December 9, 2016
OPEN LETTER TO THE COMMUNITY:
This week I testified at the Ohio Statehouse in the House Finance Committee hearing to ask our Representatives to vote no on SB 331, the “Puppy Mill” bill. I was asked why I thought so many animal advocates are polarized on the always-difficult animal bills, and after a few days of reflection I have the following answer.
Animal advocates like myself are polarized on animal issues because the Animal Welfare Act from the 1960’s is completely outdated and ineffective, rendering the USDA ineffective as well. Since the Animal Welfare Act was constructed, we have learned about various animals’ emotional intelligence, sense of self, strong connection to family, their unique language, their ability to use tools to acquire food, and many other aspects of their lives in detail through the information that keeps coming in from scientific studies.
The archaic Animal Welfare Act of 1966 takes none of these current findings into consideration. Meanwhile, with all due respect, the USDA appears to the public to be lazy and ineffective in doing their jobs to protect them. The Animal Welfare Act needs an overhaul and an update to reflect what science has been proving for decades. This is what polarizes me. Animals have limited and outdated protection. So, I am their voice. WE are their voice.
For example, dolphins have complex social and family structures, they have language, they use tools, they recognize themselves as individuals when looking in the mirror (and even do their own version of selfies!), they give each other individual and recognizable names. So when, year after year, we see the Japanese fishermen capture an entire family of many generations (called a pod),and leave them afraid and starving in Taiji Cove for a few days to weaken them, then separate out the pretty ones to train and sell to aquariums around the world (essentially kidnapping them), then brutally slaughter the entire screaming (and I mean screaming) pod right in front of each other, we become polarized. We say “NEVER swim with dolphins. NEVER patronize places that exploit dolphins.” We say, “Empty the tanks!” We know dolphins die young in captivity (which keeps Japan in the dolphin-selling business). There is no middle ground when you know the deep and heinous level of their emotional and physical suffering. You can actually watch the live stream thanks to The Dolphin Project, whose international volunteers witness and record these atrocities every year for months on end. The next time you see a captive dolphin, I hope you will remember where they came from and not be deceived by their constant “smile.” They have no facial muscles and therefore cannot show you a frown or a wince.
Elephants are another example of self-aware beings, who are extremely emotional and connected to their families. African elephant Nosey was kidnapped from her family when she was just a baby in Zimbabwe. After thirty-plus years of circus servitude she now she limps around the ring on arthritic legs, while small children and heavy adults are allowed to ride on her back. We can only pray she doesn’t slip on her wobbly legs and kill a child. Meanwhile, the USDA ignores the pleas of the tens of thousands of people signing petitions for Nosey to get a current independent veterinarian exam with X-rays, because the owner’s vet keeps giving her a good bill of health (and the USDA keeps fining the owner, 200 times now, yet still the USDA has not confiscated her)! The last independent vet who saw Nosey years ago said, hers was the “longest case of prolonged suffering” that he had ever seen. Years later, Nosey is still working the circus circuit, often being sighted hauling vans out of the mud. We see the ineffectiveness of the USDA in protecting her and we become polarized. We say, “Never ride elephants!” “Boycott the circus with animal acts!” “End Captivity.” We know elephants die young in captivity, some being kept alone forever and without the company of another elephant, living in a tiny, barely ventilated transport box being hauled from one flea market to another regardless of the temperature outside, like Nosey. There is no middle ground when you know the elephant is given nothing at all that is natural to elephants. The deep and heinous level of the suffering of sensitive, emotional, intelligent, social, and self-aware elephants polarizes us. Our frustration with the USDA’s inaction polarizes us. If you want to help Nosey, please contact savenoseynow.org.
OPEN LETTER TO THE COMMUNITY:
This week I testified at the Ohio Statehouse in the House Finance Committee hearing to ask our Representatives to vote no on SB 331, the “Puppy Mill” bill. I was asked why I thought so many animal advocates are polarized on the always-difficult animal bills, and after a few days of reflection I have the following answer.
Animal advocates like myself are polarized on animal issues because the Animal Welfare Act from the 1960’s is completely outdated and ineffective, rendering the USDA ineffective as well. Since the Animal Welfare Act was constructed, we have learned about various animals’ emotional intelligence, sense of self, strong connection to family, their unique language, their ability to use tools to acquire food, and many other aspects of their lives in detail through the information that keeps coming in from scientific studies.
The archaic Animal Welfare Act of 1966 takes none of these current findings into consideration. Meanwhile, with all due respect, the USDA appears to the public to be lazy and ineffective in doing their jobs to protect them. The Animal Welfare Act needs an overhaul and an update to reflect what science has been proving for decades. This is what polarizes me. Animals have limited and outdated protection. So, I am their voice. WE are their voice.
For example, dolphins have complex social and family structures, they have language, they use tools, they recognize themselves as individuals when looking in the mirror (and even do their own version of selfies!), they give each other individual and recognizable names. So when, year after year, we see the Japanese fishermen capture an entire family of many generations (called a pod),and leave them afraid and starving in Taiji Cove for a few days to weaken them, then separate out the pretty ones to train and sell to aquariums around the world (essentially kidnapping them), then brutally slaughter the entire screaming (and I mean screaming) pod right in front of each other, we become polarized. We say “NEVER swim with dolphins. NEVER patronize places that exploit dolphins.” We say, “Empty the tanks!” We know dolphins die young in captivity (which keeps Japan in the dolphin-selling business). There is no middle ground when you know the deep and heinous level of their emotional and physical suffering. You can actually watch the live stream thanks to The Dolphin Project, whose international volunteers witness and record these atrocities every year for months on end. The next time you see a captive dolphin, I hope you will remember where they came from and not be deceived by their constant “smile.” They have no facial muscles and therefore cannot show you a frown or a wince.
Elephants are another example of self-aware beings, who are extremely emotional and connected to their families. African elephant Nosey was kidnapped from her family when she was just a baby in Zimbabwe. After thirty-plus years of circus servitude she now she limps around the ring on arthritic legs, while small children and heavy adults are allowed to ride on her back. We can only pray she doesn’t slip on her wobbly legs and kill a child. Meanwhile, the USDA ignores the pleas of the tens of thousands of people signing petitions for Nosey to get a current independent veterinarian exam with X-rays, because the owner’s vet keeps giving her a good bill of health (and the USDA keeps fining the owner, 200 times now, yet still the USDA has not confiscated her)! The last independent vet who saw Nosey years ago said, hers was the “longest case of prolonged suffering” that he had ever seen. Years later, Nosey is still working the circus circuit, often being sighted hauling vans out of the mud. We see the ineffectiveness of the USDA in protecting her and we become polarized. We say, “Never ride elephants!” “Boycott the circus with animal acts!” “End Captivity.” We know elephants die young in captivity, some being kept alone forever and without the company of another elephant, living in a tiny, barely ventilated transport box being hauled from one flea market to another regardless of the temperature outside, like Nosey. There is no middle ground when you know the elephant is given nothing at all that is natural to elephants. The deep and heinous level of the suffering of sensitive, emotional, intelligent, social, and self-aware elephants polarizes us. Our frustration with the USDA’s inaction polarizes us. If you want to help Nosey, please contact savenoseynow.org.
Did you know that orca whales have their own cultures? They may all look similar, but they do
not all eat the same things or even have the same language. Transient orca eat mammals, and
they teach their young how to hunt. The Southern Resident orca eat chinook salmon (and are
starving by the way, because of competition for fish with humans, plus the Snake River Dam is
preventing the salmon from reaching the whales. Whale advocates are clamoring for the dams
to be opened). The cultural differences of orca are what help cause captive whales to fight,
bully, injure, and kill one another in tanks (aside from the fact that the tanks are just too small).
Many captive orca become psychotic and/or depressed, and virtually all of them in captivity are
on daily valium, antibiotics, and anti-depressants! Then there’s Tilikum, who killed three people.
Imagine, if you will, a human prison, with culturally different inmates thrown into the common
area together, who attack and kill each other. For the orca having to endure this type of torture
in captivity, we are polarized. We want freedom for EVERY captive orca via a sea sanctuary or
sea pen leading to rehab and release when possible. Bigger tanks will not solve this problem.
The culturally different whales do not intermingle in the wild, and have a hard life together in one
tank. So we say, “Empty the tanks!” “Retire the whales.” There is no middle ground. If you want
to “save the whales,” please contact the Whale Research Center in Friday Harbor, Washington.
Lolita the captive orca in Miami is a Southern Resident orca. After her kidnapping 40+ years ago, she lives in the smallest tank in North America while her family is still alive and free in Puget Sound. Lolita’s mother is in her 80’s. Lolita has good teeth, while most wild caught captive whales have broken their teeth from chewing on the concrete tanks and metal gates. Without teeth, they cannot be released back to the wild. Lolita is a good candidate for rehab and release to rejoin her pod. The law states her tank is too tiny, but there is nobody making the owner get her out of there! She’s been stuck there, suffering alone without a companion, without shade from the glaring sun (orca whales and dolphins get sunburn), eating dead fish in exchange for doing tricks. Even the mayor of Miami is trying to help Lolita, but so far there’s only a colorful mural to honor her. So we become polarized. We say, “Don’t buy tickets!” “Empty the tanks!” “End captivity!” “Free Lolita!” There is no middle ground when we see her deep level of suffering, not just physically but emotionally as well. We know about orca brains now, and their centers for processing emotion are much larger than in human brains. I cannot even fathom the depth of her emotional suffering being locked in a tiny chlorine jail cell all by herself for decades. It’s a miracle she has not gone insane. You can help Lolita by contacting orcanetwork.org.
As for primates, Koko the gorilla and many others can speak American sign language and literally talk to humans and each other. Did you know that apes can talk to us? You can have a conversation with them! The late comedian, Robin Williams, developed a friendship with Koko and upon hearing about his death, Koko signed that she was very sad that he had died and wouldn’t be visiting her anymore. Chimpanzees use sticks as tools that they insert into ant hills to retrieve ants to eat. They teach this skill to their young. And we lock primates in filthy concrete cages, with no trace of their natural habitat, either in a laboratory, or at the zoo where we gawk at them and hope they’ll do something weird to amuse us. You can help them and many others at nonhumanrightsproject.org.
Lolita the captive orca in Miami is a Southern Resident orca. After her kidnapping 40+ years ago, she lives in the smallest tank in North America while her family is still alive and free in Puget Sound. Lolita’s mother is in her 80’s. Lolita has good teeth, while most wild caught captive whales have broken their teeth from chewing on the concrete tanks and metal gates. Without teeth, they cannot be released back to the wild. Lolita is a good candidate for rehab and release to rejoin her pod. The law states her tank is too tiny, but there is nobody making the owner get her out of there! She’s been stuck there, suffering alone without a companion, without shade from the glaring sun (orca whales and dolphins get sunburn), eating dead fish in exchange for doing tricks. Even the mayor of Miami is trying to help Lolita, but so far there’s only a colorful mural to honor her. So we become polarized. We say, “Don’t buy tickets!” “Empty the tanks!” “End captivity!” “Free Lolita!” There is no middle ground when we see her deep level of suffering, not just physically but emotionally as well. We know about orca brains now, and their centers for processing emotion are much larger than in human brains. I cannot even fathom the depth of her emotional suffering being locked in a tiny chlorine jail cell all by herself for decades. It’s a miracle she has not gone insane. You can help Lolita by contacting orcanetwork.org.
As for primates, Koko the gorilla and many others can speak American sign language and literally talk to humans and each other. Did you know that apes can talk to us? You can have a conversation with them! The late comedian, Robin Williams, developed a friendship with Koko and upon hearing about his death, Koko signed that she was very sad that he had died and wouldn’t be visiting her anymore. Chimpanzees use sticks as tools that they insert into ant hills to retrieve ants to eat. They teach this skill to their young. And we lock primates in filthy concrete cages, with no trace of their natural habitat, either in a laboratory, or at the zoo where we gawk at them and hope they’ll do something weird to amuse us. You can help them and many others at nonhumanrightsproject.org.
Dogs have feelings and in my testimony I provided the House Finance Committee with
scientific studies that prove their emotional depth as well as repercussions from being raised in puppy mills. When I learned of their suffering, I became polarized against puppy mills. There is no middle ground for advocates to allow any type of suffering when we know the magnitude and depth of our companion dogs’ emotional and physical pain.
The magpie bird is another creature that is self-aware.
To me, and to many other animal lovers, all of these animals I mentioned are at the very least considered by advocates as being NONHUMAN PERSONS. Animal advocates know how miserable and brutal the suffering is for animals with self-awareness and intelligence and it polarizes us. We know the law does not fully protect them, and therefore, with all due respect, the USDA does not act on animals’ behalf as much as they need to act based on the science. This inaction by the USDA polarizes us.
I would be remiss if I failed to mention the suffering of animals as their spirits are broken so that we can ride them, swim with them, watch them perform, or interact with them. To achieve this goal, they are starved into submission, chained up, confined, whipped, beaten, poked, prodded, electrocuted, punished...and for this, we are polarized.
There are so many more great American animal advocacy groups out there: the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), the Animal Defense League (ADL), People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)...and so many more, all willing and ready to help YOU help animals.
In summary, The Animal Welfare Act needs an overhaul and update to reflect the information gathered over the past fifty years. With a more current Animal Welfare Act, the USDA would be forced to act on the animals’ behalf in a more meaningful way, which would ultimately satisfy advocates and eliminate the need for polarization.
Sincerely,
Susan Urell
Registered Dental Hygienist
Author of MolarTron & friends!
Columbus, Ohio
scientific studies that prove their emotional depth as well as repercussions from being raised in puppy mills. When I learned of their suffering, I became polarized against puppy mills. There is no middle ground for advocates to allow any type of suffering when we know the magnitude and depth of our companion dogs’ emotional and physical pain.
The magpie bird is another creature that is self-aware.
To me, and to many other animal lovers, all of these animals I mentioned are at the very least considered by advocates as being NONHUMAN PERSONS. Animal advocates know how miserable and brutal the suffering is for animals with self-awareness and intelligence and it polarizes us. We know the law does not fully protect them, and therefore, with all due respect, the USDA does not act on animals’ behalf as much as they need to act based on the science. This inaction by the USDA polarizes us.
I would be remiss if I failed to mention the suffering of animals as their spirits are broken so that we can ride them, swim with them, watch them perform, or interact with them. To achieve this goal, they are starved into submission, chained up, confined, whipped, beaten, poked, prodded, electrocuted, punished...and for this, we are polarized.
There are so many more great American animal advocacy groups out there: the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), the Animal Defense League (ADL), People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)...and so many more, all willing and ready to help YOU help animals.
In summary, The Animal Welfare Act needs an overhaul and update to reflect the information gathered over the past fifty years. With a more current Animal Welfare Act, the USDA would be forced to act on the animals’ behalf in a more meaningful way, which would ultimately satisfy advocates and eliminate the need for polarization.
Sincerely,
Susan Urell
Registered Dental Hygienist
Author of MolarTron & friends!
Columbus, Ohio
