ResearchⅢ
Hello.
Today, I'm going to write about three research questions.
・How many animals are killed each year for religious purposes?
・How each country treats pets differently?
・What is the difference between vegetarian and vegan?
For the last question, I have prepared a different question,"How many dogs will find a permanent home?", but through previous researches, I thought I really should write about vegetarian and vegan so I changed. I hope you will like them!
How many animals are killed each year for religious purposes?
The answer for this question is unknown. However, there is the other issue on religious slaughter.
Jews and Muslims slaughter animals for their religious purposes, and it is controversial that whether there should be pre-stunning before slaughter. Stunning means to make animals unconscious before they are killed.
For Muslims, there is a word "halal". It refers to what is permissible in Islamic laws. In the laws, the animal should be alive and healthy, and the animal's throat must be cut by a sharp knife. Blood must be drained out of the carcass. This is called the halal method.
In the UK, Food Standard Agency reported that more than 80% of animals slaughtered by halal method were stunned before slaughter. In terms of animal welfare, halal methods are humane and we can say they comply with the Animal Welfare Act.
On the other hand, the Jewish method called shechita does not include pre-stunning. In Jewish religious laws, the animals must be healthy and have suffered no injury at the time of slaughter. Because of the law, Jewish authorities oppose to the stunning, which they believe the stunning methods cause injury. They believe the shechita method uses very sharp knife that it causes no pain to the animal from the cut, and because of the rapid loss of blood, it is insensible within the three seconds of the cut being made. If this was true, we can say it also comply with the Animal Welfare Act. However, veterinarians say it takes 20sec~2min to lose consciousness for unstunned cattle, a sheep takes 7~20sec, a poultry takes 7 or 8sec.
Some European countries have banned slaughter without pre-stunning. If the slaughter is necessary to some religions or even for food, at least we must think of those stunning for the animals.
Meikle, J. (2014, May 08). What exactly does the halal method of animal slaughter involve? Retrieved July 26, 2017, from https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/may/08/what-does-halal-method-animal-slaughter-involve
How each h country treats pets differently?
I shall start with Japan. As we know, Japan is a "pet country." However, Japan is often mentioned that it is a developed country from the economy aspect, but is an undeveloped country from the animal protection aspect. Many people live with their pets for example dogs, cats, fish, turtles, birds etc. More than 20,000,000 people own their pets. At the same time, about 150,000 dogs or cats are killed in shelters. As the reasons, the aging of population is one. Many of those who abandon their pets are elderly people. They are too old to take care of their pets. Maybe, they cannot even take care of themselves, and that is much more reasonable than other selfish reasons, but they should consider and plan those situation before they buy pets.
The other reason is the system of pet stores. It is normal and usual for us Japanese to buy pets from pet stores, but this is unusual as a developed country. Other developed countries don't sell pets. Most of them adopt pets from shelters and the shelters are by advance reservation only, so not like Japan, there is no need to breed puppies and kittens as many as possible to put only baby animals on showcases at pet stores.
In Japan, if your pet is hurt deliberately by someone, that person is guilty of "damaging to property." Pets are treated as properties in the laws.
German is said to be the kindest country to animals. As widely known, selling living bodies is banned. There are "dog protection ordinance" to have a pet, called "Hundeführerschein", separating a puppy from his mother within the first 8 weeks after birth is banned and keeping a dog outside within the first year after birth is also banned.
Unlike Japan, animal shelters are more than places for pets in need of homes. Tierheim Berlin, the main animal shelter in Berlin, is one of the largest shelters in Europe. In the dog kennels, dogs can move freely about in and out of their rooms and have a stroll outside. The rooms are transparent so they can see each other, which is important for social species. The rooms for cats are also great. There are two or three cats in a big, bright room and they have toys and cat towers too. They can also walk out and in freely. There are introductory cards on each room's door, that have the name, picture, date of birth, medical history and reason for sheltering. There is also a name of the sponsor of each animal. The benefactors of Tierheim supports their care directly with monthly donations. Even after the animal is adopted, the donation is sometimes delivered to the adoptive family to lessen the family's financial burden. In German, there is an annual dog tax to owners called "Hundesteuer", but for adopted dogs from shelters, the owners get discounted rate.
In Australia, there are no shelters or facilities that kill animals. Shelters are places for abandoned animals to wait for their next families. A model called "Getting 2 Zero" tries to reduce euthanasia rates and share their No-Kill movement throughout the country.
If you want to take you dog with you to Australia, you can't. Few years ago, Johnny Depp's ex-wife, Amber Heard was prosecuted for smuggling their dogs into the country, while knowing it is illegal. Heard paid a $1,000 fine. The country has many regulations for dog owners in Australia.
In America, there are "animal control workers" who work to keep animals safe by prosecuting abusers, monitoring pet stores and rescuing injured and abandoned animals. It is said that consumers spend more than $60 billion on their pets each year. However, there are about 70 million stray animals in the country. About 7 million will ever make it into one of the countries many animal shelters, and half of them will be adopted. 3~4 million animals left in shelters will b euthanized due to lack of space and funds.
There are many we can learn from other countries.
How the U.S. Compares to Other Countries in Terms of Caring for Homeless Animals. (2014, November 06). Retrieved July 27, 2017, from http://www.onegreenplanet.org/animalsandnature/how-the-u-s-compares-to-other-countries-in-terms-of-caring-for-homeless-animals/
90% Adoption Rate at German Animal Shelters. (n.d.). Retrieved July 26, 2017, from http://careanimalrights.org/2017/03/90-adoption-rate-at-german-animal-shelters/
I shall start with Japan. As we know, Japan is a "pet country." However, Japan is often mentioned that it is a developed country from the economy aspect, but is an undeveloped country from the animal protection aspect. Many people live with their pets for example dogs, cats, fish, turtles, birds etc. More than 20,000,000 people own their pets. At the same time, about 150,000 dogs or cats are killed in shelters. As the reasons, the aging of population is one. Many of those who abandon their pets are elderly people. They are too old to take care of their pets. Maybe, they cannot even take care of themselves, and that is much more reasonable than other selfish reasons, but they should consider and plan those situation before they buy pets.
The other reason is the system of pet stores. It is normal and usual for us Japanese to buy pets from pet stores, but this is unusual as a developed country. Other developed countries don't sell pets. Most of them adopt pets from shelters and the shelters are by advance reservation only, so not like Japan, there is no need to breed puppies and kittens as many as possible to put only baby animals on showcases at pet stores.
In Japan, if your pet is hurt deliberately by someone, that person is guilty of "damaging to property." Pets are treated as properties in the laws.
German is said to be the kindest country to animals. As widely known, selling living bodies is banned. There are "dog protection ordinance" to have a pet, called "Hundeführerschein", separating a puppy from his mother within the first 8 weeks after birth is banned and keeping a dog outside within the first year after birth is also banned.
Unlike Japan, animal shelters are more than places for pets in need of homes. Tierheim Berlin, the main animal shelter in Berlin, is one of the largest shelters in Europe. In the dog kennels, dogs can move freely about in and out of their rooms and have a stroll outside. The rooms are transparent so they can see each other, which is important for social species. The rooms for cats are also great. There are two or three cats in a big, bright room and they have toys and cat towers too. They can also walk out and in freely. There are introductory cards on each room's door, that have the name, picture, date of birth, medical history and reason for sheltering. There is also a name of the sponsor of each animal. The benefactors of Tierheim supports their care directly with monthly donations. Even after the animal is adopted, the donation is sometimes delivered to the adoptive family to lessen the family's financial burden. In German, there is an annual dog tax to owners called "Hundesteuer", but for adopted dogs from shelters, the owners get discounted rate.
In Australia, there are no shelters or facilities that kill animals. Shelters are places for abandoned animals to wait for their next families. A model called "Getting 2 Zero" tries to reduce euthanasia rates and share their No-Kill movement throughout the country.
If you want to take you dog with you to Australia, you can't. Few years ago, Johnny Depp's ex-wife, Amber Heard was prosecuted for smuggling their dogs into the country, while knowing it is illegal. Heard paid a $1,000 fine. The country has many regulations for dog owners in Australia.
In America, there are "animal control workers" who work to keep animals safe by prosecuting abusers, monitoring pet stores and rescuing injured and abandoned animals. It is said that consumers spend more than $60 billion on their pets each year. However, there are about 70 million stray animals in the country. About 7 million will ever make it into one of the countries many animal shelters, and half of them will be adopted. 3~4 million animals left in shelters will b euthanized due to lack of space and funds.
There are many we can learn from other countries.
How the U.S. Compares to Other Countries in Terms of Caring for Homeless Animals. (2014, November 06). Retrieved July 27, 2017, from http://www.onegreenplanet.org/animalsandnature/how-the-u-s-compares-to-other-countries-in-terms-of-caring-for-homeless-animals/
90% Adoption Rate at German Animal Shelters. (n.d.). Retrieved July 26, 2017, from http://careanimalrights.org/2017/03/90-adoption-rate-at-german-animal-shelters/
What is the difference between vegetarian and vegan?
I conducted the animal rights survey few weeks ago and read the answers I got, some people mentioned the word "vegan". This "some people" means some who are highly interested in the issue, who take action by themselves. And, the other fact is that this some people are not Japanese. I wondered if Japanese people don't even know what a vegan is or its concept.
I think most Japanese know what a vegetarian is. "People only eat vegetables." This would be their answer. My daily diet tends to be like vegetarian style but I'm not intended to do so, I just don't eat meat very often since I was little and I don't like eggs.
I want people to know what vegetarianism and veganism are like and to try some times for themselves and animals.
Vegetarian
A vegetarian is someone who doesn't eat meat (including game and slaughter by products:fish, shellfish and other sea animals: and poultry). There are several kinds of vegetarians; a nutritional vegetarian excludes meat for health reasons, an ethical vegetarian avoids meat for environment or animal rights reasons, a lacto-vegetarian avoids meat, but eats dairy, and an ovo-vegetarian eats eggs.
a pesco-vegetarian doesn't eat meat but eats fish, a pollo-vegetarian eats chicken, and a flexitarian chooses to eat vegetarian diet some of the time but eats meat at other times. (that's me!) These three are not vegetarians. So the definition is not always clear.
There are benefits you could get if you go vegetarian: reduces risk of heart disease, shrinks cancer risk, lower body weight etc. Obviously, there are advantages if you go vegetarian.
Vegan
Unlike vegetarianism, the definition of veganism is clear. A vegan does not consume any animal products including meat, fish, fowl, eggs, dairy and even honey or gelatin. Vegans also avoid using products that have been tested on animals including make-up and skin products, and leather and fur products. What they eat are grains, beans, nuts, fruits, vegetables and seeds. Veganism is much stricter than vegetarianism. Eating vegan has similar health benefits as vegetarian.
I think eating vegetarian is easier to try for most of us. And it has benefits for not only animals but also ourselves. So, I highly recommend everyone to try sometime vegetarian choices. I'll show you the easiest example.
When you get a little hungry and want some snacks, what will you buy?
There are some vegetarian choices around us.
I bought them at a neighborhood drug store (two small ones says デーツ) and seven-eleven (the big one says マクロビ派).
This is made of mostly dates, nuts, sugar, cacao and salt. This one is rum-soaked raisins flavor and the other one is chocolate browny flavor. Both of them have rich flavor and were really good. It's only ¥140 so perfect for your snack.
This one is also chocolate browny flavor like, but more crispy than dates ones. It's just like mini granola bars. This is made of sugar, wheat, oats, cacao powder, vegetable oil, brown rice flakes, nuts, salt and vanilla extract. This also tastes good and is only ¥162, AND you can get this at the seven eleven in our school! There is original flavor too, so if you are hungry and looking for something to snack between classes, why don't you try this once?
I think it's important to know what you can do and try them out. Recognizing and understanding the issue is also important and it's the first step. You accomplished the first step by reading this blog so let's take the next step.
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