Ethics

Are the five freedoms of welfare being met for circus animals?

There has been a controversial debate about what the exact definition of animal welfare is and the type ethical responsibilities humans have to animals. Although it is true that the circus industry may be able to ensure freedom from hunger and thirst. Evidence supported by Watson-Smyth (1999) suggests that training and certain husbandry methods that are being used in circus may actually be inflicting pain and causing injury.

Although there are laws on the federal and state levels that tend to protect animals from being treated in an inhumane manner, the terms are quite ambiguous. As stated by Francione (1994), laws are concerned with the notion that animals may be exploited by humans as long as the exploitation does not cause any "unnecessary" pain, suffering or death. However, all wild animals have intrinsic value and therefore humans should respect their inherent wildness, as well as its implications of their treatment (ADI 2008). Consequently, wild animals are subject of life who share inherent value and therefore, should be treated morally and not solely as a property and means of instrumental value.