Whoa I never said I was a part of PETA. Many are extremists in my opinion and I would not want to be associated in something like that. I do agree with some of there statements like there should be no zoos and circus type things. Wild animals are just that. Wild animals. We should leave them alone and not try to bring them into the human world. And as I said before I don't eat meat and stay away from animal products- so ya. Cows, pigs, and chickens are useless for me. Do I think that people should not own animals? No. But the way some people treat animals makes me sick. When you start using your animals profit or entertainment I just can not agree with it morally. So I guess I am not 110% animal rights. But a lot of things they say I agree with. Not everything, I just go with what I think is morally right.
I think of anyone here, I would probably get your viewpoint the most and share your views.
As for wild animals, though, I have more experience than most. I work hard everyday to help wild animals, it is my life. I am a wildlife rehabilitator. If you feel wild animals should remain that way and not bring them into the human world, what are your thoughts on wildlife rehab? I feel like you that wild animals should remain wild, but I am all in favor of doing everything I can to help them, which I would guess you are too, so I'd watch general statements. I am not OK with just letting nature take its course and leave orphaned squirrels to die or an injured animal to be eaten by something else. If there is something I can do, I will! The main reason I feel so strongly about wildlife rehab is that nearly all (as in 90% or more) of the cases that come in are wild animals in need of help because of something that humans caused. For example, squirrels are orphaned when their mom is hit by a car, animals get hit by cars, baby rabbits and other animals get attacked by stray cats, people think animals are orphaned and try to help them, only making things worse and now the animal that was fine needs help. The list goes on and on. So, for me, wildlife rehab is a way I can give back to animals and make up for some of the harm that we (including me) as humans have done.
As for keeping wild animals, I am against zoos and aquariums (odd for me to say that since my dream job from age 5 to 18 was to be a killer whale trainer at Sea World) the way they are now because of the new view of wildlife I have through my work as a rehabber. I would create a different kind of zoo though, not get rid of them altogether. There are so many cases of wildlife that comes in for rehab that for one reason or another cannot go free. Although I feel most of these animals should be euthanized because they are not well suited for life with humans, there are many many cases of animals blind in one eye, missing a leg, neurological, so many other issues where they cannot live in the wild again but they could have an awesome life in a zoo or somewhere where they will be safe and cared for. I think each case would need to be evaluated for the animals temperment and this may just be a personal view, but I'd also take into account how much life in the wild the animal experienced and how it dealt with living in a cage. I personally could never keep an adult songbird or raptor that came in that stopped it from flying. For me, once a bird has soared, that is something that shouldn't be taken from them and if it is, I would opt to euthanize.
I am also for breeding programs for endangered wildlife, so I would incorporate some of that work into zoos. So, I would favor a different kind of zoo, which would probably only work out in the ideal world that doesn't exist, but that would be the only kind of zoo I could really be in favor of. Although, I do think that especially now, we need something to get kids out there to experience animals and if going to a zoo is the only way, I might be in favor.
And I am in favor of getting rid of the meat industry
🙂, but I would have farm type places where people could pay to visit. I personally love pigs and goats and like going to farms to see them. Plus, I don't have a problem with people keeping horses and riding them or showing them, as long as they care for them properly.
I think you should avoid general statements.