Animal rights issues

There are many different aspects of our lives which involve animals. These are categorised below and a closer look at each is presented, revealing acts of appalling cruelty and a lack of respect for non-human animals.

Farmed animals
Where animals are viewed as mere resources, there is little room for kindness. The issues covered here include intensive farming, physical maiming of animals (branding), long-distance transport and slaughter methods.

Research
Medical, scientific and military research and education, as well as the testing of most household products frequently involves live experiments on animals, or the use of their body parts.

Entertainment
Circuses, menageries, sports and the film and advertising industries.

Companion and working animals
All animals which are kept as "pets" are subject to many forms of abuse, starting with their sale in pet shops and often ending in abandonment, neglect and sometimes horrific abuse. Animals which are "employed" in working positions, such as security and transport, need to be protected from abuse as well.

Conservation
Conservation of species is often placed above the needs of individual animals. Their suffering is often flatly ignored as being irrelevant, or considered a fair price to pay for species survival. Issues regarding the protection of endangered species include: culling, poaching, trophy hunting, captive breeding and habitat destruction.