by Brian Botdorf

Created on: February 16, 2010   Last Updated: August 02, 2010

Should circuses be banned for their treatment of animals?

Through out history, man has used animals for everything from food, farming, travel, hunting and even for companionship. The Horse has helped us conquer the frontier, helped us farm land, travel long distances and carry equipment we couldn't have done on our own. Dogs have helped us hunt, protects us from intruders and even lowered our blood pressure through simple companionship. Elephants have helped us clear out large areas and carry heavy equipment. The use of animals through out history has been the “cornerstone” of our success as a species on this planet. Now that we live in a time where they no longer are a necessity we have found other ways to use them. We use them for amusement. For monetary gain. The very animals that helped us advance as a industrial race is now being rewarded through mental and physical abuse. Proverbs 12:10 tells us, “ A righteous man cares for the needs of his animal, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.”

Circuses through out history have been notorious for its cruelty towards animals. Confined hours in cages, brutal training methods such as whips, tight collars, muzzles, electric prods, bull-hooks and other painful tools are some examples of the physical abuse these animals have and still endure. The Caging of territorial animals together and social animals apart are some examples of the mental abuse they also must endure at the hands of man. Forcing an animal to ride a bicycle, jump through hoops of fire or stand on a small stool in face of its abuser as thousands of spectators cheer on, reeks havoc on their mental state. Its only purpose in the end is monetary for the greedy and entertainment for the bored. In this day and age of computers, television, movies, music, theater and so many other forms of entertainment, how can we as a civilized, intelligent society allow for these venues of abuse for our amusement to go on?

Empathy is a product of intelligence and is unique only to Humans. It is a result of years of evolution. Killing is a common denominator in all animals including humans . A necessity for survival. A primal function of our ancestors, while we ran around like apes in Africa trying to find food to survive. As we evolved we developed are ability to understand and feel things on a more advanced level. Empathy is defined as the ability to feel what someone or some animal must be feeling. An intellectual by product of survival.

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