Myths that People Believe About Animals
We live with animals everyday, whether it's the dog that we walk or the pigeon flying overhead. Yet it seems that, in spite of that closeness, we don't really know them. Many of the beliefs people have about animals are myths. Some come from what people hear, while others are assumptions. For example, many think that cats are aloof. They also believe that if you split a worm in two, it grows into two worms. Some think animals are dumb creatures and that onl humans can use tools or enjoy music. This list goes on. When you add veganism, these misconceptions go into overdrive.
Common Myths People Believe About Animals
There are several myths related to animals that often arise in discussions about veganism. Below are some of the most common ones:
Animals Don't Feel Pain Like Humans: Many people believe that animals do not experience pain, emotions, or suffering in the same way humans do. However, scientific research has shown that many animals, particularly mammals and birds, have complex nervous systems and can experience pain and distress similarly to humans.
Farm Animals Are Treated Humanely: A common belief is that animals raised for food are treated humanely and live happy lives. In reality, the vast majority, more than 95%, of farm animals are raised in intensive factory farms. In these conditions, they endure overcrowding, confinement, an unnatural diet and inhumane treatment, all ending in slaughter.
Eggs and Dairy Don't Harm Animals: Many people, including vegetarians, think that consuming eggs and dairy products does not harm animals. This is simply untrue. For eggs, male chicks in the egg industry are killed straight after hatching, usually by maceration or suffocation. In the dairy industry, male calves are separated from their mothers and killed soon after birth to ensure that they don't take their mother's milk, but also because they cannot produce milk. Add to this the forced artificial insemination that females have to endure, it quickly becomes apparent that dairy and eggs are not free of suffering.
Animals Are Raised for This Purpose, So It's Justified: Some argue that because farm animals are specifically bred and raised for food, their use and slaughter are justified. This perspective overlooks the ethical considerations regarding the animals' quality of life and right to live free from exploitation. No animal wants to be manipulated to produce young, no animal wants to be kept in a crowded farm with no access to fresh air or sunshine. If people were being forced to breed for those who are childless, using their bodies as a commodity, people would be in uproar. However, using animals in this way is considered ok by many, as the animal cannot escape the process.
Wild-Caught Fish and Free-Range Meat Are Ethical Choices: There is a belief that wild-caught fish and free-range or organic meat are humane alternatives. While these practices can be less harmful than factory farming, they are not harmless. They still involve killing animals and do not meet the ethical standards of avoiding harm and suffering.
Leather and Wool Are Just By-products: Some believe that leather and wool are harmless by-products of the meat and dairy industries. However, the leather industry is a major part of the animal agriculture industry, and wool production involves painful practices like mulesing, which is cutting away sheep's skin. Not only this, the processing of leather and wool cause huge amounts of water and ground pollution and harm the people processing them.
Hunting Is More Humane Than Farming: People who enjoy hunting say that hunting animals is more humane than factory farming. While wild animals do live natural lives, hunting still causes death and suffering and disrupts ecosystems. Hunting is also an industry of its own, with people profiting from encouraging animals into the hunting ground and falsely increasing their numbers to increase the success rates of hunters. Animals exhibit fear responses in the presence of hunters and will avoid being exposed during the times of day when hunters are out. Animals that are not killed cleanly suffer a slow, painful and scary death. Those within the hunting ground that aren't killed suffer from fear from being around hunters, hearing gunshots and smelling blood.
Animals Are Not Intelligent: There is a widespread notion that animals, especially those commonly used for food, are not intelligent or sentient. In fact, many animals demonstrate intelligence, problem-solving skills, emotional depth, and social complexity. Recently, a cow was filmed using a broom to scratch herself. She used the soft end of the broom for delicate areas of skin and would adjust how she held the broom to better reach the itchy area. There are stories of animals caring for their dead. One involves pet mice that attempted to bury their mother in her favourite blanket when she died. This not only showed their understanding of her death, but also a kind of caring or respect for her.
Animals Are Here for Human Use: It is a long held belief that animals exist for human use. They see animals as sources of food, clothing, entertainment, or work. Veganism challenges this idea. It suggests that animals have their own value and should be free from exploitation. Some argue that if someone has the power to do something, they have the right to do it. This raises tough questions. For instance, can we harm babies, the elderly or those with mental disabilities? Might does not equal right.
Zoos and Aquariums Are Good for Animals: Zoos and aquariums claim to offer safe spaces for animals and educational benefits for people. But, zoos are traps. They enclose animals in unnatural settings, causing physical and mental stress. Today, people still take animals from the wild or breed them just for zoos, for entertainment and to make money. This practice doesn’t align with the idea of a safe haven and isn’t educational either. Seeing an animal in distress, displaying repetitive behaviours or showing little reaction, helps no one.
Addressing the myths people believe about animals helps us understand the ethics of animal rights and veganism. Realising our similarities with animals fosters compassion. Animals feel love, fear, happiness, and pain. We shouldn't prioritise our desires over theirs, especially when it's just for our benefit. Using animals for food, when plant options are available, or for entertainment to their harm is inhumane.
The notion of human superiority fades when we see how animals thrive in nature. Take squirrels, for example. They gather acorns in autumn and bury them for later. They nibble the tops to stop them from sprouting, then remember where each one is when they’re hungry. Octopuses can solve puzzles, including unscrewing a jar from the inside when someone has trapped them within it. Pigs can find food in containers using only a mirror, showing they understand reflections. They even enjoy playing computer games. We underestimate animals for our own convenience. Then, we use this to justify their use, abuse and exploitation.
All animals have a right to life and deserve our respect and protection, not exploitation and harm.
