Do you believe animals should be stunned before slaughtering?

@jennybianca (12912)
Australia
October 20, 2011 8:37pm CST
Our state Government is going to make it Law, that animals ares tunned before slaughtering. I am referring to animals used for human consumption or any by product there of. This is a big issue in austrlia, as various religious groups want to slaughter animals their own way. the RSPCA staes: ""The practice of stunning before slaughter is intended to save the animal from unnecessary pain before the actual slaughter by whatever means," Mr Pederick said. I am in support of the new law. I can also understand why some people, like my daughter, are vegans. I know respect of other religious views is important, but I honestly think that religious views are used as an excuse for any kind of behaviour. What do you think of this issue? what laws does your country have towards slaughtering animals and how do they go about it? Here is the article: http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/push-to-halt-ritual-animal-slaughter/story-e6frea6u-1226172325502
2 people like this
9 responses
• United States
22 Oct 11
I too realize that some people have religious issues with slaughtering animals (actually with most things). But most religions seem to basically say "Be a good person." It seems like eliminating physical pain when slaughtering an animal would fall into that category and be okay with most people. I would support a law requiring it, but that's just me.
3 people like this
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
24 Oct 11
There are some religious that have requirement s regarding the actual slaughter process, and one would hope that they would be as concerned about animal welfare as many of us. Unfortunately the stunning proces, does go against the slaughter process in at least one religion here.
1 person likes this
@skysuccess (8858)
• Singapore
22 Oct 11
jennybianca, I believe all the slaughterhouses around the world are compliant and could be subjected to the laws of their country. However, I don't think it could be enforced on religious bodies that observe animal sacrifice rituals. While this law may be for the benefit of the animals but I don't think it would be viewed in the positive light as far as religious groups are concern. Interfering their practice will just shed a negative light on the freedom rights of these groups. It will be contradictory when the country could allow these religion and practices but so mindful on their rituals. I think they should let this passed to slaughterhouses than religious groups.
@Galena (9110)
22 Oct 11
but why should any religious group be exempt from standards of what is considered humane in a country. IF my religion taught that if I eat meat it should be skinned alive, SHOULD the law have to allow for that? or should I have to agree that my religions standards of meat production weren't permissable by law, and be a vegetarian? if your religion teaches a method of slaughter that isn't permitted in your country, then you just have to eat a vegetarian diet. no big deal.
1 person likes this
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
24 Oct 11
Just how far a country goes with freedom of religion is a question for the citizens at the time. We allow religious freedom, but not to the extent the US does. Rituals that are going to be clearly agaisnt the law here, or at least offend the vasy mjority of people, can not be encouraged. We dont a low female circumsicm for instance, nor do we allow polygmany.
1 person likes this
@telmesh (1793)
24 Oct 11
Galena I checked your profile before I responded because I thought you would be from the UK like me and your response would be my gut reaction, that no leeway should be given to religious groups when it comes to being humane towards animals. Can you see how difficult that would be to enforce, it would be like banning booze in America, it would just make more people criminals. Some people say laws are just made to be broken, if they are it makes more illegal cash for those that break them.
1 person likes this
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
21 Oct 11
Hi jennybianca I am not sure asto how this will be helpful as I am sure none of these frames ever will get a way to get into that animal's body to experience what it goes through when stunned or even being slaughtered. I think the stunning will be adding one more cruelity to them.
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
24 Oct 11
It is true that we can not be certain about how an animal feels. But advanced science and animal behaviour studies have determined that animals definitely feel pain. Stunning would be instant, as Galena describes above.
1 person likes this
@lady1993 (27224)
• Philippines
24 Oct 11
I am okay with this, since I don't want the animals to be hurt more during the slaughtering.. But being stunned also hurts, since it is electricity, I just hope there would be a much less painful way of doing it.
2 people like this
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
25 Oct 11
I am pleased that animal welfare gets a priority in the Phillipines.
@SydneyJ (902)
• United States
21 Oct 11
I do not think animals should go through pain before or while someone is about to slaughter them. I am a vegetarian and I dont eat meat because the thought of all the horrible things that people do to animals should not have to be done just so someone can sell thier meat for money.
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
21 Oct 11
My daughter was a vegetarian from the age of 8, as she worke dout what happende stop farm animals. About one year ago she becamne a full vegan for the same reason. Although I was brought up with meat, and still eat some, I know that most of our population are meat eaters. So I would prefer that this slaughtering busines, be done as humanely as possible. There are certain religious groups who oppose this new law.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
24 Oct 11
Here in the Philippines there's a lot of ordinance that were imposed in favor of animal welfare. Like for dogs, cats, endangered species, and many more. In fact, it is against the law to kill a dog.
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
25 Oct 11
I am pleased that animal wlefare gets a priority in the Philiipines.
@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
21 Oct 11
I'm not sure what the slaughtering laws are here. I do think they should make it less painful for the animals though.
1 person likes this
@pergammano (7682)
• Canada
21 Oct 11
Jenny...OH, what a can of worms you have opened here, as this is such a controversial issue, and I could get into a huge discussion about this...as right now, I am in the midst of fighting a huge battle with the Federal Government over slaughtering regulations, implementation and inspection of slaughter houses/sites! I am truly ahamed of Canada, and it's "blind eye" knee-jerk reaction to INHUMANE slaughter houses! PUT ALL the regulations in the world in place (money, money, money)...but they ARE only as good as the enforcement! I have NO faith in regulations, as they are only performed properly when the "house" is being inspected...digging deep, I have lots of that! I cannot believe that there is NO pain from stunning...just ask anyone that has been "tasered"...and the pain is excruciating! I don't think there is a simple answer!
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
24 Oct 11
I was quite amazed to read your response, asyou are evidently so involved in a similar issue with your Government. that is excellent and I wish you great success. Regulations will only be as good as the government who implememnts them, they need to be inforced. In Australia, there are enough animal welfare groups who will monitor the new law. By the way, if you think stunning has no pain, and you may be right, what is it you would be recommending?
1 person likes this
• Canada
24 Oct 11
Possibly, I wrote it wrong, Jen..."I cannot believe there is NO pain from stunning..just asked anyone that has been "tasered"! I believe there is IMMENSE pain in stunning! SO MUCH so that residual stressor hormones can be detected in the meat! We have a humoungous number of "Animal Rights" groups in Canada...and if you think we are allowed ANY access to "slaughter houses" to see that regulations are implemented--then we "need to believe in Santa Claus!" Most regulations are put into place to appease the masses--and reduce the noise, written in disappearing ink! All of the information we are producing for the forefront, we obtain by "underground" methods, cell phones, hidden video's, accessing paper trails! I have witness firsthand.."kosher kills" and they are the least of our group targets! One small slaughter house is testing "laughing gas", and to date, has produced less acid in the blood, which denotes the levels of pain that has been experienced! Sorry...I do not have faith in my government...nor your's as I am aware of the conditions that AU has been shipping animals under! I think I best stick to gardening, Jen...as this is an issue that makes my blood boil! Take care! Cheers!
• United States
6 Jan 16
Oh it's so cold that I prefer to not think about it :/ I do prefer that we at least wait until animals are older before we kill them. Veal and the like should be outlawed.