Circuses and Zoos
Circus life is no fun for animals who spend most of their lives
travelling in cramped cages or chains to prevent them from running
away. Lonely and miserable, they are beaten and otherwise hurt
to force them to perform stupid, silly and even dangerous tricks.
Click here to find out more about circuses.
While some zoos and aquariums say they try to make ‘natural
habitats’ for the animals they collect, life for captive
animals is about as natural as it would be if you were kidnapped
and taken to the Tihar Jail to live—permanently. Many
zoo animals suffer from neglect and abuse, too. Although zoos
claim to be educational, the real lesson is that it is OK to
imprison animals and force them to live dull, boring, lonely
lives in cramped unnatural conditions, far from their real homes
and never able to see their families again. Click here for information
on the suffering of animals in zoos.
If you do not want to support cruelty to animals, stay away
from circuses and zoos. If your teacher is planning a field
trip to a circus or zoo, speak up! Explain your concerns and
suggest an alternative outing that does not support cruelty
to animals. Let your classmates know what’s wrong with
circuses and zoos, too. Chances are that other students will
share your concerns. And even though teachers might seem to
know more than you, they may not realise why circuses and zoos
are cruel for animals. Educate them! And if a circus comes to
your town, enlighten others in your community about abusive
animal acts by writing a letter to the editor of your newspaper.
Write to PETAKids@petaindia.org for free information about circuses
and zoos.
Animal Races
In nature, horses, camels and other animals used in races only
run at breakneck speed when in danger, not for fun. Horses who
stop winning races are often killed with a bullet to the head.
Or they are ‘retired’ to research facilities that
bleed them to death for the production of serums and vaccines.
Greyhounds used in racing suffer similar fates. On the track,
injuries and illness, including broken legs, heatstroke and
heart attacks, claim the lives of many dogs. Off the track,
dogs spend much of their lives confined to cramped cages until
the next race begins.
People who use cows, buffaloes and bullocks for races use various
cruel methods, including the use of red chilli powder, beatings
and alcohol to get the animals drunk.
Did you know even though the government banned bullock racing,
bullock-cart races and greyhound races are still being organised
in rural sports meets at Phallewal and Kila Raipur Rural Olympics
in Punjab? Bullock-cart racing is still popular in Punjab.
In Bhatinda, Punjab, 200 hares were killed in a dog race.
So, how can you help stop animal racing in your town? Boycott
the cruelty by telling everyone you know not to purchase a ticket
to the event. Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper
to educate others about what happens to animals who are used
in races. Write and call your local municipal officials and
urge them to ban animal races. If your parents plan a trip to
an animal race, let them know that animal races are cruel to
animals and suggest a different outing that doesn’t include
animal cruelty—like a Go-Karting party! Talk to your friends
and classmates about the issue and enlist their help in designing
leaflets to hand out to people outside the races. (For information
about cruelty to animals in racing, write to PETAKids@petaindia.org.)
Dissection
Does your school still require students to cut up dead and/or
live animals as part of its science curriculum? Dissection teaches
students a dangerous lesson—that animals are merely objects
to use, kill and throw away. The many existing humane alternatives,
including realistic models and computer lessons, are more effective
learning tools and can be reused for years.
Click here for everything you will
ever need to educate your teachers about compassion and getting
dissection off your schedule.
Animals Killed for Meat
Are you thinking about vegging out? If you would like to do
the animals a big favour and get them off your plate and out
of your stomach, a super-cool vegan diet (one that is free of
animal flesh, milk, eggs and other by-products) is the healthy
and humane choice. Click
here for helpful information for caring kids who do not
want to eat their animal friends.
