Essay On Animals

Throughout this course of study, the concept of language as the demarcation between animals and humans has prevailed. Further, as we have seen in our class readings, many claim that it is through language that our "consciousness" and "cognitive" skills are developed. Accordingly, these skills are necessary for us to interpret and conceptualize our world. What this infers is that because we have these skills and the "brute" animals do not, animals do not possess the ability to analyze or think about their world. When presented in this manner, I was almost convinced that this was a plausible representation of mental development. However, I found that I still had a nagging feeling that it could not be true....show more content...

The concept of mind "Encompasses sense perception, feeling and emotion, traits of character and personality, and the volitional aspects of human life, as well as the more narrowly intellectual phenomena" (Griffin 163). Consciousness in an entity suggests "an organism which can have intentions... the ability to form a plan, and make a decision to adopt the plan" (Griffin 164). Although these terms are defined by their human references, studies indicate that animals, and even insects, demonstrate emotion, volition, and planning in their daily lives. For example, the communicative dances of honeybees convey multi–level messages that suggest conscious thought and the incorporation of new information (Griffin 178). Similarly, wild vervet monkeys have a system whihc allows them to alert others in their group to potential danger.

Diamond states that they "have a natural form of symbolic communication based on grunts, with slightly different grunts to mean "leopard," eagle," and "snake." (Diamond 55). What is significant is that the concept of volition is also evident vervet monkeys when they "fake" a grunt in order to scatter the other monkeys away from food. Hence, volition and communication should not be considered unique to the human animal.The ability to manipulate objects and to investigate new information is considered another hallmark of the intellectual

Most human beings are inherently speciesist; meaning that they believe one species is superior to another. (Singer, Peter. Animal Liberation. Harper Perennial Modern Classics, 2009. 6. Print.) It can be argued that this is just an expansion of the hardship of human equality, and just as we were once desensitized to others race or gender, we are now doing the same to animals. In addition, we don't give much thought to what goes on beyond our own little bubble. We don't care how our food got there; we just want it. We don't care if our cleaning products or our makeup was tested on animals, as long as it works.

Animal rights activists claim that the ability to feel pain is the designation of moral worth; and that while humans have the...show more content... Both will feel the sting of the smack and react accordingly. Granted, the horse's skin is thicker, causing the horse to have less of a reaction; however, it can be almost guaranteed that the horse will react. Our instinct, however, would be to comfort the crying baby, as it is a member of our own species, thus drawing us to it.

As children, we were all taught the sounds the animals on a farm make. We would picture the stereotypical farm with a barn and silo, and then be among the heartbroken when we found out exactly what it was that was waiting for us at dinner. This form of speciesism is possibly the most common, because it is unknowingly dealt with everyday. The corporations involved in producing our food often abuse the animals that end up on our plates. This abuse can range from verbal and physical assault to slitting the animals' throats while they are still fully conscious. However, because of the lack of publicity on this issue; it often gets overlooked and pushed to the wayside.

Another back burner issue is that of animal testing. Every day, animals in labs are subjected to tests that are for our benefit. In truth, the difference in the genetic makeup of these animals and us, the people these results are trying to help, is so significant that the results can be nothing but inaccurate. To make these creatures endure cruel, often repetitive, and painful tests, only to have a slim

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Animal Experiments Essay

Animal Experiments Animal experimentation by scientists can be cruel and unjust, but at the same time it can provide long term benefits for humanity. Animals used in research and experiments have been going on for 2,000 years and keep is going strong. It is a widely debated about topic all over the world. Some say it is inhuman while others say it's for the good of human kind. There are many different reasons why people perform experiments and why others total disagree with it.

Each year 20 million animals are produce and breed for the only purpose but to be tested on. Fifty–three thousands of animals are used each year in medical and veterinary schools. The rest is used in basic research. The demand for animals in the United States...show more content...

There are numerous tests that animals are put through. Toxicity testing or testing determining if a substance is poisonous or not. Animals are exposed to chemicals through inhalation, ingestion, eye contact, and skin contact. They are induced or other words they were normal until a scientist inject chemicals, microorganisms, or other substances into them to produce a disease or to create symptoms of a specific condition. They are put in cages that are covered in their own feces and excrement in small cramped windowless rooms in a laboratory where they know they are going to die. They are bred to die and that's their only reason they where born on this earth so that the scientists can test the effects of drugs and disease. Scientists actually stand and watch animals die from diseases. They induce hemophilia (excessive bleeding) in dogs, epilepsy (causes seizures) in mice, glaucoma (eye disease) in rabbits, and deafness in cats.

There are three main reasons why animals are used in experiments are research on disease, behavior, and education. Research of how the cells function and how disease works. What causes the disease? What can prevent those diseases and how to cure them? Research's test drugs, chemicals, or products to determine safety and effectiveness. Tested on drugs, discovery new surgery, and to test vaccine or to invent one. They are used in cosmetics to test their efficiency. They are used in the military to test effects

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Adoption of Animals

Anyone, who visits an animal shelter, as I do, sees an extraordinary number of beautiful, affectionate, and desperate dogs and cats. The majority of animals in any particular shelter are dogs, usually adults, for whom there aren't enough adoptive homes waiting. A few may have come from responsible breeders, whose owners do not realize that the breeder will take them back,many are those who are lost, and/or from owners who simply got tired of them. Some are pet shop puppies from a puppy mill that did not meet the owner's expectations due to health, temperament, or other reasons. A large number usually turn out to be the result of deliberate and irresponsible home breeding. These people are known as "back–yard...show more content... Unfortunately, breeders, pet stores, and many ordinary individuals do not realize that their choice not to spay or neuter their animal is causing millions of animals to be euthanized every year in the United States.Shermerhorn notes that only one in six shelter animals will find a new home (4).

Any consciencious person knows that you do not have to look far to find advertisements for free puppies or kittens,especially in the lower socio–economic areas. Many people decide to have dogs so that they can breed them in order to make a few dollars, fight them, or show their children the "miracle" of birth. It is frightening to imagine that the millions of unwanted animals roaming the streets and occupying shelters are the result of human ignorance, selfishness, and irresponsibility. What is more devastating is that the children of such individuals will continue the same vicious cycle.

Pet rescue organizations continue to do a lot in helping to place existing unwanted, abandoned, and mistreated animals into good homes, however not much is being done to prevent pet overpopulation. Simply venting my frustrations to fellow animal lovers only made me increasingly bitter and resentful of the many adults who should know better.All adults have a responsibility to their children and the community around them, regardless of whether they like it