Animal Rights

Animal Rights


Ever since The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in
England in 1824 was formed there has been long running debates on the topic of
animal rights. The first societies were formed to protect and maintain human
treatment of work animals, such as cattle, horses and house hold pets. Towards
the end of the 19th century more organizations were formed, this time to protest
the use of animals in scientific experimentation. In   today's society groups
such as People for   the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) have continued these
traditional fights as well as adding new agendas. These new agendas include
hunting and fishing, and dissection of animals in science classes. This paper
will discuss the pros and cons of animal experimentation and research, animals
in the classroom, animal organizations and hunting. Along with these topics my
personal opinion will be stated, before and after researching the topic.
The rights of animals have always been important to me during my life.
This is due to the fact that I have had a dog for a pet for as long as I
remember. On this topic I feel as though having domesticated animals in the home
is fine as long as proper care is taken of them. As for more controversial issue
like animal research and experimentation my views vary. A few years ago I felt
that any research or experimentation on animals was inhumane and unjust. However
after maturing and becoming more aware of the world, I now feel as though there
are definite ‘goods' that come from animal research that can not come from doing
tests on humans. This view is by no means one sided. I also feel that there are
some things being done to animals that just should not happen, such as the
testing of cosmetics. In other areas of animal rights like dissection in the
classroom I think that as long as the animals died naturally it is fine to use
them to further a students education along with human cadavers. Of course, I
hope that
animal dissection can become... [continues]

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