Posted by Camille Dumont on May 25, 2005, at 0:45:34
In reply to Internet Hunting, posted by alexandra_k on May 15, 2005, at 17:31:15
Personally I am against hunting as a "sport" or "hobby" but not because of philosophical (thou shall not kill type of stuff) reasons but basic animal welfare. If the methods eventually change, my optinion on hunt might as well.
I do understand and accept that for some organisms to live, some must die. Its part of how nature works. And yes we are predators and yes we have the digestive systems of omnivores suggesting that we need some animal protein.
However, I also think that given the technology that we posess, hunting is needlessly cruel in its current form. I can understand that some people might get a trill out of tracking and capturing an animal and then eating it. Its all fine and dandy and they should be free to do so as long as they are not destroying an ecosystem in the process. Sustainability should be paramount.
However, what I will NEVER agree with is the method to kill the animal. Lets face it, most hunters cannot land a shot in the head most of the time. This means that the animal is not killed instantly and feels pain until the hunter can catch up to it and put it to death.
If hunters in south america can hunt using curare, why can we not hunt using tranq guns? Something that puts the animal to sleep so it only feels the sting of a needle instead of a piece of super hot metal ripping through their flesh, bones and organs. There are, I am quite sure, sedating agents that can put the animal to sleep quickly so it can then humanely put to death and which are not dangerous to humans if they eat the carcass afterwards ... it works in South America with very primitive compounds ... so why not here?
Due to a weird medical error, I have had to endure having my flesh cut open and sewed shut without any anasthetic. Now this was a tiny scalpel ... not metal sharpnels propelled at high speed. And it still hurt like heck ... it only lasted a minute and it felt like hours. I would never wish that upon any living being that has the capacity to feel pain.
We have the technology, so why do we have to hunt using standard guns. If you want to hunt an animal and then eat its meat and use its body to make something, given environmental considrations, if you're not endangering the specie, go ahead ... but think of the welfare of the animal that gets killed.
I find it rather hypocritical when people would never dream of using a gun when it comes to euthanizing their dog or cat and yet do that exact thing to wild animals. They are just as capable of feeling pain. If your pet cat or dog deserves a painless death via a sedative, why not the bear or deer that gives up its life so that you may eat and entertain yourself?
If you had to choose the method of your death which one would you choose : a shot that puts you to sleep or a random gunshot somewhere in the chest and then, a few minutes later, a shot in the head?
I have pet rats and I often end up having to put them to sleep when they cannot wait for the vet to open when its them and I would never even begin to entertain the thought of using a method which I would not deem acceptable for a human being.
Think of what you would want, then have the decency of giving that same humane end to those creatures that you kill.
poster:Camille Dumont
thread:498173
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/poli/20050509/msgs/502602.html