Okay, I'm bored to death. No one else is really on here right now. So, time to start a new argument.

ANIMAL RIGHTS

What made me think of this was PETA's complaints about the way the Kentucky Derby went this year. Now, I'm a horse person, but they're claims are rediculous. Animal rights is a term that's been thrown around so much that it has nothing to do with the rights of the animals anymore.

I think they're all insane. What do other people think, what are your beliefs on animals (humane treatment, etc.) and what ... yeah?

(Random tidbit here: If groups like that are all for the rights of animals, then why do they support spay/neuter groups? Is that REALLY what the animals want? Do you really think that they want to be castrated? I think not.)

I'm not sure about PETA's issue about the Kentucky Derby but in general I support most things they (PETA) do. Animals are living things too, they feel pain just like us. If someone kicks a dog until something breaks what makes that worse than doing it to a human?

In general people who hurt animals are not good people. Odds are if they have no qualms about laying into an animal they'll have no problem doing that to a human either. To use an example, recently in Australia there was a news story about how some kids in a car chased down a woman & her dogs, running over one & then backing back over it. If you think that someone like that can operate in normal society without reform you need to adjust the way your viewing the world. It's just sick.

As always, my honest opinion.

PETA - People for the Eating of Tasty Animals!

Animals have a right to be tasty and provide me with warm fur.

'Nuff Said....

Originally Posted by Chaser

I'm not sure about PETA's issue about the Kentucky Derby but in general I support most things they (PETA) do. Animals are living things too, they feel pain just like us. If someone kicks a dog until something breaks what makes that worse than doing it to a human?

In general people who hurt animals are not good people. Odds are if they have no qualms about laying into an animal they'll have no problem doing that to a human either. To use an example, recently in Australia there was a news story about how some kids in a car chased down a woman & her dogs, running over one & then backing back over it. If you think that someone like that can operate in normal society without reform you need to adjust the way your viewing the world. It's just sick.

As always, my honest opinion.

I think it is more a case of people having a responsibility toward animals than a case of animals having rights.
However as with most groups they start out with a good idea and gradually become fanatics.

Originally Posted by MontyB

I think it is more a case of people having a responsibility toward animals than a case of animals having rights.
However as with most groups they start out with a good idea and gradually become fanatics.

Good point.

Don't get me wrong, i'm no fanatic about animal rights or anything like that. I eat meat (Even Veal, I'm a bad man) & all the trimmings that go along with being a regular person. I just have no respect for cowards who hurt animals just for the sake of hurting them. Something which we hear too much of, in Australia anyway.

I think the concept of animal rights is kind of ridiculous. PETA act as though animals don't kill and eat each other on a daily basis. Sometimes they kill each other just for the sake of killing (especially chimpanzees). They're animals. Nature is savage and wild. We're part of the food chain as well, we just happen to be at the top (when armed).

I just can't bring myself to care too much about animals, though I do think it is totally evil and sadistic to put them through unnecessary suffering if you're going to kill them.

That being said, if someone were to intentionally hurt my friends' pets there'd be hell to pay.

I think part of the problem has been that in order to prosecute people mistreating animals they had to effectively give them rights via the law which were then picked up by these "protection groups" and blown all out of proportion.

Chaser actually has a point here.

Most serial killers like Bundy and Dalmer got started by torturing animals before moving to bigger game. Thats why cruelty should be punished.

Other times PETA exaggerates. Unless its proven that 8 Belles was raced despite the knowledge that this race would result in her euthanasia, otherwise its just an unfortunate accident.

My understanding of horse racing is limited, but from what I hear this type of accident is extremely rare.

Originally Posted by mmarsh

Other times PETA exaggerates. Unless its proven that 8 Belles was raced despite the knowledge that this race would result in her euthanasia, otherwise its just an unfortunate accident.

My understanding of horse racing is limited, but from what I hear this type of accident is extremely rare.

This is a little off topic but I have no real idea of what PETA was protesting about the Kentucky Derby but from mmarsh's post I get the idea. I don't understand why a trainer would willingly race a horse if they knew that it would have to be euthanised after the race. Racing Horses don't grow on trees nor are they cheap, along with the huge time investment.

Seems like PETA over-reacting to me.

Originally Posted by Chaser

This is a little off topic but I have no real idea of what PETA was protesting about the Kentucky Derby but from mmarsh's post I get the idea. I don't understand why a trainer would willingly race a horse if they knew that it would have to be euthanised after the race. Racing Horses don't grow on trees nor are they cheap, along with the huge time investment.

Seems like PETA over-reacting to me.

Allow me to reexplain:

The allegation was that the horse was in no condition to run due to a previous injury, and that the owners ran her anyway. They didn't expect the horse would get injured this way so they took a gamble and lost, (as did the horse). You can see the temptation to take such a risk, as a Kentucky Derby win is worth Millions in Prize, Punting, Advertising, and Studing monies. If its true, punish the owners. Its cruel to the animal and tarnishes the sport.

PETA doesnt like horse racing, so its entirely possible they are trying to bring the opposition to horse racing to a public light.