When we see someone stone a stray dog or aim a catty at a pigeon, we know that we are witnessing a form of animal abuse. However, there are many more situations in which animals are abused that we take for granted, sometimes that we don't even know about. Lassie and Benji are a joy to watch, but could we be certain that undue pressure was not put on the poor animal actors to get them to perform for the films?

Internationally, the animal rights lobby has succeeded in framing and enforcing strict rules and regulations under which animals can be used for entertainment, experiments, and other forms of commercial profit. The rules exist here too. Let's take a quick look at what activities could involve insidious or more obvious forms of animal abuse.

1. Requiring them to perform acts which are unnatural to them for entertainment, in films or in advertising, using negative reinforcement as a training tool.

2. Housing them in unnatural, cramped surroundings in zoos and laboratories.

3. Transporting food animals in terrible conditions, because "they are going to die" anyway. Many die before they reach the slaughter place.

4. Inhumane methods of slaughter for food.

5. Overworking them, typical among horses used in tongas.

6. Making them fight against each other, like cock fights and bull fights.

7. Using them for experiments, when alternatives are available.

8. Killing them to sell their trophies, more expensive when rare, such as ivory, tiger skin and claws, shahtoosh.

We often silently encourage such abuse, out of ignorance rather than complacency. But if we know about these cruelties, perhaps it could help us avoid being in situations where we inflict them unconsciously.

The GSPCA will be holding a special workshop to understand and counter experimentation on animals in November, 2001.

Email lynn@goaspca.com, or click on the Contact Us link, if you are interested in such topics and doing something about them.