POL 300 Day 16: March 20

Do animals have the right to a certain quality of life?

I think so. It is important to recognize how rare life is in my view. Scientists have not found life anywhere else in the universe besides our own planet. To treat a living thing without respect and a certain level of dignity is to take for granted and mistreat the gift that we have all been given as human beings. Therefore, it is only just that we treat all animals, even those that are meant for slaughter, with some respect while they are alive.


"In a way we are not producing chickens, we are producing food." What does this statement mean?

To me this statement means that we are no longer treating chickens as living things but instead, we treat them as brainless, non-living tangible objects that are heading for our bellies. Wherein we used to treat chickens with respect and allow for natural behaviors, such as roosting, foraging for food, etc., chicken farmers no longer let these habits take place. So in a way, chickens are merely grown like fruits or vegetables, and are viewed no better.

Who has the responsibility to oversee the treatment of animals that are put into the food system?

In my view the USDA or FDA should be in charge of doing this but in order for that to happen I think there will have to be a movement by voters in that direction. Ultimately, we are the ones who determine what we see as right or wrong to consume; therefore, it is up to us to see that we are eating animals that were handled with dignity and respect.

Should this be an issue that government ensure that animals have a certain quality of life?

Most definitely. It is the humane and moral thing to do. You can go to jail for mistreating or handling a dog or a cat (ask Michael Vick), which makes me think that chickens, cows, and pigs should be no different. To say otherwise would be to sanction, in my eyes, the killing and mistreatment of any animal. Also, and probably the most convincing argument to get Americans on board, is that nicely treated animals simply taste better (vegans hate it when I saw that). It baffles me that when I talk to people who have heard about Kobe beef they talk about how delicious it is meant to be but don't realize the reason why these cows are so delicious (they really are too) is because they essentially get the health spa treatment prior to slaughter and lead a very low-stress life. Personally, I'll take grass-fed, free-range beef any day compared to the factory farm way of doing things. Can you pass the A-1?

What did the film bring up about people's rights?

I think this film highlighted the rights that workers have to working conditions that are kept as safe as possible. Yes, working with blades and other sharp tools within the beef industry will cause some injuries, but it is simply unacceptable to allow as many injuries that are taking place in the beef industry to continue.

Do we have a right to know how an animal was raised prior to us consuming that animal?

There are a number of a reasons why people do have the right to know. Religion is a prime example. Jews and Muslims alike have to follow strict guidelines when it comes to their diet and must eat foods that are either kosher or halal. That is basic. To lower risks to my health, I would certainly like to know if the beef, pork, or chicken I was eating came from a place where the animals slept in its own feces all the time or whether it was free to graze and behave like it normally would. Food poisoning is, figuratively and literally, a pain in the ass and any chance I can avoid eating something that will increase the risk I will do so.