by Joyce Beckman

Created on: January 26, 2009   Last Updated: January 28, 2009

Concern for animal welfare is essential in an ethical society. Without concern for animals we will exterminate all species. There are several countries where the ethics of animal welfare is late in developing, thus we see many species disappearing rapidly. America had its period of lack of concern for animals, which I will address later. The question is, who determines the ethics, how are ethics determined, and how far should this go?

The two extremes are: (1) complete disregard for animals to the point we treat them cruelly, hunt them into extinction, thus ignoring their welfare, and (2) elevating animals to be equal to or higher than mankind, in essence worshiping them, and allocating an attorney to represent each and every animal.

Ideally, we will be somewhere in the middle. However, Hollywood with the help of the media is trying to push us to option #2. Ethics are codes of moral behavior that are largely set by society. They can change over time. We must be careful not to let the pendulum swing too far in either direction.

Among animals, humans possess the highest ability to think and reason. Primates do not make advances in medical science, engineering, the humanities, etc. We are stewards over all the animals of the earth but not always good stewards. I will deal with the American experience, realizing that we still need to improve in some areas.

Animal rights groups play a role in keeping us on the right path, but some of them believe that animals and humans are equals. Some idolize animals instead of worshiping God. In the beginning God clothed mankind in fur, not polyester or fake fur. Nothing keeps you warm like fur and it is biodegradable. Why do you think animals have fur, or in the case of deer, cattle, and other animals "hollow hair." Hollow hair is an insulating agent and rain does not penetrate it.

Native Americans were proper stewards over the animals. After a hunt, they gave thanks to the Great Creator and revered the animal whose spirit was given up. This is the proper attitude for hunting. Hunting had long been regulated in England and in Europe. When America was discovered, there were no boundaries on hunting, thus, many settlers showed depraved indifference, and they largely decimated many animal species.

Hunting licenses were introduced in the United States in 1937. According to Wikpedia: In 1937, the U.S. Congress passed the Pittman-Robertson Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act, which was "strongly supported by hunters" because "this legislation

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