Animals provide many benefits to our planet and we owe them the respect of humane treatment.
There are over 7 billion people on Earth, and by 2050 there will be 9 billion. That means more mouths to feed, more water to drink, and more land needed for food production. With all this pressure on resources, it’s important that we maintain a sustainable relationship with animals which includes ethical treatment and conservation efforts.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has found that “promoting humane animal husbandry practices can contribute significantly towards poverty alleviation while also providing significant economic benefits.” Animals not only produce food but also fertilizer for crops as well as other products like leather clothing or entertainment such as circus performances or zoo visits. With so much at stake, everyone should be concerned about the humane treatment of animals.
Many people treat their pets like family members but aren’t aware that farm animals are often subjected to cruelty. For example, many chickens raised for consumption are kept in battery cages with less than 1 square foot per bird and can’t even spread their wings. Fortunately, steps are being taken to improve this situation.
Even though animals are considered the property of humans, science proves it otherwise. Studies show that animals can feel pain and emotions similar to us, but they cannot cry out in pain so we need to do something about it before it becomes too late for them.
The less food available through farming or fishing, the more animals will go extinct. If we don’t act soon, it will be very difficult for them to survive with the way humans are treating them.
We cannot begin to imagine how they feel in these situations when no one takes into consideration their feelings; the only thing they ask is respect and freedom.
The importance of animal welfare can also be seen in the economic benefits that come from humane treatment. Studies show that the market for “happy meat” has increased by around 20% since 2009. By raising animals in healthy conditions, farmers may be rewarded with more nutritious products and better quality of their end product; this means a higher value in the marketplace for livestock owners.
The ethical treatment of animals is important since they have their own rights. It’s important for us to respect them, feed them well and take care of them because if the day comes that we cannot feed them anymore it would be very difficult for them to survive.
