Like humans, animals often suffer from panic, stress, pain, and anxiety, among other things. All around the world, animals have been obligated to tolerate all kind of agony, torture, and discomfort. Throughout time, animal liberation has been a key topic to discuss, argue and even protest. I this essay, I will argue about animals having liberation and be free under any condition.
Why do humans keep torturing animals? Is there a way to stop? Do they feel? William Crain states that “When she finally gained the chimpanzees’ trust and was able to observe them in detail, she was fully open to their personal traits and all the thoughts and emotions they might have.”, Specific animals can have, at least in a short period of time, friendly relationships with us as humans. Animals in fact possess a variety of human traits. “And because she erected no sharp boundary between her-self and the chimpanzees, she discovered that they did, indeed, possess a wealth of human traits.” (Crain, 93) showing that Chimpanzees and humans can get along. Although these animals do not behave as humans, mainly because humans have not given them the same treatment as they give to other humans, they should not be locked down because of the fear of a bad interaction. Chimpanzees have demonstrated that they have thoughts, traits, feel and think as we, humans, do. Chimpanzees must be freed into the wild, and if ever encountered with a human, given them the freedom, they deserve under any condition.
Animals’ use in experiments is something that needs to be addressed. Although some people argue that these experiments protect humans’ health, these experiments only use animals as their mannequins to suffer and prove how good or bad a product is. A huge number of animals are put into these experiments: mice, fish, rats, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, farm animals, birds, cats, dogs, mini pigs, among others. These animals, as well as humans, possess a nervous system that is capable of feeling pain, and understand what is causing them hurt or danger. However, animal consideration at pain is not considered while doing experiments to test products that will be released on markets. The animals are used, and then killed, because they can’t take the suffering these tests have given them. “Animal experiments impose suffering and death, so that the animals’ interests are systematically violated.” (Ferrari, 200) are automatically put into danger because of only being animals. This only refers to the “utility” they have, not to the real challenge the suffering represents to their lives. These animals, which are suffering only for humans’ pleasure, elucidate how they are put into so much pain that they can’t even take it afterwards. These living creatures deserve their freedom, which is often taken from them by the conditions imposed by humans. Providing freedom to animals will end the suffering they are not even willing to take. Chickens are a great example; due to the amount of stress they go through in their short lives living in slaughterhouses. For instance, being injected with steroids to grow faster or healthier, being brought one place to another as fast as possible, and then killed. The fate of chickens reiterates the argument about leaving them free under any condition. These animals are not made, at any cost, to be stressed out and put into so much suffering just under the condition of humans’ need to eat them.
How is animals’ freedom violated and infringed? Is it even possible? Although it sounds exaggerated, it indeed is violated and infringed. Around the world, there are clubs specializing in selling animals called auction houses, which oversee selling an animal at the highest possible price. A lot of rich people, animal lovers, hunters, etc., attend these auction houses to make bids about a specific animal. “Everyone’s got a budget. You want an elephant; we can get you one. You want lion or buffalo, that’s easy.” (Scully, 47) these animals that will subsequently get killed, be kept in captivity, or be raised in a more “humane” environment, which will not work or happen due to the background they have: bad-treatment, stress, pain, among other things. Animals like lions must be freed. These animals are not meant to be used as entertainment in circuses, for instance. They go through so much stress while being “trained”, which is not more than being punished, so they can entertain humans and their pleasures. Lions are the kings of all animals; they are the kings of the animal kingdom! Scully writes about how money does not represent a problem for some people; even important people from US states are present during these auction houses. “We had a guy who came up here and bought two rhinos at $35,000 a rhino. Didn’t even ask the price. He just said, ‘I’ll take two rhinos”. Look, we’re not salesmen. We’re professional hunters. You tell us what you want.” (Scully, 47) Humans are taking advantage of animal rights violations and just going and buying them just for fun and then end with their lives. This is something that needs to be stopped right now, animals must be free and taken out of that level of stress.
Lastly, consider animals’ deaths and how some ethical associations should be avoided. Peter Singer stated that “most human beings are specialists to kill other animals when they would not kill human beings” Humans create a hierarchy and put us right on the top. Animals suffering tyranny is just a small contribution to the argument for their freedom. It is incredible how animals are not free only because of humans’ needs. Those needs are not only food, but the desire to kill them. Animals must be freed to allow them to live their deserved lives, free of pain. “Similarly, because of the association of anti-AR (Animal Rights) attitudes and religious attendance and denominational affiliation with political conservatism, frames that may be viewed as liberal should likely be avoided.” (Austin and Flynn, 150) Churches and religious associations oppose this unethical treatment. Considered not agreeing to Animal Rights and yet having a religious attendance is also unethical. When mentioning that animals must be free under any condition, it means to let animals being kept, killed, or experimented, free. For instance, having cows at a free and huge space where they can eat, wonder, and enjoy the lives they deserve to live. Of course, if by any condition we mean total freedom, it will cause a disaster and even a threat for us humans. However, sheep and cows’ killing should be over for food and rather than making them suffer, providing them one place to live free of any condition. Animals and their freedom go beyond political activism, religions, and the significance they have.
Works Cited
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