-testing101.aspx

Rolin, B. E. & Rossiter, S. (2002). Hog heaven. Christian Century 119, no.13 (10). Retrieved

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