Sports shouldn’t have a downside when it comes to animals. But it does. It needs to stop!
PETA stands for ‘People For The Ethical Treatment Of Animals,’ and the organization is at the center of the animal rights movement. Other organizations are, too, including the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and The Humane Society of the United States. I support these organizations because I believe animals should be treated humanely.
Sadly, animals have been treated inhumanely in the name of sports. Here are egregious examples.
Dogfighting (photo, Dog Time)
Dogfighting: In 2007, it came to light that Atlanta Falcons’ quarterback Michael Vick was involved in dogfighting. In dogfighting, dogs fight to the death as spectators cheer and gamble on the winner. And when dogs can’t fight any longer (injury or age), they are electrocuted, shot, hanged, drowned, or beaten. Pitbulls often meet that fate. Dogfighting is illegal, but it’s still around.
Cockfighting: This is another brutal sport. Roosters are pitted against each other in a to the death. Birds are trained to fight, and fowl that can’t are slaughtered. Cockfighting is also illegal, but it’s also still around.
Greyhound racing: In this endeavor, dogs are treated like racehorses as people gamble. Deaths and injuries are par for the course as hundreds of dogs die each year with deaths related directly to racing. Next year–and after a long and drawn-out battle–Florida will become the first state to end greyhound racing.
The Iditarod: Dogs race across frozen lands and many of them don’t make it to the finish line.
Courtesy: The Guardian
Thoroughbred horse racing: Many racehorses die each year in America. The epicenter is Santa Anita in California. The industry says it doesn’t know why, and that it’s doing everything it can to protect racehorses. But those assertions are weak and incomplete.
Rodeos: It’s ‘man over animals’ in the rodeo business. Animals are ridden, roped, and taunted to the delight of audiences who pay to watch. It’s inappropriate to use animals this way for entertainment. Worse yet, many people make their living this way.
Bullfighting: This is the international version of rodeos. Bulls are taunted and killed to audience delight. This cultural tradition needs to end.
Monkey rodeos: Monkeys riding dogs? This spectacle used to be a regular at baseball games. Thankfully, Minor League Baseball has taken a stand against this practice. The practice is neither funny nor cute.
Donkey basketball (photo, Modern Farmer)
Donkey basketball: Animals kicked and beaten for charity? There are other ways to raise money–ways that don’t involve hurting animals. It needs to stop.
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Don’t participate in any of these activities. Walk away if you’re at an event, and any of these activities take place.
There’s no place for animal cruelty in sports!
