Guest guest Posted December 10, 2002 Report Share Posted December 10, 2002 Hey all. I was just watching " Animal Planet " , a cable network which features animals for those of you that aren't familiar with it. It got me to thinking about how you all might feel about zoos, since their has been talk of the treatments of animals in the group. Do you all believe that animals should be held and raised captive to learn about them and teach the public about them? Do you think animals should remain free (and/or set free from zoos) amongst their natural environment? Perhaps their is an alternative option that you believe. This group has several different, wonderful people with different eating habits. So It might be nice to share your eating status as a reminder(ex. eat meat, vegan, pesco, lacto/ovo), though obviously not mandatory. HOWEVER, I know these topics can be somewhat sensitive matters to some people, and I would not want a dicussion to get out of hand and hurt people's feelings. So maybe we should take a vote on whether this discussion should take place. Do you feel this would be an educational discussion, or do you think, while educational, it may get out of hand? Or, perhaps option number three; Shawn just wasted alot people's time, should go back to watching " Animal Planet " , keep his mouth shut and post some dang recipes. Peace, Shawn " If, at first, you do succeed, try to hide your astonishment. " " If, at first, you don't succeed, destroy all evidence that you tried. " " The last four letters in " American " spell out " I Can " . " " Everything's ok in the end, if it's not ok, it's not the end. " _______________ The new MSN 8: smart spam protection and 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 11, 2002 Report Share Posted December 11, 2002 option three _- MatrixenO -_ <matrixeno wrote:Hey all. I was just watching " Animal Planet " , a cable network which features animals for those of you that aren't familiar with it. It got me to thinking about how you all might feel about zoos, since their has been talk of the treatments of animals in the group. Do you all believe that animals should be held and raised captive to learn about them and teach the public about them? Do you think animals should remain free (and/or set free from zoos) amongst their natural environment? Perhaps their is an alternative option that you believe. This group has several different, wonderful people with different eating habits. So It might be nice to share your eating status as a reminder(ex. eat meat, vegan, pesco, lacto/ovo), though obviously not mandatory. HOWEVER, I know these topics can be somewhat sensitive matters to some people, and I would not want a dicussion to get out of hand and hurt people's feelings. So maybe we should take a vote on whether this discussion should take place. Do you feel this would be an educational discussion, or do you think, while educational, it may get out of hand? Or, perhaps option number three; Shawn just wasted alot people's time, should go back to watching " Animal Planet " , keep his mouth shut and post some dang recipes. Peace, Shawn " If, at first, you do succeed, try to hide your astonishment. " " If, at first, you don't succeed, destroy all evidence that you tried. " " The last four letters in " American " spell out " I Can " . " " Everything's ok in the end, if it's not ok, it's not the end. " _______________ The new MSN 8: smart spam protection and 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 11, 2002 Report Share Posted December 11, 2002 In a message dated 12/11/2002 8:05:12 AM Central Standard Time, allyanne2001 writes: > It's the small circus circuit that I have a problem > with. Keeping an elephant tied to a tent and let off > only to do menial tricks for a few people is mean. Ditto, I'm with you. Zoos, are fine as long as the animals are well kept. There is this one zoo by my house that is absolutely disgusting. BB Anna http://www.smartgroups.com/groups/nixies_place Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 11, 2002 Report Share Posted December 11, 2002 I think that if the zoos are run humanely and educate people, they are fine. I think some animals would be extinct by now if it weren't for zoos. At least in the zoo, they're protected. I have been posed the question about pets -- should they be allowed to run free or remain in their cages as pets? Again, it's " as long as they're treated humanely and given the best possible living, then they're fine. " I know that receiving my education from zoos and pets as a child has helped me to love animals and want to help them and the environment. I think it also teaches love and compassion. We have had many different pets come into and out of our home. (We tend to play foster parents.) Many of the neighborhood kids would come over just to see our critters. They would learn about them. (Many of them didn't make it to zoos.) While our place didn't have the lions, tigers, etc., it did have snakes, iguanas, water dragons, turtles, fish, ferrets, rabbits, guinea pigs, frogs, rats, hamsters, gerbils, hermit crabs, a squirrel, and various lizards and amphibains. Many of these things the kids wouldn't have been able to see, and sometimes pet, if it weren't for our place. I feel the same about zoos. A lot of kids don't go out into a forest or any other natural place. Zoos are the only place they can see animals in a (somewhat) natural setting. If this fosters their love for our planet and teaches them to treat animals humanely, then great. And as long as every effort is made to create a natural environment for the animals. I know it is impossible to create as good a place as nature did, but we can come close. (I have been able to do so -- through study, talking to others, and just plain seeing what the individual animal likes.) Kids would even come over to our home to see what new critter had come to live with us for a while. By the way, I am a transitioning vegetarian. I've always been a big veggie & fruit eater and not much of a meat eater. My usual meats were the occasional fast food burger, pizza, and tuna or chicken salad sandwhiches. But, now I'm just down to the tuna salad sandwiches. I'm not too fond of eggs. But, I get mine at a local " happy chicken " farm. Cheese and milk are the only things I'm not giving up. But, I've been trying to get as much as possible from organic, free range places. My biggest obstical now is getting my hubby to eat that way at home, so that I don't have to cook it. There's just the two of us. When I cook, I only want to cook one meal. That's just my opinion, Janice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 11, 2002 Report Share Posted December 11, 2002 I agree with you about the zoo. I have no desire whatsoever to go to Africa for a Savanna safari. And hubby has no desire to ever go to Australia to check out their outback native animals. Neither one of us would care to trek to India and walk through the forest in hopes of spotting an elephant or tiger. So, we go to the zoo. I love going to the San Antonio zoo, I grew up going there and now I get to take my kids. It is a huge and very well kept zoo. SInce I homeschool my children, taking them is a very educational experience and I'm thrilled I have the opportunity to do so. It's the small circus circuit that I have a problem with. Keeping an elephant tied to a tent and let off only to do menial tricks for a few people is mean. And of course, the inevitable happens, the elephant gets pissed off naturally, breaks its chain and runs around trampling anyone in its way -- then gets gunned down. Awful, just awful. Warmly, Allison --- Janice White <j_m_white wrote: > I think that if the zoos are run humanely and > educate people, they are fine. I think some animals > would be extinct by now if it weren't for zoos. At > least in the zoo, they're protected. I have been > posed the question about pets -- should they be > allowed to run free or remain in their cages as > pets? > Again, it's " as long as they're treated humanely and > given the best possible living, then they're fine. " > > I know that receiving my education from zoos > and > pets as a child has helped me to love animals and > want > to help them and the environment. I think it also > teaches love and compassion. We have had many > different pets come into and out of our home. (We > tend to play foster parents.) Many of the > neighborhood kids would come over just to see our > critters. They would learn about them. (Many of > them > didn't make it to zoos.) While our place didn't > have > the lions, tigers, etc., it did have snakes, > iguanas, > water dragons, turtles, fish, ferrets, rabbits, > guinea > pigs, frogs, rats, hamsters, gerbils, hermit crabs, > a > squirrel, and various lizards and amphibains. Many > of > these things the kids wouldn't have been able to > see, > and sometimes pet, if it weren't for our place. I > feel the same about zoos. A lot of kids don't go > out > into a forest or any other natural place. Zoos are > the only place they can see animals in a (somewhat) > natural setting. If this fosters their love for our > planet and teaches them to treat animals humanely, > then great. And as long as every effort is made to > create a natural environment for the animals. I > know > it is impossible to create as good a place as nature > did, but we can come close. (I have been able to do > so -- through study, talking to others, and just > plain > seeing what the individual animal likes.) Kids > would > even come over to our home to see what new critter > had > come to live with us for a while. > By the way, I am a transitioning vegetarian. > I've always been a big veggie & fruit eater and not > much of a meat eater. My usual meats were the > occasional fast food burger, pizza, and tuna or > chicken salad sandwhiches. But, now I'm just down > to > the tuna salad sandwiches. I'm not too fond of > eggs. > But, I get mine at a local " happy chicken " farm. > Cheese and milk are the only things I'm not giving > up. > But, I've been trying to get as much as possible > from > organic, free range places. My biggest obstical now > is getting my hubby to eat that way at home, so that > I > don't have to cook it. There's just the two of us. > When I cook, I only want to cook one meal. > > That's just my opinion, > Janice > Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now. http://mailplus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 11, 2002 Report Share Posted December 11, 2002 Hi, I agree with the replies so far (assuming my morning skimming before going to work hasn't missed something (sorry)). If the zoos treat the animals well, if they have sufficient space, etc. I think they are okay. I also agree that some circuses are pretty questionable. Some are bad. I also agree that I think some animals would be extinct or live a much worse life in the wild. Admittedly living in a caged environment with some occasionally unpleasant adults and children getting a bit too close and being a bit too persistent about getting the animal's attention can be a not pleasant thing but the animals do get usually get treated for illnesses. I don't like some of the cages with nothing but bars and cement floors. That would be bad (and cold on an unclothed body). So, summarizing, if it is a good environment for the animals, I don't think that it is bad. Of course, you can always find someone to argue about what is a good environment. Oops, I remembered something else. I also think it is bad though when zoos buy from animal poachers and people who take the babies when still very young directly from their mothers. I think that would be a bad thing. So the collection of animals needs to be done in a humane way too. People should also be aware about who they get their pets (or animals for whom they become guardians or whatever word/phrase you like) from. Puppy farms can be really horrible and I don't think anyone should aid those people. Of course, you could look at it at rescuing an animal from them but really the people need to be prosecuted and the animals freed to good homes without any payment going to those people. Gary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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