Since the beginning of humanity, animals have always played a part in great human civilizations. Whether for transport, agriculture, companionship or biomedical research, animals shape civilization and are often succumbed to the consequences of humanity's ever changing moral attitudes. With pressure from organizations, like the Louisiana SPCA, America's justice system and society have laid down rules that help govern and guide our interaction with animals. However, there still exist many gray areas of debate in regards to how animal abusers should be punished.
After reading about the cruelty that humans have inflicted upon dogs (in the case of Michael Vick), I could not help compare the the severity of punishments given to human murderers, to those given to animal abusers. In many cases of animal abuse that lead to the death, I find that the amount and kind of violence present is very similar to those inflicted by serial rapists and killers. There have even been cases whereby humans actually rape animals, torture them and then kill them slowly. Can we be satisfied with only giving fines for animal abusers, while many homicide criminals receive punishments like the death sentence? If the violence is very much the same, then why shouldn't the punishment for them be too?
Much academic thought about the role and rights of animals in society have been given, but no agreed conclusion has yet been derived. Opinions that range from those of Walter E. Howard (who supports the stand that animals should be used because it is justified by the ambiguous "laws of nature") to the fervent objections of Marc Bekoff and Ned Hettinger (1994), hint to great ambiguity and inconsistencies in our justice system regarding animal abuse cases. As American societies struggle toward more rights for women, homosexuals, the disabled and even the psychologically disadvantaged murderers, shouldn't we begin to think more about the rights that animals should rightfully posses? Do let me know what you think about this issue...
1 comment:
Thank you!! Finally somebody noticing the injustices against animals, and the need to help them. I am very passionate about this issue, and I'm so glad to see other people share my viewpoint. Animals are not objects that can be thrown out on the street to fend for themselves, and they certainly do not deserve any form of abuse. People need to realize that animals should be treated just as fairly as humans, even though they cannont voice this opinion themselves. I agree that there is not enough punishment for cases such as these. But if people are not enforced, how are we to expect any change? People need to treat animals with love and respect, and if they don't, there should be harsher punishments until we notice some sort of change.
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