Joe Vance's article in yesterday's issue of The Post brought a valid argument to the forefront. While I applaud Vance for using rational thought rather than emotions in a highly dramatized issue, I believe Vance misses the point.
Humans are the only agents capable of being moral agents because they are the only species (that we know of) capable of governing their own actions. Neither pit bulls nor dairy cows exist in nature. These animals exist solely because of human involvement in their breeding. Because of this, the lives and purpose of their existence are directly linked to our own moral and legal systems.
Breeding and slaughtering cattle to feed society seems like an acceptable moral decision. This method of food production is reliable and consistent. Along with regulation from the USDA, humans are provided with a safe and secure food source. Of course the most efficient and humane method of execution is the standard and expected. When it is discovered that an organization neglects this expectation, consumers should use their money to purchase from a company that meets the standard.
Creating a breed of dog solely to suffer is another issue all together. Furthermore, placing the creature in an environment where it is certain it will suffer requires even more moral justification. Dogs are sentient creatures capable of experiencing pain just as much as humans.
Would it be morally acceptable to torture infants? Most people would say no. But if we use the same justification as to why dogs are incapable of moral consideration, we have to apply that standard to infants and the mentally disabled. Hopefully the idea of harming infants for personal pleasure is horrendous to most people. Creating an animal just to be tortured should be equally repulsive.
Animals aren't granted rights, but rather we limit the behavior of humans. I agree that only humans can be granted rights because to truly possess a right you have to understand it. Gaining pleasure from the suffering of others is the definition of cruelty. Do we as a society want to permit laws that allow a person to maintain animals solely for the purpose of being cruel?
Curt Winzenreid is a 2005 alumnus of Ohio University and writes from Seattle.
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Letter to the Editor
