Dying for Amusement
CSU is definitely a school tied in many ways to animals. With
some of our professors internationally recognized as developers of
systems to promote more humane ways to work with livestock,
renowned vet and equine programs and deep agricultural roots, we
students at CSU cannot ignore the important tie to animals that is
an undercurrent in the history and current situation of our school.
In that case, if not for personal moral reasons, at least we, as a
school known for educating the future maintainers of animal welfare
(veterinarians and others), should, as a community, be deeply
disturbed by cases of animals being used, abused and killed for the
purpose of entertainment.
Two potent examples of deaths of animals used for human
amusement can be found in two recent news articles. David Gonzales,
in an Oct. 2 New York Times article, discusses the death of two
dolphins at a swim-with-the-dolphins amusement park for tourists in
Mexico. Yolanda Alaniz, head of a conservation groups, says that
over 200 dolphins have been captured either locally or illegally
imported from other areas to the parks. Many of these dolphins are
trafficked in violation of international codes. In the Parque Nizuc
Wet’n’Wild Park, officials say that over 60,000 people swam with
dolphins in the last year. These dolphins, estimates Alaniz, can
bring in $7,500 a day each. With tourists clamoring jump in, the
dolphins are a highly profitable form of entertainment in the
parks.
Gonzales quotes park operators as saying that they continue
these programs in order to promote “knowledge and respect for
wildlife.” Opponents, however, say that these programs are often
inefficiently run and cruel to the illegally captured dolphins. Ric
O’Berry, former “Flipper” trainer, says in the article that “The
reality is they are all going to die if you stick around long
enough.” The death of the two dolphins, one from a stress-related
ulcer and the other from a blocked esophagus, suggests that this
dire prediction is true.
Another case of animal abuse and murder came to light at the
beginning of last summer. According to a Reuters article, the
bodies of 3,000 racing greyhounds were uncovered from a rural
gravesite, each with bullet wounds to the head or neck. Robert
Rhodes of Alabama, arrested in conjunction with these deaths,
admitted to killing thousands of dogs for profit. The reason they
were murdered? Because they had become too old to run the track and
entertain sufficiently. Dog tracks, it appears, would send out
these older dogs to be cheaply shot and buried by Rhodes. As the
district attorney of the area, David Whetstone, says “These dogs
are killed because they are slow. When you are no longer of value,
you are executed.” These dogs, like the dolphins, are animals used
and abused for entertainment value, and are being killed in the
name of amusement.
For those of us who agree with Mahatma Gandhi’s statement that
“the life of a lamb is no less precious than that of a human being”
or those who simply value animals in general, these cases should
horrify us. There are many ways we can voice our disapproval.
Voicing our disapproval through letters and joining campaigns
against animal cruelty is one way, but we can also vote with our
dollars. While on vacation or spring break, avoiding parks or
activities such as these can at least ensure that we don’t
contribute to the continued suffering of “entertainment animals.”
Instead of allowing these animals to continue being viewed as
simple amusements, we can help promote their value as living beings
instead, and also uphold the reputation of CSU as a place that is
linked to animal welfare.
Is she affiliated with any animal welfare groups?
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