What about freedom and fishing for sport or pigeon flying?
Should all wrongful actions towards animals be prohibited?
The
necessity of prohibition of abuse and mutilation is
obvious, both physically and psychologically, in case
of:
docking, breeding of misshapen animals
by way
of classical breeding methods as well as genetic engineering,
neglect, cruelties during animal
transport, vivisection,
making animals vicious, certain forms of animal entertainment
(dancing bears), bestiality, cruel games with animals,
unnecessary exposure to life threatening situations
("military").
It will most certainly appeal to the imagination of
many to prohibit conditions of factory farming where animals are destined to lead their lives in cramped
conditions and where they are deprived of their freedom. Killing animals for pleasure also tends to receive
little appreciation among the public. Opinions differ
more widely in cases where animals become deprived of
their freedom or are less cared for during a relatively
short period of time. Examples are the slaughtering
of animals or hunting for pleasure but also using animals
for entertainment purposes. A legal fishing quota and
legal restriction on the number of farm animals to be
slaughtered are likely to be considered acceptable options.
It is also perfectly defensible to plead for quick and
painless methods to kill the animals we intend to eat.
Disregarding the welfare of animals for a recreational purpose contradicts the animal's right of freedom.
Should this behavior
be prohibited or is discouragement a preferable option?
Angling differs from hunting in the sense that the act
of catching is more important than killing the animal.
After the fish has been caught, it can be thrown back
to safety again. Although the angler does not intend
to harm or kill the animal, using a hook or catching
fish in a net should be considered a breach of an animal's
integrity.
Pigeon flying is also meant to deprive the birds of
their freedom only as short as possible in order to
safeguard their well being. It seems that discouragement
is a more effective in this case than legal measures
to forbid these sports.
Ways of promoting animal welfare in angling are:
an end to putting out more fish (which is also a
form of substituting their habitat)
prohibition of fishing by youths (without adult
supervision)
Ways for promoting animal welfare in pigeon flying
could be:
setting a maximum to the range, frequency and duration
of a pigeon's flight from home
restrictions on participants' financial maneuverability
In addition, education at schools and adult
education by the government may help effectuate a change
in mentality among people in the way they perceive animals.
animals have the right to be free
do not keep an excessively bred animal
do not keep an exotic animal
do not keep animals in cages, terrariums or aquariums
do not pursue a hobby that involves harming animal
interests
In conclusion, it should be noted that there are also undesirable ways of setting animals free. We
refer to animals that are set free in surroundings where
they cannot sustain themselves without human intervention.
This rule more or less applies to animals that have
been placed in specially designated areas where they
can live naturally, such as Heckrunderen (breed of cattle)
conics (breed of horses) and mouflons (breed of sheep).
In practical terms it means that these animals should
not be neglected in case of extreme weather conditions
or in case of disease involving prolonged suffering.
On account of the fact than man is responsible of moving
these animals to these areas, he should also be responsible
for their well being.
Keeping exotic animals in zoos is also considered
undesirable if they are not threatened with extinction,
in spite of the effort to imitate their natural surroundings.