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Myth busting
15 years ago
Welcome to Cicero's cat box.
I need to burst some bubbles here people. So, here are some common myths in the furry community:
1) Zoos treat animals humanely.
This is seldom the case. Some of the largest zoos in the U.S. are the worst. Look up Milwaukee Zoo and the story of Lotta the elephant. Many of you may know about the atrocious ways in which animals are treated by circuses, but still see zoos and marine parks as okay. Think again. There are other options. Consider wildlife refuges such as the International Wolf Foundation in Ely, MN, the International Crane Foundation in Baraboo, WI or Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. All are reputable.
2) The dogs used in sled dog racing are properly cared for and treated with respect.
While there are responsible dog owners who engage in dog sledding, no practice of animal racing is humane. Animals used for racing are often exploited, abused, and live short lives. How would you like to spend your life on a 4 foot chain, only being let off of it to be harnessed to a sled. Of course you would run if you lived this existence, and if you couldn't keep up, the rest of the team would be dragging your dead corpse. Throw in the very real problem of global warming and how much of the ice trail the Iditarod is ran on is less than stable, and the new problem of drowning dogs only makes this annual event into an even bigger blood bath.
3) Buying an animal from a pet shop is acceptable.
I could go on about drugging of puppies and kitties into complacency, puppy mills, and all of that, but let us look at small pets. The kind that many think are still "ok" to get from a pet store. When it comes to exotic birds, fish and reptiles, many are brought into this country illegally. Captured in the wild, their health compromised in transit, many don't make it through the journey. What is worse is what happens at many pet stores. The large chain Petco is perhaps the worst of all. Often times sick or injured animals are removed from public view but remain untreated. At one such Petco store, a sick parrot was moved to the store room and sat under an infrared light where it was literally cooked to death. Unlike reputable breeders, humane societies and rescues, pet stores operate strictly on a profit motive. It is best to find a reputable breeder that guarantees the health of the animal, or adopt an unwanted pet from a rescue.
1) Zoos treat animals humanely.
This is seldom the case. Some of the largest zoos in the U.S. are the worst. Look up Milwaukee Zoo and the story of Lotta the elephant. Many of you may know about the atrocious ways in which animals are treated by circuses, but still see zoos and marine parks as okay. Think again. There are other options. Consider wildlife refuges such as the International Wolf Foundation in Ely, MN, the International Crane Foundation in Baraboo, WI or Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. All are reputable.
2) The dogs used in sled dog racing are properly cared for and treated with respect.
While there are responsible dog owners who engage in dog sledding, no practice of animal racing is humane. Animals used for racing are often exploited, abused, and live short lives. How would you like to spend your life on a 4 foot chain, only being let off of it to be harnessed to a sled. Of course you would run if you lived this existence, and if you couldn't keep up, the rest of the team would be dragging your dead corpse. Throw in the very real problem of global warming and how much of the ice trail the Iditarod is ran on is less than stable, and the new problem of drowning dogs only makes this annual event into an even bigger blood bath.
3) Buying an animal from a pet shop is acceptable.
I could go on about drugging of puppies and kitties into complacency, puppy mills, and all of that, but let us look at small pets. The kind that many think are still "ok" to get from a pet store. When it comes to exotic birds, fish and reptiles, many are brought into this country illegally. Captured in the wild, their health compromised in transit, many don't make it through the journey. What is worse is what happens at many pet stores. The large chain Petco is perhaps the worst of all. Often times sick or injured animals are removed from public view but remain untreated. At one such Petco store, a sick parrot was moved to the store room and sat under an infrared light where it was literally cooked to death. Unlike reputable breeders, humane societies and rescues, pet stores operate strictly on a profit motive. It is best to find a reputable breeder that guarantees the health of the animal, or adopt an unwanted pet from a rescue.
