On The Issue Of Cruelty To Animals

Is it ever justified to cause unnecessary suffering to an animal simply for our own enjoyment?

Can I ask you a quick question? How do you feel about cruelty to animals? What are your views on people abusing animals. Do you think it’s ever justified to cause unnecessary suffering to an animal simply for our own enjoyment?

If you’re anything like most ‘normal’ people you will immediately recoil at the thought of animal cruelty. Surely, deliberately abusing defenceless animals for one’s own enjoyment is something that only a monster would do? A psychopath?

At this point, perhaps it would be useful to clarify exactly what I mean by these words — abuse, cruelty, unnecessary suffering — just so we’re on the same page and there’s no confusion later on. I’m talking about inflicting pain — often severe or excruciating pain — by kicking or beating, mutilation, causing severe injury using either sharp or blunt objects, burning, suffocating, crushing. Horrible, indefensible ways to treat those who are more vulnerable than ourselves.

What about someone who deliberately keeps animals in filthy, dark, cramped and woefully inadequate conditions, deprived of their natural environment, unable to express any of their natural behaviours, denied veterinary treatment…