VEGGIE CHICK! | A veggie on a mission...

Zoos

The human benefits of zoos are obvious. People who may never be able to afford to go and see large animals in the wild can observe them all in their local zoo. Many schools take their pupils to a zoo as part of their science or art lessons and scientists frequently study the animals. For us, a trip to the zoo is a pleasant experience but for animals it is often horribly different.

In most zoos, the enclosures do not mimic the animals natural habitats closely enough and there is nowhere the animals can go to escape from the staring of the visitors during the day. Even in the best zoos, animals which would never normally meet are side by side and animals that normally sleep during the day are kept awake so the visitors can see them. Anybody who's been to a bat house will know what I mean. It's dark in a bat house supposedly because the bats do not like light, in fact it's because bats are nocturnal and only come out at night. The darkness tricks the bats into believing it's nighttime so they are awake for the visitors.

Circuses

It is a widely held belief that animal circuses are now non-existent in the UK and that's partly true. Larger animals such as lions, elephants, tigers and bears are rarely used here now because of the strict laws surrounding their care and working hours and the health and safety risks they pose to the public. However these animals are still used abroad and horses, camels, llamas and parrots are still used in British circuses. Food is often used to make them perform tricks they would never normally do and those who don't perform well are not fed.

Circuses do not settle for long and these animals are forced to travel wherever they're needed. Sedation is often used to make them easier to transport and anyone who's been sedated for an operation will know how poorly you feel when you come round afterwards. It's not a nice experience for animals either.

Marine animals are also used in circuses. Dolphins, seals and sealions are all favoured for these circuses because they are intelligent and docile if raised in captivity. These animals are also forced to perform pointless tricks for our amusement. It is also possible to swim with some of them which attracts thousands of people each year.

Hunting and Shooting

In 2005 after more than 100 years of campaigning, it became illegal in Britain to hunt foxes, hares, deer and mink using a pack of hounds. Most people believe that to be the end of the matter however the law defines a 'pack' as three or more dogs and it is still legal to hunt with one or two. Since the Hunting Act came into force, hunters have exploited this fault in the law and many animals have died. A police spokesperson said in an interview on the night the Hunting Act came into force that they would "go to reasonable lengths to enforce the Act" yet despite sound evidence presented to them by hunt saboteurs, they are showing extreme reluctance to bring any hunters to court, with only a handful of convictions made so far.

Shooting also concerns animal rights campaigners greatly. Birds favoured for shooting include pheasants, geese, partridges and ducks. As shooting wild birds is illegal, the birds are reared specially for the purpose, often in battery cages. Many are so crippled and malnourished that they die when released from their sheds before they are shot down from the sky. The birds who do survive the cages are sent up into the sky and treated like feathered, moving targets. When a bird is shot down and survives, it is clubbed to death instead.

Fishing

Though it isn't often thought of as a 'blood sport', fishing presents a problem to many veggies and vegans. They are more aware than most that fishing is not a harmless pastime enjoyed by off-duty vicars and other harmless sorts but is in fact a sport which causes as much suffering to a captured fish as a fox hunt does to a fox. Fishing supporters would have you believe that when they catch a fish, they kill it quickly and humanely then take it home to cook for their tea (taking all their equipment with them.)

The true story is this- after a fish takes the bait on the line, the hook embeds itself firmly in the roof of its mouth and it's dragged up from the depths of the water. While it's being dragged up from the water, changes in pressure may cause its eyes to bulge or its swim bladder to rupture. When it reaches the surface, the hook is torn from its mouth leaving a gaping wound and it's either left to suffocate to death or clubbed against the ground. The hook meanwhile is prepared for the next victim.

That then, is the basic story of the capture of a fish but there are differences depending on the preferences of the fisherman. Some, for example, keep all the fish they catch in a a freezer box or bowl filled with water and then release them. While that is humane, the capture still causes great pain and distress for the fish, needlessly. Many veggies and vegans believe this suffering in the name of sport (and food) is unjustifiable.

Other Issues

Many veggies and vegans have other problems with the sport and entertainment industries aside from the activities themselves. The difficulty in obtaining animal-friendly sports equipment is one example.

If you consider yourself animal-conscious, be aware that many football boots (as well as the balls themselves) are made from leather. This may come from cows but kangaroo leather is also frequently used. Vegetarian shoe companies stock a wide variety of non-leather boots which you could consider wearing instead. Racquet sports enthusiasts should remember that some manufacturers use suede-coated handles for extra grip and some racquets are strung with catgut which comes from sheep intestines. Alternatives strung with plastic which use rubber grips are widely available.

The same can apply to budding musicians- be sure that your stringed instruments are not strung with catgut and remember that bows are made with horse hair. When buying resin for your bow be sure it's vegetable resin and not an animal-derived type. Ensure cases and straps are not made of leather and avoid polishing cloths made of suede.

If you enjoy camping, remember to choose your campsite carefully, respect the countryside and its wildlife and take your litter home with you. There isn't really a humane way to enjoy fishing (read the last paragraph again) but if you must fish, choose your site carefully, keep any fish you catch in water collected from their own habitat and release them when you're done. Of course, take all your equipment home with you- discarded fishing line and hooks injure thousands of fish, birds and other wildlife every year.