GPUS Animal Rights Committee
Co-Chairs:
Craig Seeman (cseeman@optonline.net)
Megan E. (Cassano) Callaghan (meganecassano@aol.com)
Approval Process:
With discussions beginning in July, consensus was reached on the final proposals after a few months of discussion; a vote was called by Megan E. (Cassano) Callaghan on September 17, 2021. With no objections, the proposals were approved on September 30, 2021.
Authors:
Blaizen Bloom, Virginia GP (blaizenbb@hotmail.com)
Address: 308 Albert Ave Chesapeake, VA 23323
Mary Rooker, Maryland GP (greentyrtle@gmail.com)
Address: 804 Larch Ave, Takoma Park, MD 20912-5828
Chapters of the platform and letters of plank being addressed:
III. Ecological Sustainability
K. Ethical Treatment Of Animals
Proposal:
III. K. 6
Current Language: Ban the use of goods produced from exotic or endangered animals.
Revised Language: Ban the sale of exotic or endangered animals, as well as the use and sale of goods produced from them.
Reason for proposal:
Expanding upon this existing plank, it includes the sale of these products as well as the sale and use of exotic and endangered animals. These animals are not to be used as trophies or pets, but instead be allowed to live free in their natural habitat, or otherwise live under the care of professionals whose goal is to conserve, rehabilitate, and/or provide sanctuary. In this way, not only will we practice ethical policy, but will take steps to reduce the spread of diseases from wild animals, as had been theorized to be the origin of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Proposal:
III. K. 9
Current Language: Ban the exploitation of animals in violent entertainment and sports.
Revised Language: Ban the exploitation, abuse, and neglect of animals in entertainment and sports.
Reason for proposal:
The protection of animals in sport and entertainment shouldn’t be restricted to the level of violence. Furthermore, it should be exchanged for any exploitation. Animals that are exploited, abused, neglected, or otherwise harmed in any sport or entertainment should be prohibited to prevent it from happening again. Animals may still participate in sports or other entertainment where they are protected and cared for, such as in dog shows or for movies and other kinds of film.
Proposal:
III. K. X
Added Language: Prohibit the practice of tethering domesticated animals outdoors in extreme weather, as well as leaving domesticated animals outdoors during such weather without adequate shelter. Extreme weather includes but is not limited to below freezing temperatures, temperatures above 85℉ (30℃), hurricanes, thunderstorms, and tornados.
Reason for proposal:
No person should be left outside, without adequate shelter during extreme temperature or other extreme weather phenomenon. As such, animals shouldn’t be left out from these protections as any such violation would be neglect for the care of the animal.
Proposal:
III. K. X
Added Language: Ban the sale, production, import, and export of “foie gras” and any other products that are the result of force feeding.
Reason for proposal:
The practice of force feeding animals with the intent of fattening them up is not only unnecessary, but cruel and inhumane. The product, “foie gras”, is a good only consumed by the rich elite and provides no benefit either to man or the animal.
Proposal:
III. K. X
Added Language: Ban the sale, production, import and export of animal furs.
Reason for proposal:
Fur is a good used largely by the rich, elite and typically as a fashion statement. However, the means of gathering this product is horrifying. In nature, trapped animals are often left in traps for hours, in constant pain, unable to break free or severely damaged if they escape. On the contrary, the farming of these animals, like CAFO’s, is a horrendous, disgusting, unethical practice that deprives the animal of a natural life.
Proposal:
III. K. X
Added Language: Place an immediate ban on the practice of declawing, which is immensely harmful and traumatic surgery which involves the amputation of part of an animal’s limbs. Declawing can have health determinants including painful paws, infection, and tissue death as well as behavioral issues such as aggression and/or improper soiling.
Reason for proposal:
Criminalized in certain parts of the nation, declawing is a practice akin to chopping off the tips of human fingers. In addition to being extremely painful, it can cause medical conditions which include paw pains, infection, tissue death, anger issues, and others.
Proposal:
III. K. X
Added Language: Legalize and fund the practice of trap and release (TNR) of feral, domesticated animals for the purpose of spay and neutering by programs run by licensed veterinarians at any public or private animal shelter, releasing agency, hospital, or clinic.
Reason for proposal:
The stray animal population is one that is constantly growing. Not enough homes, nor resources, are currently available to care for all these animals. However, the practice of trap-and-release allows trained professionals to go out into the community, find and trap stray animals, and spay or neuter them before releasing them out into the wild. This way, the growth of this population can be dramatically slowed without the use of euthanasia and without requiring underfunded and understaffed shelters to bear the burden of thousands of adoptable animals.
Proposal:
III. K. X
Added Language: Ban the practice of horse racing, greyhound racing, and all other situations where animals are commercially raced. Place an immediate ban on the use of whips in horse racing and steeplechase.
Reason for proposal:
Racing animals for support that involves the beating and drugging of raced animals, sometimes illegally. Once these animals lose their economic worth, they are either abandoned or killed instead of cared for. These practices should be banned, with an immediate ban on the most violent of used practices.
Proposal:
III. K. X
Added Language: Ban the use of non-domesticated animals in circuses and call for their re-homing to their natural habitats where possible, otherwise to conservational zoos or sanctuaries.
Reason for proposal:
The use of non-domesticated in circuses provides no benefit outside of profit and entertainment. These animals should instead be rehabilitated and released to the wild, or otherwise placed in the care of professionals for the sake of sanctuary.
Proposal:
III. K. X
Added Language: Require that all zoos and private collections of non-domesticated animals must be for the purposes of conservation and rehabilitation or providing sanctuary for those animals unable to be released back into their natural habitat.
Reason for proposal:
Zoos and other private animal collections can provide some good in their contribution to conservation, rehabilitation, and conservation. However, practices that lay outside those purposes, especially for profit and entertainment are to be condemned and prohibited. Examples of this include roadside zoos which treat their animals in poor conditions, resulting in infections, malnutrition, and mental harm all in the name of seeking profit.
Proposal:
III. K. X
Added Language: Guarantee that public buildings that serve food such as schools, jails and hospitals participate in the practice of ‘Green Monday’–where all foods served on one day of the week does not contain animal products and byproducts–to provide ethical, healthier, and climate friendly meals one day out of each week.
Reason for proposal:
A growing amount of evidence shows that animal agriculture places a large part in the decline of our ecosystems and climate, not to mention the harm done to animals in order for them to be consumed. To reduce the loss of animal life and reduce the impact of our food on our planet, public buildings should be required once a week to serve only plant-based meals.