Animal Rights & Welfare

"But I loved going to the zoo as a kid! I want my kids to experience the magic of seeing animals!"

I know. It's hard. Animals are AWESOME. Who doesn't like to be up close to something magical? Except...animals are not THINGS, they're living, breathing beings. They deserve the same dignity and autonomy as humans.

There are several ways to respectfully learn about animals and wildlife. Here are some suggestions:

1. One is to learn about animals through truly conservation based ways. National Geographic and other organizations do a ton of non-invasive documentation about animals in the wild. This year I bought my nephew an entire set of blu-ray documentaries from NatGeo about big cats, oceans, earth, etc. They're probably a little advanced for a 3 year old, but they will be there as a portal to the animal world as he ages. Part of respecting and protecting wildlife is teaching kids that animals don't belong to us. So although it's magical and wonderful to see animals up close and personal, it's not actually our right as humans. It's exploitative even if we have curiosity and good feelings at heart. In the end, in my opinion, no magical experience is worth the suffering that zoo & performing animals face. It's a hard reality to accept. It's basically being truly selfless when it comes to animal welfare. Their well-being trumps any of our personal desires and wishes. And that's hard for most people (and why we still have zoos really).

2. There, unfortunately, will likely always be animal exploitation. I dream of a world without it, but it would take a giant shift in human consciousness for that to happen. So one of things that exist because of that are animal sanctuaries. Animal Sanctuaries exist to take care of animals who can no longer survive on their own "in the wild" due to human exploitation. However, doing your research about what is a true sanctuary is imperative. There are no US laws or regulations on what qualifies as a "sanctuary" so a lot of places that engage in animal exploitation call themselves a "sanctuary" really aren't. There are some reputable organizations that verify places are meeting rigorous requirements of actual animal-centered sanctuary practices. One good one is: Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries. I would only visit a sanctuary that has met rigorous standards. For instance, there's a "sanctuary" outside of where I live that a lot of people frequent. However, they've been cited by the USDA for numerous animal welfare violations. In general, sanctuaries should keep animal welfare as the focus, which generally means, no close contact with humans. Again, this is not what people like to hear -- but it's what is ethically right if we're thinking from a non-speciesist perspective. 

3. Finally, the most expensive option is to observe animals in their natural habitats. This is also something that has to be well researched and weighed to make sure that any safari or cruise or whatever excursion company you work with is actually operating with animals best interest in mind. These trips aren't cheap. So they are often outside of most people's reach. It's a shame, but again, it's what is best for the animals. If it's a cut rate experience, it's probably because they are cutting corners for safety and conservation. 

Here are some additional readings if you'd like to dive into more in-depth info about what I've said above: 

What is Speciesism?

Friends of Animals (lots of great info about animal rights & living ethically)

Primer on Animal Rights

Feminists for Animal Rights

On Intersectionality in Feminism and Veganism

VIDEO: What Does Animal Oppression Have to do With Our Anti-Racist Movements?

It takes a very big perspective shift to see animals as equals. Not everyone agrees and/or not everyone can make the total shift, but that's what I advocate for in my personal life. Thanks for considering the issues.