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Unless
you have been completely out of touch for the past few months, you have
heard issues about animal rights on the news. And while it is slightly
difficult to write an article about animal rights without it becoming an
editorial, these issues must be addressed. Animal rights issues are not
going to go away, nor should they when it comes to abusing or neglecting
animals. The problem comes when different people have different views of
exactly what constitutes animal rights. As the State Veterinarian, it is
an issue that my office and Commissioner Sparks must deal with more than
you might think. That is certainly part of what taxpayers expect out of
us and they do pay our salaries. Again, the problem is that different
people see animal rights differently.
Here
at the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries, we receive many
complaints about animal neglect and cruelty, which we are obliged to
investigate. We often include one of our veterinary medical officers,
along with our agriculture investigators, to look into the complaint.
Sometimes the investigation reveals obvious neglect and abuse. On those
occasions, the owner is charged with a cruelty violation and must pay
whatever fine or penalty goes along with the violation. There are other
times when owners are given a period of time to show significant
improvement in the care of the animals in question. Quite often
complaints are made in relation to dogs, cats and other companion
animals. In Alabama, the Department of Agriculture does not have
regulatory authority over dogs and cats at this time. We will however,
investigate any report of cruelty. We do our best, with the authority we
have, to make sure neglect and abuse are not tolerated.
A
number of complaints originate from well-meaning people who feel animal
abuse is occurring because of what they see from the road when they pass
by a farm. An example of perceived animal abuse occurs when someone
passes by a farm in the summertime and sees horses standing in a corral
with no food or water. Is that neglect or abuse? We often find those
horses are well cared-for. They are often stabled at night, fed and
watered, and turned out during the day on a dry lot. To the concerned
passer-by, it is perceived to be abuse. In reality, it is not.
There
are other times when someone will call in a complaint about a horse that
is very thin and appears from the road to be starved and neglected.
Often our investigation reveals this is a 30-year-old horse that has
been a family companion for most of its life, and even though the horse
is thin, it is fed well and enjoys some quality of life. There are often
other horses in very good body condition that are pastured with the one
in question.
There
are people who abuse and neglect animals. When we see on the news how
some individuals harm and abuse innocent children, it is understandable
there are people who give no thought to abusing animals. However, those
of us involved in animal agriculture know, for the most part, there is a
bond that exists between the farmer and his animals. It is just
something you cannot see from the highway. People usually never see the
poultry farmer making his way through the poultry houses right before
bedtime to make sure everything is comfortable for the chickens. They
never see the times the cattle farmer brings a weak newborn calf into
the house to get it warm or the time spent with the paralyzed heifer
trying to get her back on her feet.
While
there are groups who publicly state their opposition to animal
agriculture and encourage a vegetarian lifestyle, most complaints
originate from people who are genuinely concerned for the health and
comfort of animals. These issues are not going to go away and in many
cases do not need to. It is the society in which we live.
The
bottom line for the producer is to be pro-active. Realize our practices
in animal agriculture are being watched. It is often said the best
defense is a good offense. Just ask yourself, "If I were not
involved in animal agriculture, what would my perception be if I drove
past my farm?" All producers know stressed or sick animals are
unproductive. The issue was pretty well summed up in the Old Testament
Book of Proverbs: "A righteous man takes care of the needs of his
animals." |
