We treat animals used in farming and scientific research with little regard for their welfare,
which means that we need to do something about it. As noted above, most of these
methods place animals in very poor conditions that cause them a lot of distress and violate
their most basic rights. It is paramount that we take some time off and analyze our
treatment of animals to check if there is adequate ethical and humane consideration.
Various forms of livestock farming are industrialized today and animals are usually packed
into very dirty and small cages where they cannot move freely at all. This is true for
Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs). Animals are forced to remain in a
standing position in their excreta, with no possibility for motion or social interaction. Such
restriction have negative impacts both on the body and mind of the animal and thus the
question of humane treatment is concerning. In the US, there was a national study which
showed that an astounding 94 percent of the citizens believe that animals kept for food
purposes should not be subjected to cruelty
On a different note, animal research often involves tragic experiments which disregard a
living creature’s well being. There is strong opposition towards animal testing, however
there are non animal harming methods that can be used. For instance, in drug
development, numerous pharmaceutical firms use rats as test subjects prior to releasing
their products to the general public. This serves the dual purpose of relieving animals of
unnecessary pain while complying with ethical guidelines which prioritize the humane
treatment of animals.
To conclude, the animal treatment policies concerning farming and scientific research
practices is abominable and should change urgently. These animals require and are
entitled to protection by us, and by developing a society that is kind and caring, it is within
our powers to put an end to their persecution and pain. By being more considerate towards
animals and exploring other options, their lives could be improved greatly.
Juan Eduardo Monagas
