Animal Cruelty Laws
The current laws meant to safeguard against animal cruelty in the United States do not protect animals used for sport and entertainment. In this essay, I will discuss only animals used for thoroughbred racing, greyhound racing, and circuses. I will not include zoos, farming of animals, hunting, or vegetarianism in this discussion. I will review the inadequacies and poorly enforced laws that are currently meant to protect animals from human cruelty. Neglect and intentional harm constitute the two types of animal cruelty, as categorized by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) ("Animal Cruelty: FAQ", 2002). Both types of animal cruelty are present in the "sport" of horse racing. Drug abuse, lameness, insufficient veterinary care and long road trips are all indications of animal cruelty, requiring better laws and enforcement in the racing industry. "The American Association of Equine Practitioners says 60 to 90 percent of racehorses are significantly lame" ("Horse Racing: A Losing Bet", 2002). Many of these lame horses are forced to race on fractured legs by being treated with drugs to reduce the pain. Drugs are used to suppress the symptoms without treating the un
This makes the state government an unobjective task force for the humane treatment of greyhounds. A "veterinarian autopsied four of the dogs and determined only one had been shot cleanly through the brain" (USA Today, 2002). This circus continues to operate with multiple violations ("PETA: Ringling Bros. Inspections by the state are often preceded by advance notice and, even then, the inspectors are led into only one kennel on the compound that is chosen and previewed by the track management" ("Know the Facts About Dog Racing", 2002). The AWA specifies minimum requirements for feeding, handling, housing and transportation ("PETA: The Animal Welfare Act", 2002). Currently there are only about 85 federal veterinary inspectors who are to inspect (unannounced) all of the 8,000 facilities covered under this act annually ("PETA: The Animal Welfare Act", 2002). Greyhounds do not have the choice to race, as this greyhound industry spokesperson implies. Owning a thoroughbred racehorse can cost, on average, $30,000 annually. This issue of animals used for our entertainment needs to be addressed by the federal government more comprehensively. The Greyhound Protection League web site notes the "monetary incentive to cover-up or ignore abuses and to keep secret the massive number of dogs killed annually" is great ("Why Ban Greyhound Racing?", 2002). A federal program like the Animal Welfare Act needs to be applied to the racing industry to protect these animals from suffering brought on by greediness for profits. Greyhounds are kept muzzled in the pens because of the dogfights that often occur. Greyhound racing is, first and foremost, a business.
Common topics in this essay:
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Greyhound Racing,
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Gregory Ferraro,
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Acceptance Essays
