In What Ways Do Humans Harm Animals?

;

Cited Works -)

adam is polska

National Wildlife Federation, “Endangered Species Act,” <http://www.nwf.org/wildlife/wildlife-conservation/endangered-species-act.aspx> 2012

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, “Pesticides: Topical & Chemical Fact Sheets,” <http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/chemicals/ddt-brief-history-status.htm> May 9, 2012

Scientific American, “Measuring the Daily Destruction of the World's Rainforests,” <http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/earth-talks-daily-destruction/> 2014

Animal Legal Defense Fund, “Animal Testing and the Law,” <http://www.aldf.org/resources/when-you-witness-animal-cruelty/animal-testing-and-the-law> 2012

Although there are many organizations protecting animals in labs and in the wilderness, animal abuse still occurs today. Hopefully, one day animals can live peacefully without having their homes taking away from them, and without being tested on.

Laws Protecting Animals

• Animal Welfare Act (AWA): This law states how animals in labs should be treated, though it excludes 95%of the animals most commonly tested on.
• Public Heath Service (PHS): They oversee the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Their laws are much more strict when regarding humans than they are with the abuse that animals face.
• United States Department of Agriculture (USDA): They inspect any places where animals are involved in research, exhibition, breeding or interaction with animals. However they only have 121 inspectors.

Effect of Pesticides on Eagles

Pesticides and other dangerous chemicals that were released into bald eagle habitats thinned their eggs and prevented further reproduction of many in the species.

Animals in the Wilderness

Animal abuse does not only occur in labs or in homes; wild animals can also face abuse in their natural habitats. Excessive hunting, deforestation, poisoning, pesticide dropping, and habitat removal all endanger, and sometimes kill animals. Throughout the United States, this occurs frequently. An example of this abuse is shown within bald eagle habitats. "Dangerous pesticides and chemicals, released into bald eagle habitats,thinned the shells of their eggs, killing their young," (Endangered Species Act, National Wildlife Federation).

Animal Abuse In Labs

In What Ways Do Humans Harm Animals?

Science labs are very common places for animal abuse to take place. These animals are tested with several products, such as cosmetic products, household cleaners, or dangerous chemicals. There are laws protecting certain animals in these labs, but not all, which basically allows legal animal abuse.

America Versus Europe

Rats awaiting testing in a lab.

Bunnies being held in a lab for testing.

America is one of the only places that still test animals in labs. There are many more effective and more humane ways of testing animals. European countries use these methods because, as of 2013, "no animals may be used in cosmetic testing in the European Union," (Animal Legal Defense Fund, ALDF).

Every year, thousands of animals are harmed by humans in labs, peoples' homes, and even in their own habitats. There are organizations such as the ASPCA that help protect animals, but they wouldn't have to protect animals if humans did not put them in danger in the first place.

Endangered Species Chart

Due to abuse from humans, or natural forces, animals can become endangered, or even extinct.

kayla is not polska

Deforestation

by Kayla Rust & Alex Wyman

Animals in the wilderness are also harmed through deforestation and destruction of their homes. Finding exact numbers is difficult, but most experts agree that we are losing 80,000 acres of tropical rainforest every day, and significantly ruining another 80,000 acres every day on top of that. Along with this loss, we are losing 135 plant, animal and insect species every day—50,000 species a year—as the forests fall.

bloody

cheetah

head