Posted by AuntieMel on February 27, 2005, at 13:59:28
In reply to Animal Rights, posted by alexandra_k on February 21, 2005, at 19:56:04
Generally I agree with this.
There is no reason to use animals for vaccine developement anymore. Example: the first polio vaccine was developed by Salk using live virus and testing on animals. Thr vaccine *usually* worked. The replacement wad developed by Sabin shortly after using dead virus and needed no animal testing first. That is the one used today, with fewer complications.
In the US veterinary students practice on animals from shelters that are slated to be euthanized. It is done quite humanely, with the animal under sedation the entire time, and then euthanized. Last I heard this wasn't allowed in the UK, so beginning vets usually end up lying 'sure I've done this operation before' while actually learning on pets.
I'm not sure wearing fur is worse than wearing leather. I see people marching against fur, wearing their leather shoes, and to me that is hypocracy in action. Granted trapping can be cruel and a slow death for no reason but vanity, but farm raised animals suffer no more than the cow we eat and wear.
Some years back, in the UK, some well-thinking but foolish animal rights activists sneaked into a mink farm and freed all the minks. The poor things didn't know how to fend, and most were squished on the motorway. The others were pests to farmers and eventually killed - probably by poison.
I have a beautiful red fox hat I bought in China. I don't feel guilty about it because I knew over there the whole animal was used - for food.
While I don't have too much trouble with hunting for food, I have real problems for hunting for trophies or just to kill.
In nature there is a food chain, and we are just part of that food chain. When we are done living, our remains go to feed the lower parts of the chain and the process goes on.
poster:AuntieMel
thread:461535
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20050224/msgs/464089.html