Determination of Animal Abuse
Jennifer Stafford

Determination of Animal Abuse
People and animals have been around since the beginning of time. In early days, animals were killed and hunted for survival. However, the relationship between people and animals has changed somewhat since then. Today, the vast majority of people do not need to kill and hunt animals in order to survive. In this paper, I will talk about how some people think that animal-factory farms, family farms and hunting is considered animal abuse. I will then later explain that neither of these is considered animal abuse. Therefore, the question is, how does one determine what actually animal abuse is? There is a massive debate about this question and there is no right answer. Everyone sees things from the perspective of their own interests and concerns. Animal abuse is classified as inflicting physical agony, anguish or demise upon an animal contingent upon one’s belief.
First, some people believe that killing and hunting animals for any reason is classified as animal abuse. The first example some may classify as animal abuse is animal-factory farms. Animal-factory “farms are usually large industrial facilities where livestock are crowded together” (USA Today, 2012). The small animals, like chickens, are put into cages. One cage can hold many animals. These cages are packed so full with the small animals that the animals cannot move freely. They do not get to see sunlight, and it can be hard to breathe in such tight quarters. The animal-factory farms do this to the animals so that they can house more animals and make more money. The more cages they have, the more room it makes; therefore, their revenue increases. The bigger animals, like cattle, are put into stalls that are also packed full. The stalls are packed so full that the cattle do not even get to lie down comfortably. The more stalls they have, the more room it makes; therefore, the revenue increases. There is a cycle here! This method makes for an unhealthy environment for all the animals. Some of these animals end up sick (being put together so closely) or die (being walked and pushed around too much) because of these conditions. Sometimes the fumes from the environment in which these animals live can contaminate the air that we, as humans, breathe, which in the long run can hurt our health.
The next thing that happens to these animals is how the animal-factory farms send the animals to the slaughterhouses to be prepped and killed. After the animals have been feed the right amount of drugs, that help them grow faster and grow more muscle mass than normal, the animal’s demise begins its journey to the slaughterhouses. The animals are packed into small crates, and loaded onto trucks. They have no water or food for this journey. Once they get to the slaughterhouse the small animals, like chickens, have the tips of their beaks removed (PETA). This is done while the chicken is still awake. It is done so that the chickens do not hurt each other, or themselves, because they are so close together in their cages. Later the animal is plucked and then killed. The chicken’s body is then processed by chopping and slicing it up so the meat can be packaged for shipping. The larger animals, like cattle, are cut in order to bleed out so that the animal-factory farm can save some of the blood for later use. Then, the cattle are put in boiling water (the animal is still alive) to skin the animal so that the hide is in one piece (PETA). At this point, the animal’s body is chopped up and sliced in order to package the meat for shipping. After all this, the animal parts that are left over are thrown out and discarded as waste. This includes: the neck, heart, lungs, and etc. Some people think that discarding the parts of these animals is cruel and disrespectful to the animals. Also the waste from these animals can contaminate the air that we, as humans, breathe, which in the long run can hurt our health as well. Again, whether or not an animal is being abused, depends upon how and for what reasons the animal is killed.
Chicken legs do not spring out of the ground and beef does not grow on trees. The people who say that animal-factory farms are cruel and inhumane need to stop and think where their meat actually comes from. Without these kinds of farms, people who eat meat would not have meat for their table. I do not believe that the animal-factory farms actually let the animals suffer for any reason. I do not believe that the slaughterhouses would let an animal die while suffering. Slaughterhouses do find ways in using the waste of an animal. I think they are more humane than what has been said and/or seen. One solution to making sure that these animals do not suffer is to make sure the animals have a good place to live in. These animals need proper nourishment without all the drugs to make them grow faster or have more muscle mass. I do not agree that the environment that these animals live in can necessarily hurt our health. The fumes that animal-factory farms let out, is no more harmful than anything else we breathe. If this is the case, then I would say to get rid of cars. Cars fumes hurt our health just as bad if not worse. People are always going to try to make places like the animal-factory farms look bad no matter what is done to improve the way animals are treated. Whether or not an animal is abused, depends upon how and for what reasons the animal is killed.
Second, some people believe that family farms are classified as animal abuse. “Family farms are farms owned and operated by family members only” (Dictionary.com). Family farms have an array of animals such as: cows, horses, chickens, pigs, ducks and etc. Most of the animals are in open fields where the animals can run freely and rest comfortably. The fact that some people classify family farms as animal abuse is; some people say that all animals on these farms are to be killed for some reason and animals are not paid close attention to on these big farms. Some cows are made to produce milk for the family. Some chickens are made to produce eggs for the family. Once a famer knows which animal is to produce something besides meat, these animals are tagged (Farm Aid, 2010). The other animals that are not tagged are for raising and are left to be killed later for food.
One solution to these kinds of farms is to do some research on how family farms work. Most family farms provide for their families with the food that comes from these animals (Farm Aid, 2010). It can save money in the long run by providing for the family living off your own land. Some farmers of these types of farms sell what they have to other farms to bring in revenue. Family farms also donate the meat that they kill on these farms to homeless shelters so the homeless do not starve. Not all animals on a family farm are killed. Horses are not killed on these farms. The horses are used to get a farm from point A to point B on a big farm. This way the farmer will not have to walk many miles to check on their animals. Horses and other animals on these farms are also used to plow fields. Farmers do pay close attention to their animals that are on their farm, but sometimes an animal can get lost, hurt, or killed by predators. When an animal is used for milk, like a cow, or used for eggs, like a chicken, these animals are not hurt for any reason. All animals on a family farm are treated well and without all the drugs that Animal-factory farms give them to make them larger and/or have more muscle mass. Whether or not an animal is abused, depends upon how and for what reasons the animal is killed.
Third, some people believe that hunting animals for any reason is classified as animal abuse. “Hunting is described as the activity of hunting wild animals or game, for food or sport” (Dictionary.com). Some hunters will kill an animal just to see if he/she can do it. This is called hunting for sport. Sport hunting is the seeking, pursuing, and killing of wild animals according to the Encyclopedia Britannica. Some hunters will watch as the animal dies in pain and enjoy this as a sport. It is a testament to these hunters of achieving man-hood. These hunters will find the biggest animal they can in order to make a trophy out of it. Bow hunters are considered the worst for abusing animals when hunting (Vegan Peace, 2008). The hunter will shoot with his/her bow and strike the animal. Most of the time, the animal does not die right away. It can take a hunter a few minutes to several hours to find the animal that was shot. By the time a hunter comes upon the animal, the animal may have suffered before it died or could still be alive, suffering in great pain. These hunters will take the animal home and make a trophy out of it. They will display the animal’s body for all to see what they have done. Sport hunters will take pride in the kill.
There are hunters that do not follow any rules when it comes to hunting, this is called poaching. Poaching is considered, “illegally hunt or catch (game or fish) on land that is not one's own or is under official protection” (Dictionary.com). Poachers love to kill animals for no reason or to have a trophy. Poachers can kill an animal and sell it for a nice profit. Animals with big horns, like elephants, are killed for just the tucks. Poaching is a sport, but it is not legal to do so. Poaching can make an animal become endangered or extinct if hunted too often.
Some hunters will kill an animal for food. These hunters will go find whatever they can to provide for their families. The bigger the animal, the more food they will have to feed their family. Some people say that hunting is bad for the environment as well. In 2009, Davis says in the “Scientific American” article, that it will result in the loss of biological diversities and other environmental issues and hunting should not be permitted. Hunting can make an animal become endangered by killing off the bigger animals and leaving the small animals to starve. Hunters spend billions of dollars on Guns, ammunition, other hunting supplies and travel each year. “This makes hunting a profitable industry” (Vegan Peace). Some people despise what hunters do and say that hunters do not respect animals or their rights. In 2012, the ASPCA says that animals should have the same rights as people do.
Hunting for sport or poaching an animal is not the right thing to do. It can make an animal become endangered if not extinct. But, hunting for food is a way of survival. “Hunting was a necessary activity of early humans” (Encyclopedia Britannica). Animals were hunted for meat to eat, warm clothes, and to make weapons. I do not think that wild animals should be killed unless there is a reason. Some of these reasons would include: protecting one’s family and/or the community and providing food for the family. Hunting for food is a good way to provide for your family. As a hunter, using all parts of the animal would be a way to show respect for the animal. What is not eaten can be used for fertilizing the fields and etc. Is it more ethical to shoot an animal dead, or to have a panther or bear rip it apart while it is alive? Unfortunately this is a way of life for wild animals. Hunting is also good for our environment. Baby deer eat the bark off of trees, nibbles on grass, twigs, bush and other woody plants which can cause these trees and plants to die early. Animals can ruin plant life by walking and/or running in the same places constantly. Hunting is not making animals endangered or extinct. In fact, humans are cutting down forest to make room for more buildings and houses. In this case, it makes the animal flee its home. Many of these animals flee to the streets and get killed by cars. The animal is then disrespected and the meat from that animal cannot be used to feed a family in need. Some hunters will go out to kill an animal just for the homeless. Some hunters will donate their kill, at times, so the homeless can eat. This is one reason that hunters spend billions very year to hunt. You should only hunt during hunting season so that the animals can have a chance to reproduce for the next hunting season. Animals are hunted to provide us with food, clothes and whatever else we can use an animal for. We live together to provide for one another. It is the circle of life! Whether or not an animal is abused, depends on how and for what reasons the animal is being hunted.
Animal abuse has to be stopped before more animals are made to suffer unnecessarily and the animal population decreases. The question still remains, how does one determine what animal abuse is? There is no simple way to answer this question. There are animal-factory farms that put meat into stores for us to put on our table. There are family farms that provide for their families and the community. There are hunters who hunt to put food on his/her table and hunt for the homeless. Once a person knows exactly where their meat comes from it will be up to him/her to determine the answer to the most difficult question. Animal abuse could be classified as killing and hunting animals for whatever reason. However, whether or not killing and hunting an animal is animal abuse, is contingent upon one’s belief.

References
ASPCA, (2012). Farm Animal Cruelty. We are their voice. http://www.aspca.org/fight-animal-cruelty/farm-animal-cruelty/
Davis B., (2009). Does Hunting help or Hurt the Environment? New York, NY http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=earth-talks-hunting http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/hunting?s=t Farm Aid, (2010, Apirl). What exactly is a family farm? How does it differ from a factory farm? Farm Aid: keep american growing! http://www.farmaid.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=qlI5IhNVJsE&b=2723877&ct=8214687
Hunting. (2013). Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th Edition, 1. http://web.ebscohost.com.proxy.devry.edu/ehost/detail?vid=9&sid=73abf960-65c8-40c2-9870-f431a7ba0352%40sessionmgr14&hid=10&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=a9h&AN=39012611

Hunting. (2013). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved from http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/277043/hunting

PETA, (2012). Factory Farming:Cruelty to Anmials. PETA: people for the thical treatment of animals. Retrieved on 4-13-13. http://www.peta.org/issues/animals-used-for-food/factory-farming.aspx
Public Health Risks from "Animal Farm.” (2012). USA Today Magazine, 140(2805), 6. http://web.ebscohost.com.proxy.devry.edu/ehost/detail?vid=19&sid=133be73f-e7cb-4b1b-8d63-2d925ead39e1%40sessionmgr11&hid=10&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=a9h&AN=76319727
Vegan Peace, (2008). Vegan Peace: Hunting. Animal Cruelty. http://www.veganpeace.com/animal_cruelty/hunting.htm