Archived: For The Love of God (Ein Sof): Animal Abuse And Exploitation Has To Stop

Edited: Nov 8, 2014.

WARNING: This post contains graphic content that some readers may find disturbing and distressing. Discretion is advised.

Today, we're immersed in the quality of selfishness, seeking to benefit ourselves with no regard for others. Animals suffer cruelly on account of human selfishness. We treat each other so badly, why would we respect other forms of life on earth?

A recent report by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) announced that the world has lost 52% of its biodiversity over the last 40 years. [1]

Jesus Christ was abused, beaten, mistreated, then crucified. Some animals are abused, beaten, mistreated, then killed. Animals are a big part of our lives, and unfortunately, in many cases, our relationship with animals is abusive and exploitative, which has to stop:

FOOD:

Poultry:

Eggs: Hens are kept in small battery cages and can barely move. [2]
Chickens: Broiler chickens bred to be as large as possible, to produce as much meat as possible. As a result, some can't support their own weight. Some suffer leg deformities, broken bones, get fecal burns from resting in their own feces, and some die of heart failure. [3] To prevent pecking, they're debeaked (their beaks are cut off), which leads to acute and chronic pain. [4]
Turkeys: Turkeys are reared in cramped spaces, some become blind due to light manipulations and they're also debeaked. [5]

Pigs:

Sometimes pigs are subjected to negative treatment by their handlers (slaps, punches, kicks and bites). This leads to fear and stress in the animals. [6]
Pigs transported to slaughter suffer terribly. More than 1 million pigs die each year due to the horrors of transport alone. They're beaten, electrical prods are stuck into their rectum to get them to move, they're crammed into 18-wheelers so tightly that their guts pop out of their butts, some die because they freeze to death on the sides of the trucks in winter, some die of heat exhaustion in the summer, and some die of heart attacks due to the stress of the ordeal. At the slaughter house, many pigs aren't stunned properly and they're still alive when they reach the scalding tank. [7]

Cows:

Dairy cattle: Dairy cattle are impregnated continually, calves are immediately separated from their mothers, and cows are given hormones to increase reproduction and to increase milk production. [8] As a result, some have abnormally large udders, which are painful and uncomfortable.
Beef Cattle: Cattle are branded for identification, which is painful. [9] Cattle transported to slaughter suffer terribly. They're crammed into trucks, they freeze to the sides of the trucks in the winter, and they collapse in the summer due to the heat. At the slaughter house they're shot, sometimes unsuccessfully, and they end up dying piece by piece. [10]

Seafood:

Fishing: Overfishing has depleted fish stock worldwide. [11] Often, other unwanted sea creatures are caught in fish nets and die as a result.
Fish Farms: Fish are cramped into small spaces with little room to move. Often, they're riddled with disease. [12]
Sharks: Shark fin soup is a delicacy in some places but their treatment is deplorable. Their fins are cut off and the rest of the living shark is thrown back into the ocean (shark finning), where it dies a slow, cruel death. [13]
Lobsters and Crabs: Lobsters and crabs are kept alive in small, cramped cages in restaurants and at markets. They're cooked alive, dipped into hot boiling water.

Leftover Body Parts:

Unused muscle tissue, tendons, bones and other animal by-products, known as "animal protein hydrolysates" can be added to processed foods, even ice cream. [14] Do we really know what we're eating?

Pesticides:

To control pests, farmers use pesticides, which kills pests and other animals such as birds, severely poisons about 3 million agriculture workers (killing about 18,000) each year, and results in air, water and land/soil pollution and contamination. In the USA, the human health and environmental cost from pesticides is about USD $9.6 billion. [15]

Coffee - Kopi Luwak:

These are coffee beans that have been eaten and defecated by the Asian palm civet, a small nocturnal mammal. The coffee is supposed to be the most expensive in the world; however, the animals are caged and kept in deplorable conditions. [16]

SUMMARY:

The food industry is all about making money, and they seek to achieve profits by whatever means necessary. Unfortunately, animals suffer as a result. We should really think about what we're eating and how animals are treated.
How can we be so cruel? The inhumane treatment of animals can never be justified.

FASHION:

Clothes:

Animals are killed for their fur, and leather is used to make jackets, shoes, belts, wallets, gloves etc.

Jewelry:

Elephants are killed for their ivory.
Oysters are killed for pearls.
There are bear tooth and bear claw necklaces, shark tooth necklaces etc.
There's jewelry made out of animal bones.

ENTERTAINMENT:

Races:

Horse Racing (Gambling): Horses are overworked. Sometimes they break a leg and have to be euthanized, which is what happened to Eight Belles, who broke both front ankles and had to be euthanized on the track. [17]
Greyhound Racing (Gambling): Animals suffer broken legs, broken necks, paralysis and heart attacks. [18]
Running of the bulls is popular in Spain: Sometimes people and/or the bulls are injured. [19]

Fights:

There's bull fighting, dog fighting, cock fighting etc., all harmful to animals.

Zoos:

Animals are kept in small, enclosed spaces, like a prison.

Aquariums:

Sea creatures are kept in small, enclosed spaces.
Dolphins, killer whales and other animals are trained to perform in ridiculous shows.

Circuses:

Animals are trained to perform in ridiculous shows.

Animal Rides:

There are horse rides, camel rides, elephant rides [20] etc. The animals are beaten and mistreated, 'broken' to make them rideable.

Acting:

Animals (dogs, monkeys etc.) are trained to 'act' for the film and television industry. They often look miserable and/or fearful, from being over trained.

Roboroach [21]:

A USA company called Backyard Brains developed a backpack that fits onto a cockroach, allowing a user to control a cockroach. This is cruel and abusive.

PETS:

Pet Stores:

Animals are kept in small confined cages.

Puppy Mills [22]:

Female dogs are mated over and over again to produce puppies.
The dogs are kept in deplorable conditions.

Smuggling:

Exotic animals are smuggled out of their native habitat to be sold elsewhere as 'pets'.

Theft:

Thieves steal other people's pets to sell them for money.

Abuse:

Pets are often physically abused, beaten, mistreated, neglected, starved, sexually abused (bestiality) etc.

Loneliness:

Pets are often left alone by their busy owners for long periods at a time. In Britain, it's estimated that one in four dogs is depressed, caused by the stress of being left alone. [23]

Drugs:

With the recent trend to legalize marijuana for recreational use, pets are also affected and become intoxicated when they inhale the smoke, eat the dried plants, or eat foods laced with marijuana, such as cookies. [24]
Not to mention all the other animals and creatures in and around the home or smoking location (spiders, flies, bees, birds nests, raccoons etc.), that may also be adversely affected.

Hot Cars:

Some owners leave their dogs in hot cars while they run errands, and sometimes the dogs suffer heatstroke or die because temperatures in cars can be up to 20C (70F) greater than the temperatures outside. [25]

Abandonment:

Unwanted pets and other animals are left at shelters or abandoned elsewhere, such as by the side of the road. This is traumatic for the animals.

Food:

Pet food can be expensive, especially for lower income households. As a result, pets may not get the appropriate nutrition or diet.

VETERINARY SERVICES:

Expensive:

Veterinary services are expensive and even though most people want the best for their pets and animals, they may not be able to afford the expensive fees and/or medications. As a result (and because they may not have a choice), some people may let their pets suffer through ailments without medical attention, or (at worst) the animals are put down.

Lack of Personnel:

Another issue is that there aren't enough animal care personnel, which affects the availability of care and the quality of care that animals get.

SEX WITH ANIMALS:

Some people have sex with animals (zoophilia/bestiality), such as with dogs, cats, horses etc. In most countries, bestiality is illegal. [26]

ANIMAL ABUSE:

Some people abuse animals for their own selfish pleasure. For example:

A cat was doused in gasoline and set on fire [27]
A cat was shot 16 times with a pellet gun [28]

PRODUCTS:

Plastic bags, fabric softener, toothpaste and other products have animal ingredients. [29]

TESTING AND RESEARCH:

Animal Testing And Research:

Animals are used for testing drugs, cosmetics and other products, and for other forms of research. Up to 100 million animals are used in animal testing and research annually. [30]

Genetic Mutilations:

Animals are genetically modified/engineered, for example, glowing mice. [31] This is completely unacceptable. Genetic mutilation must stop.

MILITARY:

Underwater Bomb Testing:

Underwater explosions affects the ability of marine animals to communicate [32] and to potentially use sonar for navigation. They become disoriented and may beach themselves in an attempt to escape their hostile environment.

Some animals are used by the military, for example, dolphins. [33]

HEALTH:

Bear Bile:

Some people consume bear bile, considered to be part of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Bears are kept in cages, in cruel, deplorable conditions and bile is extracted from their gall bladder. [34]

Oysters:

Some people eat oysters to increase their libido.

Cancer Detection:

Some dogs (and potentially other animals) can detect cancer. [35]

Seizure Response Dogs:

Some dogs (and other animals) can predict seizures. [36]

Death Prediction:

Some animals can predict death, such as Oscar the therapy cat. [37]

COMPETITIONS:

Equestrian sports:

In competitions such as polo, horse jumping etc., there's often injuries to riders and horses.

Rodeos:

There's bull riding and horse riding, where people and animals are often injured.

Animal Shows:

There are dog shows and other animals shows. Animals compete to be 'best in show', with potential lucrative endorsement deals.
The animals are subjected to questionable treatments in order to meet competition standards.

HUNTING:

Poachers:

Poachers kill elephants for their tusks, rhinos for their horns, animals for their skins etc.
Since 2010, nearly 35,000 elephants have been killed every year in Africa because of the growing market in Asia. [38]

Legal Permits:

In some places, animals (lions, rhinos, bears etc) are legally hunted with permits. Their bodies are stuffed, mounted, then put on display (taxidermy) [39], simply for bragging rights, to show off, and for selfish pleasure and satisfaction.

Whaling and seal hunting is controversial.
Traps:

Animal traps are used to catch animals, by the leg or other body part. This is painful and animals often die a slow, cruel death. .

ANIMAL CONTROL:

Various methods are used to control animals:

Insecticides: Are used to control insects commercially and in the home. The insects die a slow cruel death.
Insect Glue Traps: Are used to catch insects. They're lured to the trap, become trapped in the glue and die a slow cruel death.
Rat/Mouse Poison: Is used to control rats and mice. They die a slow cruel death. Sometimes other animals, such as dogs, eat the poison and are adversely affected.
Rat/Mouse Traps and Glue Traps: Are also used to control rats and mice. They also die a slow cruel death.

WORK:

Guide Dogs:

Help the blind, but sometimes suffer stress due to overexertion.

Police Dogs:

Dogs are trained to accompany police, and just like human officers, sometimes they die in the line of duty.

Mounted Police:

Horses are used by police and sometimes they're shot, run over by cars etc.

Guard Dogs:

Dogs are trained to guard people and their property, but sometimes they're killed intentionally as intruders try to gain access.

Detection Dogs:

Detection dogs (sniffer dogs) detect explosives, drugs etc., at airports, borders and other areas requiring security checks. [40]

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Cows, Horses, Donkeys etc.:

Are used to plow fields.

TEACHING AND EDUCATION:

Cadavers:

Animals are dissected and studied to teach doctors, veterinarians, biology students etc.

Zoology and Animal Research:

Animals are studied to learn more about them. They are the topic of many undergrad and graduate theses and research work.

Horses: Horses are used to teach people how to ride a horse.

TRANSPORTATION:

Horses are used to transport people, pull carriages and wagons.
Donkeys are used to transport people, pull carts and carry loads.
Camels are used to transport people and carry loads.
Dog sleds are used to transport people and goods over ice and snow. Sometimes dog sleds are used in racing.

ACCIDENTS:

Roadkill:

Cars: Animals are killed by cars and trucks, with an estimated 1 million animals killed each day in the USA. [41]
Trains: Trains kill many animals, e.g. four elephants in India. [42]
Airplanes: In 2003 in the USA, there were ~51,000 bird strikes. [43] Sometimes pets travelling with their owners die in the cargo hold. [44]

Windows:

Birds fly into windows because they can't see the glass. They suffer head injuries and become grounded, or they break their necks and die.

Artificial Light:

Some animals (such as moths), are attracted to the light at night. With so much artificial light at night, moths spend hours circles lamps and other artificial light.

Oil Spills:

For example the Exxon Valdez oil spill affected many animals. [45]

POLLUTION:

Air, land and water pollution affects many animals. Some leave their natural habitat looking for safer territory. Others suffer the consequences - mutations, deformations etc. You might see a frog with extra legs. [46]
Mercury builds up in fish because they're high on the food chain. [47]
Sometimes fish just die and nobody knows why. [48]

DECREASE IN HABITABLE LAND:

Melting Ice Packs:

As the ice packs in the Arctic and Antarctic melt, polar bears, penguins, walruses [49] and other animals lose their natural habitat.

Deforestation:

Animals lose their natural habitat and are displaced.

Wildfires:

Whether wildfires are started naturally (lightening strikes) or due to human action, animals become displaced or lose their lives.

Reefs Destroyed:

The popularity of diving has destroyed reefs because divers stand on them, touch them, take souvenirs etc. Reefs are homes to many marine creatures.

Urban Visitors:

As animals lose their natural habitat, they're often drawn to urban centers looking for food. Sometimes they're relocated, sometimes they're euthanized.

WEATHER AND NATURAL DISASTERS:

Natural Disasters:

Some animals can predict the weather and natural disasters before they happen. During the Dec 2004 tsunami, elephants ran for the hills before it struck. [50]

The weather affects animals in many ways. Here are a few examples:

Floods: Affects burrowing animals.
Freezing Temperatures: Birds wings can become frozen so they can't fly.
Hot Temperatures: Animals can be overcome by the heat.
Hurricanes: Bring some marine creatures to shore.
Storms and Strong Winds: Destroy birds nests and other animal homes.

DOMINO EFFECT:

Because all of nature is an integrated, interconnected and interdependent system, when one part of nature is adversely affected, other parts become adversely affected, in a domino effect.
For example, bees pollinate plants, and when bees begin to die for some unknown reason, plant pollination is affected. [51]

While animal protection and animal welfare groups and initiatives exist, such as Greenpeace, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), World Wildlife Fund (WWF), World Animal Protection, government sponsored anti poaching programs, animal conservation groups etc., more should be done.

Round tables need to be established to determine how to permanently eliminate animal abuse and exploitation in the entire world.

Animals are very much a part of our lives, but our relationship with animals doesn't have to be abusive, exploitative and cruel. We can and should interact with animals in a humane, dignified and respectful way. We should find a positive and harmonious balance with all animals and with all of nature. All animals abuse and exploitation has to stop.

We have to change from personal selfishness to mutual bestowal. In everything we do, we should seek to benefit others, including all animals and all life on earth.

This planet is home to many species and it's our job to look after each other and to look after all life on earth.

That said, eventually we'll come to realize that we're surrounded by love, that we've never done anything bad to anyone or to nature, and that nothing bad has ever happened to us, others or to nature. That doesn't mean that people have free license to do whatever they want, not at all. In everything we do, we should seek to benefit others, all animals and all life on earth.

May The One True God, The Infinite God, The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob guide us, may He lead us and may He show us the way.

God is with us and to Him we shall all return.
__________
References:

Living Planet Report 2014. www.worldwildlife.org. World Wildlife Fund (WWF). Retrieved Oct 3, 2014.
Battery cage. www.en.wikipedia.org. Retrieved Sept 23, 2014.
Broiler. www.en.wikipedia.org. Retrieved Sept 23, 2014.
Debeaking. www.en.wikipedia.org. Retrieved Sept 23, 2014.
Domesticated turkey. www.en.wikipedia.org. Retrieved Sept 23, 2014.
Pig farming. www.en.wikipedia.org. Retrieved Sept 23, 2014.
Pig Transport And Slaughter. www.peta.org. Retrieved Sept 23, 2014.
Dairy cattle. www.en.wikipedia.org. Retrieved Sept 23, 2014.
Livestock branding. www.en.wikipedia.org. Retrieved Sept 23, 2014.
Cow Transport and Slaughter. www.peta.org. Retrieved Sept 23, 2014.
Overfishing. www.en.wikipedia.org. Retrieved Sept 23, 2014.
Fish farming. www.en.wikipedia.org. Retrieved Sept 23, 2014.
Shark finning. www.en.wikipedia.org. Retrieved Sept 23, 2014.
Huff, Ethan A. (June 12, 2013). Meat scrap leftovers now being reprocessed into ice cream: The dismal future of food. www.naturalnews.com. Retrieved Sept 23, 2014.
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Kopi Luwak. www.en.wikipedia.org. Retrieved Oct 9, 2014.
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Greyhound racing. www.en.wikipedia.org. Retrieved Sept 23, 2014.
Running of the Bulls. www.en.wikipedia.org. Retrieved Sept 23, 2014.
Ever wanted to ride an elephant? You have to watch this. www.youtube.com. Retrieved Oct 9, 2014.
Row over US mobile phone 'cockroach backpack' app. www.bbc.com. Nov 8, 2013. Retrieved Sept 23, 2014.
Puppy mill. www.en.wikipedia.org. Retrieved Sept 23, 2014.
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Pet Marijuana Intoxication On The Rise. www.petpoisonhelpline.com. Retrieved Sept 29, 2014.
Dogs in Hot Cars. www.peta.org. Retrieved Sept 29, 2014.
Zoophilia. www.en.wikipedia.org. Retrieved Sept 23, 2014.
Golgowski, Nina (May 3, 2013). Kitten horrifically burned after being doused in gasoline and set alight is steadily recovering after losing both ears in the brutal attack. www.dailymail.co.uk. Retrieved Sept 29, 2014.
Cat shot 16 times with BB gun in 'heartbreaking' cruelty case. www.cbc.ca/news. May 19, 2014. Retrieved Sept 29, 2014.
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Genetically modified mouse. www.en.wikipedia.org. Retrieved Sept 23, 2014.
Pavan, Gianni (2002) Effects of underwater noise on marine mammals. http://www-3.unipv.it Retrieved Sept 23, 2014.
Military dolphin. www.en.wikipedia.org. Retrieved Sept 23, 2014.
Bile bear. www.en.wikipedia.org. Retrieved Sept 23, 2014.
Canine cancer detection. www.en.wikipedia.org. Retrieved Sept 26, 2014.
Seizure response Dog. www.wikipedia.org. Retrieved Sept 26, 2014.
Oscar (therapy cat). www.en.wikipedia.org. Retrieved Sept 26, 2014.
Morelle, Rebecca (Aug 18, 2014). Elephant poaching deaths reach tipping point in Africa. www.bbc.com/news. Retrieved Sept 29, 2014.
Taxidermy. www.en.wikipedia.org. Retrieved Sept 23, 2014.
Detection dog. www.en.wikipedia.org. Retrieved Sept 23, 2014.
Roadkill statistics. www.hcn.org. Feb 7, 2005. Retrieved Sept 23, 2014.
Bond, Anthony (May 30, 2013). Four elephants killed when they are hit by a TRAIN speeding through the jungle. www.dailymail.co.uk. Retrieved Sept 23, 2014.
Bird strike. www.en.wikipedia.org. In 2003 in the USA, there were 4,300 bird strikes by the Air Force, 5,900 by civil aircraft, and with an estimated 80% unreported, the total estimate is 51,000 bird strikes. Retrieved Sept 23, 2014.
Pet Deaths In Airplanes Continue, Pressuring Airlines To Change Policy. www.huffingtonpost.com. 10/04/2012. Retrieved Sept 26, 2014.
Exxon Valdez oil spill. www.en.wikipedia.org. Retrieved Sept 23, 2014.
Frog mutations and genetic defects. www.en.wikipedia.org. Retrieved Sept 23, 2014.
Mercury in fish. www.en.wikipedia.org. Retrieved Sept 23, 2014.
Snyder, Michael (Aug 11, 2013) Why Are Millions of Fish Suddenly Dying in Mass Death Events All Over The Planet? www.thetruthwins.com. Retrieved Sept 23, 2014.
Brodwin, Erin (Oct 1, 2014). 35,000 Walruses Are All Crowded Together In One Spot - And It Signals Something Ominous. www.businessinsider.com. Retrieved Oct 3, 2014.
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Honey Bees and Colony Collapse Disorder. www.ars.usda.gov. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). 9/8/2014. Retrieved Oct 9, 2014.

Archived: For The Love of God (Ein Sof)

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Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Animal Abuse And Exploitation Has To Stop