Immoral to buy, sell animals
Published in The Journal News, July 30, 2003:
In light of recent controversy, Animal Defenders of
Westchester asks that the public give serious thought before buying living
beings at fairs and pet shops. Please think about the moral implications of
purchasing hamsters, birds, lizards, which are sold like Kleenex for anyone
with a buck.
Were facilities selling humans, the outcry would be
deafening; but do we have a right to breed and make a profit selling living
beings who had parents, and who feel pain, fear and joy exactly like humans
do?
All those living beings have the identical nervous
system as humans, producing the identical need for comfort, food, attention,
stimulation and affection as humans do. I have a sad memory of visiting a
friend's home and seeing a guinea pig alone in a tiny tank; her son
originally "wanted" the animal, then lost interest.
This poor fellow who was bred for profit now spent his
life in a lonely box he could barely turn around in.
Do we have a right to take them from their parents so
that our children can "learn responsibility." as an acquaintance said?
Sentient beings are not training tools. What if your
child doesn't "learn" his lesson adequately? How many little living beings
have starved to death, died of thirst, died behind a refrigerator, just
because "little Johnny" didn't learn/wouldn't learn/didn't care about this
helpless being's need for safety, sustenance and proper care?
Do we have a moral right to allow anyone with funding
to open a business that profits from the sale of living beings?
Kiley Blackman
Yonkers
The writer is spokesperson,
Animal Defenders of Westchester
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