Should animals be used in Sports and entertainment - Research Paper Example

?Should animals be used in Sports and entertainment? The debate of whether to use animals for purpose of sports and entertainment has been ongoing for quite some time now. One side of the argument defends the use of animals in sports by saying that there is nothing really wrong in such an act and that animals can be fairly treated and even receives stardom which can be in the interests of animals similar to humans. On the other hand, animal rights activists argue that participation of animals in sports is wrong because it tends to lead to animals being treated with cruelty. Due to this, they argue that such participation and involvement violates even the most basic animal rights. I think that if the animals are used rationally and ethically, then using animals in sports will not cause any harm to anyone, and will only provide entertainment to all the involved stakeholders. The side in favor of using animals for sports and entertainment present their views that involvement of animals in activities of sports and entertainment is a normal practice and it has been used for centuries in cultural activities. There are a number of cultural events in Spain and South America which use bulls who end up either running on the roads and striking whoever comes in their way, or trying to hit the waving cloth. These activities do not cause harm to the participating animals in any way and therefore there is nothing unethical about this. (Debatepedia) On the other side, the opposing side argues that such cultural activities are what promote the use of animals in a brutal way. They argue that humans tend to go a step further and involve the animals in a cruel game or way. According to them, if the use of animals in simple sports and entertainment is banned, then the brutal games will be finished itself. The side against the involvement of animals for means of sports and entertainment also argues that animals should also not be used for showing skills and displaying their trained nature to the public. Such activities are performed in the circus where the wild animals are trained to behave in an unnatural way of publicly accepted attitude by the force of a whip (RSPCA Victoria). Also they see the elephant rides as unethical as this means that the commercial purpose promoters are using the animals as a means to an end and not as an end themselves. This is according to the categorical imperative introduced by Immanuel Kant (Kant). In this context, it can be related to the fact that the animals are used for commercial purposes and not taken care of because they are animals. In response to this, the side in favor of utilization of animals for entertainment and sports present their views that the circus is where the public, particularly children, experience these animals. When the general public watches and experiences these animals, only then they fall in love with these animals. They argue that one can only love an object or living being if he or she watches and experiences it. When these people see these animals in circus or in zoo, they fall in love with them and then they take care of them. Therefore, usually circus and zoo turns out to be the first step of taking care of the animals on the part of general public and eventually falling in love with them. Most people do not go on safari rides or jungles to see the wildlife and therefore their only chance of watching these animals is in zoo or circus. Therefore, it is also fair to the humans to experience the gifts of nature in the shape of animals, and also there is nothing wrong in doing this. Humans who like to play and enjoy usually tend to feel good when they are involved in sporting activities. When a person who loves to play football play well end up in a good mood when it plays football. Also jolly people who like to enjoy feel happy when they are involved in an act of entertainment as this makes them and others laugh and enjoy. Similar to people are animals who also feel happy when they play and provide entertainment. Most of the animals have playful personalities and are very active who like to be involved in physically demanding activities The side opposing to the use of animals for sports and entertainment argue that by using animals for such purposes, we are actually showing that we consider animals as inferior to humans and deliberately treat them as if we rule them. Using the same argument, it can be said that animals can also be treated as equals to humans because in this way, they can do and enjoy similar to humans. Animals may actually like to play and provide entertainment which is very much similar to the human nature. It is already mentioned that most of the animals possess playful and high energy personalities, and therefore by involving them in events of sports and entertainment will make them even happier. (Juggle.com Debates) The adversary has often conducted protests against the use of animals in games such as hunting. They say that it is barbaric to hunt down the animals for a game and also it is unethical and unfair to the animals that get this treatment just because they are not as powerful and intelligent as the humans are (Korthals). In response to this, the favoring side defends its stance by arguing that it is the nature to survive and live on the expense of someone else whether it is a human or an animal. It is the natural law that one survives and thrives when it steps up on the expense of someone else. Even if humans are not involved in this matter, animals hunt other animals which are actually inferior to them and hunt them down either to bring a danger to an end and make themselves safe and secure, or to feed on it. This is a law of nature which is essential to follow if one intends to survive and that one has to survive on the expense of another. Since this case holds because one cannot deny any law of nature, it is alright if a human hunts down an animal. Also, killing pests is generally accepted in the society and by many of the adversaries as well. Therefore, animals such as insects and foxes who are actually pests and cause harm can be hunted down (White). Actually hunting these animals down can be beneficial for these animals because they will be hunted by any other animal if not from a human. When another animal kills an animal, it usually hurts or poisons the prey so that the victim animal dies very painfully and slowly. On the other hand, when an animal is hunted by a human, it is usually killed instantaneously and thus does not suffer the same level of suffering as it would have done otherwise. This turns out to be a blessing in disguise because the animal dies in a much less painful way as compared to what would have happened if it would have become a prey of some other animal. Also, the people who fish for enjoyment and sport usually throw the fish back into water and therefore no lasting harm is done to the fish. Another argument in favor of using animals for sports and entertainment is that animals that are used for these purposes are usually treated better than other animals that live in wildlife. Dogs which are nurtured for fighting purposes are fed with very good and healthy appetite specifically for this purpose. These animals have to be fed well to give good results and perform nicely in the competition. Similarly, animals who are nurtured for entering beauty contests receive good and healthy diet to ensure they end up with good skin texture and perform nicely in the competition. Same is the case with the horses. Horses are specially bred and fed to ensure that their health is good. Professional veterinarians take good care of the health of these horses so that they can run in the race with full fitness. The treatment that these animals receive is far better than they would have got in the wildlife and therefore it is only good for the animals (Scherer). Considering all these factors and advantages and disadvantages of using animals for purposes of sports and entertainment, it can be rightly said that such a use is for the good of the stakeholders. These actions and performances do not cause harm to the animals and the special love and treatment they get is way better than what they would have got in the wildlife had they been on their own. Bibliography Debatepedia. Debate: Animals in sports and entertainment. . Juggle.com Debates. Should animals be used as objects of sport and entertainment? . Kant, Immanuel. "The Metaphysic of Morals." Google Books. . Kidz World. Should Animals Be In Sports. . Korthals, Michiel. "Weak ethics. Strong feelings." . RSPCA Victoria. Animals in Sport and Entertainment. . Scherer, Donald. "Existence, Breeding, and Rights: The Use of Animals in Sports." DigitalCommons@CalPoly. . White, Rob. COntroversies in Environmental Sociology. Cambridge University Press, 2004. Read More