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By Mace Walgrave New York City is known for their iconic horse drawn carriages that are available to the public. They can be seen on the streets by passersby, in movies and on TV shows, and used as props on advertisements and brochures. I am here, in this blog, to say that this activity needs to be ban from the city of New York and any other metropolitan area that subjectifies any animals to this kind of trauma and stress. Close your eyes and think of an ideal environment for a horse. I’ll bet what came to mind was a spacious green pasture or a big barn full of yellow hay. What you probably didn’t imagine was a vast concrete jungle with some of the busiest streets in the world full.
Carriage horses of NYC are in the constant company of startling noises, thousands of people, vehicles, cyclists, strange smells, and, in most cases, mistreatment by the hands of their “caretaker”. According to nyclass.org, a horse needs considered healthy when they have daily access daily access to open fields and/or pastures where they can freely graze, exercise, roll around, and interact with other horses. Veterinarians agree that these activities are needed for a horse to live a healthy life. The working horses of New York are completely stripped of these basic needs and necessities. Horse carriages thrive in NYC because the locals, and tourists alike, view them as an iconic product to the city. Below is a passage found in J.G. Merriam’s article that exposes the unnatural conditions that NYC’s carriage horses live in. To tourists visiting the buzzing city, carriage horses are breathtaking and unfamiliar. To NYC natives, such as cab drivers and commercial vehicles operators, carriage horses are seen as obstacles and a nuisance that lead to stopped or slowed traffic and hinderances to their tight, rushed schedules. “To vacationers, it hearkens back to a bucolic era when the pace was slower and signals the presence of a historic district or a revitalized downtown. To harried bus or truck drivers, it (they) is (are) an obstacle to be passed quickly; a hinderance to a regular schedule. To passing horsemen, it may pique interest but also wonderment as in ‘why on earth is it (he/she) here?” (J.G Merriam) It is a dangerous place for horses when they are placed under the same category as erratic drivers, construction, and potholes. By Lidia Vassar As a human, I enjoy different colors and patterns. This includes different colors and patterns of nonhuman animals. However, I will never prioritize the appearance of nonhuman animal over its health. When it comes to companion animals, I have found that people are prone to exploitation, even when they love their companions dearly. This paper will go into depth on why I believe that selectively breeding for aesthetics without considerations for health should be banned.
Reptiles in the pet trade, like most other nonhuman animals kept as companions, come in a variety of colors. As with all selective breeding, unfortunate side effects are a reality. There are times, like in the case of the spider ball pythonand the enigma leopard gecko, however, that these side effects can severely alter the individual’s quality of life. The breeding of reptile morphs who suffer from predictable and preventable issues, whether they are neurological or more physical in nature, is not ethical and should not be treated as a normalcy of the reptile breeding industry. By Morgan Wendt Across the United States, more than 50 million homes choose dogs as their companion animals, according to a survey conducted by the American Pet Products Association. In addition to providing exercise and stimulation, taking the dog for a walk can help decrease destructive behaviors, help with weight loss, and improve socialization. Furthermore, walking can help caretakers feel closer to their animals and can improve the physical and mental health of humans. Taking the dog for a walk, however, may not be as straightforward as it seems. Retractable leashes are an option often promoted in pet stores as easy to use and providing the most freedom to your dog, but can actually cause harm to both animals and humans, and should be banned from use.
So, what exactly is a retractable leash, and how is it different from a regular one? A standard leash is exactly what you think of when you imagine a dog leash. It’s a woven cord that’s a few inches wide and 6-12 feet long, usually with a metal clasp on one end to attach to a collar, and a loop at the other end that serves as a handle for the caretaker to control the leash. A retractable leash is usually a thin cord, just a few centimeters in diameter, that is attached to a reeling mechanism. This mechanism automatically retracts when there is no tension on it, hence the name “retractable leash”. These mechanisms also come with two buttons on the handle, one to lock the mechanism so the leash no longer retracts and the pet can stay on the current length of leash, and another button to release the lock. These leashes can vary in length, but can be anywhere from 12 to 30 feet. |
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This is a website about nonhuman animals, written by human animals taking a Society and Animals class at Minnesota State University, Mankato. Archives
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