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At the 2007 AGM held on Saturday 5th May at St Augustine's Church in London, the following statements were proposed and carried with a large majority. On the subject of performing animals Among the fundamental principles governing all Christian behaviour toward animals two are of special relevance to the subject of performing animals. First, every animal is part of God’s creation, and shows forth the divine goodness to God’s glory simply by being true to its own nature. Thus every creature has an intrinsic dignity which it is our particular responsibility as human beings to respect and uphold. This principle is breached, for example in circus acts or when animals are dressed in human-style costumes. It is no defence to say that such performances do no more than harness the natural behaviour of the animals for people’s innocent entertainment. Animals have been equipped with their powers and faculties not for our amusement or entertainment but for their own intrinsic needs and purposes. If in the course of unforced natural behaviour they happen to delight us, that is a privilege and blessing for which we ought to be grateful; but to manipulate them to behave in ways we find funny or absurd (or even clever and skilful) can in fact be abusive. The second principle is that it is wrong to subject sentient creatures to pressure, stress or physical pain, except for their own welfare. Training animals for performance can and often does involve such methods. Further causes for concern arise over the disposal at the end of their useful performing life. Also on the subject of game shooting God is love and His nature is to have mercy. He is also by nature creator not destroyer and does not rejoice in cruelty and death. The Anglican Society for the Welfare of Animals is therefore opposed to shooting animals or birds for sport. |
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Home | About | Membership | Links | Literature | Contact Us | Animal Welfare Sunday | Articles The Anglican Society for the Welfare of Animals |
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