No person with a mildly-functioning conscience can look at a photograph or live image of an animal being treated cruelly and not be disturbed. Animals are so helpless and innocent. They cannot speak and many cannot even defend themselves against the might of man. Whether these images are live footage or still photographs — they are difficult to digest. To see such suffering is painful.
[teaserbreak]
Commitment to ending animal abuse and exploitation requires one to be exposed to disturbing images. But without the exposure, we cannot know the extent of the cruelty and take steps to effect change — whether it is a brief letter to an elected official, or actually intervening in a situation where an animal is being abused. People need to know. The frequent response, “I know it happens, I just can’t bear to look” does little to acknowledge there is a serious problem and consider what can be done to address it.
No doubt about it — animal cruelty is offensive. The recent story and undercover video featured on ABC’s Nightline showed extremely disturbing treatment of chimpanzees and other primates at the University of Louisiana’s New Iberia Research Center. Certainly it was difficult to watch, but people need to know what is happening at medical laboratories throughout the nation. Knowledge is power. Act on it!
We inflict terrible suffering on primates and millions of other animals to find cures for diseases, and in doing so, damage the most important part of being human — our conscience!
Please write your congressional representatives and urge them to strengthen and enforce the Animal Welfare Act and wherever possible encourage the use of alternatives to animal research.
Blogging off,
Susan