Challenge #41: Can we stop animal abuse?

Do not support animal abuse.

Do not give your money to organizations that abuse animals.

abused animals

“My heart weeps when I see abuse or cruelty to any animal.”

-Anthony Douglas Williams

 Hey, guys!

We’ve all been to an animal circus, an animal theme park, a ZOO, or some other park that uses animals to make money before. Moreover, you probably had a good time there and your kids (if you have any) sure enjoyed seeing all those great animals in person.

We remember us swimming with dolphins a few years back. We were super excited about it, took tons of photos, and basically had a great time. That was before we realized we have to make some changes; before we thought of starting our Be a Good Earthling project. That was when we started looking into animal rights in more detail.

Don’t get us wrong, we’ve always loved animals and wouldn’t do anything to hurt them, we just didn’t see the bigger picture yet. So, the main point of this week’s challenge is to get you to open your eyes and realize that more or less every organization that uses animals to make money is performing animal abuse in some way.

Sure, some of those ways are more subtle and less cruel than others, but essentially, animal rights are being violated there on daily basis.

What is an animal abuse?

When we hear about animal abuse, we mostly think about animals being harmed, bitten, or starved. But there are others forms of animal abuse. For instance, to take a cub from the wild, from its mom and use it to sell tickets is also animal abuse. To drug an animal so that it’s safer for visitors (us human) to interact with it is also an animal abuse.

“If you don’t like seeing pictures of violence towards animals being posted, you need to help stop the violence, not the pictures.”

-Jonny Depp

Wild animal belongs to the wild and not into a cage, and that is that. There is not a single ZOO or theme park, or circus that provides their animals with the space they need. Not to mention many shady and cruel techniques that are being used to train those animals.

The truth about animals in captivity

There are probably some animals that were brought to ZOO’s to be saved and would have died otherwise but in many cases, that kind of “rescue” stories are completely made up. Usually, animals that are seen in ZOOs, theme parks, circuses and other money making shows or animal-human interaction centers were either stolen from the wilderness as offsprings or are results of arranged mating or artificial insemination of animals already in captivity. Cause nothing makes money like cubs, right? Which is just wrong since that way they bring another animal to this world that will be forced to spend its entire life behind the bars.

There are parks around the world where people help animals and then do the best they can to release them back into the wild. Those parks offer huge enclosures for animals that are in transition of getting them ready for wilderness. Those are the ones actually helping the animals.

All we ask of you is to keep the information you’ve read in mind and try not to spend your money on organizations that abuse animals in any way. You’ll be doing animals a great favor if you’ll do so. All those animal abusing businesses are there because we support them. Remember that!

“Animals should not require our permission to live on earth. Animals were given the right to be here long before we arrived.”

-Anthony Douglas Williams

Take-home points:
  • Don’t give your money to the organizations that abuse animals.
  • Tell your kids the truth – teach them that animals belong in the wild (pets aside).
  • It’s way better to watch a documentarian than to visit a ZOO.
  • There are ways to see animals in their natural habitat (a safari for instance).

Have a lovely week and do the best you can.

Love,

Good Earthlings

8 thoughts on “Challenge #41: Can we stop animal abuse?

  1. Hello!

    Wow, after reading this it really made me think. That’s so sad! I love animals! I brought my daughter to the sea life park and zoo many times, damn i feel so guilty.
    That’s so true these parks and zoos are still there because of us. I won’t be doing that anymore.
    Thank you for opening my eyes and I will share this.

    Maria

    • Hey, there, Maria!

      We really don’t want you to feel guilty. It’s hard for those of us that love animals to stay away from them. It’s always amazing to see animals in person. However, we must keep in mind the background story and the fact that ZOO, sea life parks, and animal circuses are really bad for animals in most of the cases.

      Thank you for realizing and accepting the truth. 🙂

      Warm regards,

      Good Earthlings

  2. I looked at that picture and felt terrible in that very moment. I have always been an animal lover and it really is painful for me to see the injustice we humans do against them knowingly or unknowingly.

    Though I have always been against animal abuse. I just realized this after reading your post that I have never done anything to stop it.

    I went to a zoo 2 months ago and for the first time in my life, I noticed the board containing information which enlightened me that their life is actually reduced a lot in captivity. They belong to wild.

    I will inquire about in what ways I am causing this injustice unknowingly, thank you making me realize that, you are doing a very noble work!

    • You are more than welcome, Hari. It is our pleasure. Stay around.

      Love, GE

  3. I think this is very eye-opening article for those who don’t want to believe that there are animals being hurt every day, just for the fun of it or to get revenue from them.

    It looks like many people think animals are at our service and we can use them for our own profit. That’s so wrong!

    I really hope many people read this and realize that we have to stop doing this, we’re the ones in conflict with nature and calling ourselves the dominant race. I feel ashamed of my own race.

    Thanks so much for this guys. We need more poeple like you creating awareness about this.

    • Hi, Israel!

      “I really hope many people read this and realize that we have to stop doing this, we’re the ones in conflict with nature and calling ourselves the dominant race.” – exactly.

      Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us. And thank you for the supporting word.

      Stay around.

      Love,

      GE

  4. I love that Johnny Depp quote…It really does hurt my heart to see photos of animals being abused but those images are what has prompted me to make some changes to my life. We cannot turn a blind eye. I’m ashamed that I used to visit the zoo, Seaworld, the circus before I knew better. I haven’t been back and don’t plan to. Thank you for writing this article.

    • You’re more than welcome, Katie. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us.

      Kindest regards

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