Animal Defenders of Westchester

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We advocate on all animal protection and exploitation issues, including experimentation, factory farming, rodeos, breeders and traveling animal acts.

Animal Defenders of Westchester
P.O. Box 205
Yonkers, NY 10704

Letters

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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