Guest guest Posted February 25, 2003 Report Share Posted February 25, 2003 ***************************Advertisement*************************** eCentral - Your Entertainment Guide http://www.star-ecentral.com ***************************************************************** This message was forwarded to you by yitzeling. Comment from sender: This article is from thestar.com.my URL: http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2003/2/25/features/saveanimal2 & s\ ec=features ________________________ Tuesday, February 25, 2003 No fun for the animals I WISH to express my concern after learning that a petting corner will be set up at the Malaysia International Pet Expo 2003 to be held next month. Even under the best of circumstances, having to endure the stress of travelling and being manhandled by people can be deleterious to the health of captive animals. Animals may suffer from extreme temperatures and irregular feeding and watering to prevent them from dirtying their quarters. Also, most petting zoos take no infection control measures to minimise the spread of infections to visitors. Animals may carry a range of micro-organisms that are harmful to humans without displaying any signs of disease. Diseases could spread through direct contact with animals and through indirect contact with animal excrement, saliva and birth products. Similarly, contagious diseases could also spread among animals kept together in crowded conditions. A strain of scabies common in rabbits (Psoroptes caniculi) can cause an epidemic that may wipe out the entire small mammal population in the petting corner if left unchecked. This disease is highly contagious and often goes undetected in the early stages before the crusty scabs become visible. Keeping 500 rabbits together in relative proximity is not a good idea at all. Public education is often touted as the justification for petting zoos. This reasoning does not hold water because it relies on the assumption that any form of contact with animals fosters an appreciation for the animal. However, the truth is that visitors receive very little if any education while visiting animal displays. The average visitor spends no more than a few minutes with each animal and very little information can be acquired in such a short time. The only message gained is often that one may make an impulsive purchase of pets & #8211; a decision that often leads to neglect, abuse and the improper breeding of pets. Popular opinion would have us believe that direct contact with animals can inculcate a love of animals in children. However, each child reacts differently to unfamiliar animals, and the sight of children tormenting and teasing animals in zoos and pet shows is sadly more common than we care to acknowledge. There is huge potential for animal abuse in petting corners. Petting corners can be lethal to the animals if they are not provided an opportunity to escape unwanted contact and if children are not closely supervised. Most animals used in petting areas are young animals and, as with rabbits, skittish by nature. Some animals, such as hamsters, are nocturnal and are easily traumatised by harsh lights and sounds, rough handling and exposure from their burrows. It is lamentable that many adults as well as children seem to find it amusing to rouse slumbering animals with their pokes, prods, shouts and jeers, as many of us would have witnessed in local pet stores and animal displays. Displaying animals in petting corners and pet expos also perpetuates the idea that confining animals such as rabbits, birds and bantams in cages is acceptable. Most people are under the assumption that a wire cage is an appropriate environment for a companion animal. While it is true that our pets can survive in cage environments, such enclosures are completely inadequate to meet the instinctive needs of birds and rabbits, who are naturally curious, active and highly sociable. For the sake of animal welfare and safety of the public, I urge that a formal policy be implemented to ban travelling pet shows and to ensure that all pet expos are well supervised and have at least one vet at hand. Petting corners, because of all their inherent dangers to animal and human health, should not be set up at all. The popularity of petting corners is no indication that there is heightened awareness among the public on responsible pet ownership or animal welfare. Genuine animal-lovers would agree that being a responsible pet owner who maintains a relationship with his or her pet built on respect and uncompromising care is a greater sign of concern for animal welfare than a mere visit to the petting corner of a pet expo. To introduce children to animal rights and welfare, they should be encouraged to care for their pets or visit and volunteer at animal shelters. A mere photo opportunity with a rabbit or other exotic animal does nothing to teach a child about the needs of the special animal in his arms. Wong Ee Lynn Rawang, Selangor <p> ________________________ Your one-stop information portal: The Star Online http://thestar.com.my http://biz.thestar.com.my http://classifieds.thestar.com.my http://cards.thestar.com.my http://search.thestar.com.my http://star-motoring.com http://star-space.com http://star-jobs.com http://star-ecentral.com http://star-techcentral.com 1995-2002 Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of Star Publications is prohibited. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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