Summer is nearly here, and in rural towns all across America, the main event of the summer is the County Fair. Here in rural Ohio, the County Fair is takes on great importance. The 4-H is a large organization with hundreds of kids eager to show off their steer, rabbit or raspberry-orange muffins. But, county fairs are taking on another element in recent years, one of debate in the animal welfare arena. As a Veterinarian, I think the welfare of animals is extremely important! I also think animals have a place in the food chain. The children exhibiting their animals at the county fair should be presenting the ultimate in care and lifestyle for these animals, and the ones that end up in the slaughter house are due a simple, stress-less, humane slaughter, as are all animals- food or pet. There are groups in this country who would like to legislate that animals no longer being used for food. One method of pressing their platform is to spotlight mistreatment and abuse of animals. Now present at County Fairs are representatives of these groups sent to try to find evidence against the kids presenting livestock projects at the Fair. Kids are being told not to speak to anyone who asks questions about their animals, or anyone who seems pushy. This makes me very sad. These children are the ones who will be growing our food in the future. If their future means people trying to legislate them into other professions, they will need to be armed. Armed with knowledge. I think the best way to ensure animal welfare is to educate! I want these kids to be able to speak intelligently, and knowledgeably about animals and their welfare- to anyone who will listen.
Temple Grandin has been finding her way into the spotlight for a few years now, this year a HBO movie was made about her life, starring Clare Danes. Temple Grandin is an amazing woman. She is autistic, and has used that dominate feature to gain insight into life through the eyes of animals. She has specialized for many years in creating ways to make the ends of their lives graceful. She has a unique alignment to the feelings and thoughts of the livestock and pets we raise. And the methods of slaughter have changed largely due to her teachings.
Animals Make Us Humanis the ninth book by Temple Grandin. Its chapters are species specific, and provide wonderful insight into the way emotions work in our animals. From Dogs to Zoo critters, she writes about the unique features of each species and how to make their lives good ones. Any kid involved with an animal should pick up this book and at least read the chapter of that species, but may enjoy learning about them all! Learning Theory, Negative Reinforcement and the FEAR system all become understandable ideals. We need to make sure that we look at life through the eyes of our animals, and this book allows us to see. This book is a step in animal education.
If you have a County Fair, go. Do try and talk to to the exhibitors, let these kids share their projects, and watch. I have seen kids with ice packs on their dairy calf's neck, because it is hot. Or ones fanning flies away from their steer, because their steer doesn't like flies. Watch a kid bathing their chicken, and taking a toothbrush to clean every scale on it's leg and another spraying his hog with a water bottle for hours so the hog can rest comfortably. Not every animal gets this kind of treatment, but the more these kids learn about their animals, the better the welfare of all shall be.
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