English

1. Kim, Hemi. “Is Using Animals for Entertainment Unethical?” Sentient Media, 19 Jan.

2022, https://sentientmedia.org//animals-in-entertainment/?msclkid=e5e96177

af0a11 ec847c91aec196b389

In their article, “Is Using Animals for Entertainment Unethical?” Hemi refutes the mindset

driving the animal entertainment industry by highlighting the emotional toll placed upon the

creatures, and even offers alternative forms of entertainment. The author’s claim is supported

by a deep-dive into the many varieties of animal entertainment (bull riding, circuses, animal

resorts like SeaWorld) and the strenuous situations animals are forced into. Hemi’s purpose

was to highlight the cruel history of animal entertainment and explain how in modern times,

we as a society can create alternatives that do not harm the creatures but still allow people

access to learn about them. Considering the variety of events involving animals detailed, the

author is speaking to an audience of animal lovers who have not realized the brutality of the

animal entertainment industry.

2. Todd, Paul and Place, Jennifer. “Investigating the Internet Wildlife Trade.”

a. Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and

Flora (CITES), https://cites.org//eng/news/world/19/7.php?msclkid=6dfc84bb

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In their research article, “Investigating the Internet Wildlife Trade,” Todd and Place assert

that the developments of the internet have a direct correlation to the increasing difficulty to

prevent illegal animal trade and to monitor legal trading. Their claim is supported by data

from an investigation by the International Fund for Animal Welfare, where online listings for

wildlife products/animals were analyzed on prices and source locations. Todd and Place’s

purpose was to blow a whistle on the online animal trade and the detrimental effects this

market could have when given access to an international clientele pool. Given the scholarly

tone of this article, the author’s are speaking to website companies and people in positions

who could regulate the access illegal animal traders have to an online audience.

3. Bekoff, Mark. “The Exotic Pet Trade: Horrific Global Animal Abuse and an Assault

a. on Sentience.” Huffington Post, 6 Dec. 2017, https://www.huffpost.com/entry/

the-exotic-pet-trade-horr_1_b_9175608?msclkid=a48941deaf0511ec81747aa8

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In his article “The Exotic Pet Trade: Horrific Global Animal Abuse and an Assault on

Sentience,” writer Mark Bekoff asserts that the exotic animal trade is an unfathomable market

that strips living creatures of their natural significance for the sake of human profit. He

supports this claim by interviewing Clifford Warwick (a biologist and medical scientist who

has worked for over 30 years to lower the impact of the illegal market) and gathering his

opinions on the mechanisms of the market. Bekoff’s purpose behind this article was to

highlight the unethical treatment animals unfortunately found in this market are provided.

Given the location of this article, Bekoff is writing to an audience of everyday animal lover’s

who have not yet realized the unfortunate power driving the illegal animal trade.

Source Discussion

I am surprised at the twists and turns in my research. Initially, I was only looking to

reinforce the power behind the exotic animal trade. The route of arguing about social media

influence the market was totally unplanned but I’m really enjoying developing this argument.

An audience concern I discovered was the privilege of ignorance. The audience I’m writing

to can attempt to refute my argument by saying “Well, who are you to dictate what animals I

can and can’t own” (unfortunately, I’m writing to Karens). Along with this concern, members

of my audience could argue “Well, I would just never buy an animal from someone involved

in the illegal trade.” What they don’t realize is that anyone selling an exotic animal, good

morals or not, are inadvertently participating in this immoral trade. That’s one of the

approaches I’ll make to respond to this audience concern. The other response would be

encouraging people to travel to where these animals naturally live, rather than to force one

into an uncomfortable situation just so you could interact with them. If I had more time, I

would look into the confessions of somebody in the illegal animal trade. I did actually find a

book that covers exactly that, but it is a book and I don’t quite have the time to read one for

the sake of implementing it into my essay. Most of my essay feels strong aside from evidence

proving audience concerns because they are rooted in unprofessional resources. I think my

most convincing piece of evidence is my article by Paul and Jennifer. Although the research

was done in the early 2000’s, the evidence proving an increase in online illegal animal trade

is astounding!! As much as it stinks to hear, I loved finding a strong source that proved it.