it is important to be kind to animals essay

Short Essay on Kindness to Animals [100, 200, 400 Words] With PDF

In this lesson today, you will learn how to write short essays on the topic of Kindness to Animals. In this lesson, I am going to adapt a simplistic approach to writing these essays that all kinds of students can easily understand.

Feature image of Short Essay on Kindness to Animals

Short essay on Kindness to Animals in 100 Words

All the living creatures on this planet have the right to live freely in nature. Today, however, many animals all over the world are suffering because of human cruelty. People don’t just kill animals for their meat but also their skins, tusks, horns, teeth, feathers and fur. Many animals are kept captive, tortured and made to perform in front of crowds of people.

Innocent lab animals are used all over the world to test newly developed chemical formulations. We should be kind to animals and all living creatures. We should never harm animals. Instead, we should feed them and take care of them whenever we can. After all, having compassion for others is what truly makes us human.

Short essay on Kindness to Animals in 200 Words

For thousands of years, human beings have hunted animals not just for food, but also for sports and fun. Many animals like elephants and horned rhinoceros have been killed for centuries for their tusks and horns. Animals like lions, tigers, monkeys and even dolphins are kept captive, tortured and made to perform in front of crowds of people.

The livestock animals kept in farms for their milk and meat live in such terrible conditions, unable to move freely. And of course, we can not forget the lab animals. Rabbits, guinea pigs, rats and mice are used all over the world to test new chemical formulas developed for humans.

In our day to day life, we all have come across people throwing stones at street dogs or kicking them. Many people don’t even think twice before running their cars over street animals. We must ask ourselves if the innocent animals deserve our cruelty.

They don’t bother us and just want to live peacefully. We should become more kind and compassionate towards animals and all other living beings. We shouldn’t harm animals or let others harm them. We should feed and take care of helpless animals. After all, having compassion for others is what truly makes us human.

Short essay on Kindness to Animals in 400 Words

All living beings on this planet were created and given life by the same divine force. All of us, whether it is human beings, plants or animals, have the right to live and be free. In the olden days, most kings and emperors spent their free time going on hunts to kill animals like deer, tigers, lions and elephants. The hunted animals were not eaten but just served as a trophy for the king.

Many big animals like elephants and horned rhinoceros are still killed for their tusks, horns and skins. Marine animals like sharks and whales are also killed to be served as delicacies in several high-end restaurants. Over the years, the population of these animals has greatly decreased and many exotic species are on the verge of becoming extinct.

We don’t have to go far to see animals suffering because of human cruelty. It is not hard to notice how mistreated the street dogs are. People throw stones at them, kick them and some even run their cars over them. Many animals are kept captive and made to perform in circuses. The livestock animals kept in farms for their milk and meat live in such terrible conditions, unable to move freely.

Their babies are taken away from them and killed as the people running the farms don’t see any value in keeping them alive. Horses and bullocks kept for pulling carts and ploughs are often not fed properly and made to work until they collapse. If we take a look at the cosmetic industry, so many high-end brands test their products on innocent animals. Rabbits, guinea pigs, rats and mice are all used to test new chemical formulas developed for beauty products. This greatly harms them.

Animals have every right to live freely in nature. Just because they cannot defend themselves, does not mean that we should keep torturing them for our gain. Kindness to animals and all other living creatures is a virtue. We should not harm animals and we should stop others from harming them as well. Many animals have lost their habitat and food sources because of deforestation and infrastructure developments done by human beings.

We should feed and take care of such animals instead of viewing them as a nuisance. Governments all over the world have taken various steps to stop illegal hunting and many organisations are trying their best to make life less cruel for farm and lab animals. But they can only do so much. It is on each one of us to become more compassionate and kind towards animals so that all living beings can live freely on this planet.

If you have any doubts regarding this session, kindly let me know through some quick comments below. To read more such essays on various important topics, keep browsing our website.

You can join us on Telegram to get the latest updates on our upcoming sessions. Thank you for being with us. All the best for your exam.

Kindness to Animals Essay

The kindness to animals essay covers why we should always show compassion to animals. There are a few advantages to being kind to animals, and they are listed in the article. Some of these include showing respect for animals, being kind to them, and helping preserve our environment as it provides shelter to animals. Kindness to animals essay teaches us to be kind and tolerant towards furry friends.

Some people think that animals don’t have feelings or emotions, but they do. The relationship between humans and animals is much more than just giving them food and shelter. A human’s well-being depends on all living things, including animals. Humans are responsible for the treatment of domestic animals .

Kindness to animals is a common practice that many people engage in today. It is always a nice feeling to help animals in need. There are many ways that you can show kindness towards them. You can share your food with them, get a pet for yourself, or volunteer for an animal shelter.

Animals have an impact on our lives in many ways. As a society, we have focused more on human beings, which has caused a lot of harm to our planet and the animals that live on it. It is important to make decisions that help preserve wildlife to protect humans and animals.

it is important to be kind to animals essay

Importance of Protecting Animals

Animal activism and animal rights have been a growing trend in recent years. Animal advocates preach kindness to animals, highlighting that just as humans should be kind to each other, they should also extend that kindness to the wildlife around them. There are different types of animal activism by the people who believe in protecting animals.

There are many reasons to take care of animals and levels of kindness one can show to an animal. Some people believe that animals are a reflection of ourselves, and if we have loving animal companions, it will make us feel more fulfilled. There is also the argument that animals have the same rights as humans and that they should be protected for their welfare.

Kindness to animals essay discusses the benefits of animal-friendly practices and ideas. It also provides resources for those who want to make a difference in their own lives, whether they are working in the animal industry or not.

Many wild animals are suffering and dying because of human cruelty. The best way to help is to be kinder. We should treat all animals with care, respect, love, kindness, and dignity.

Frequently Asked Questions on Kindness to Animals Essay

Why should kids refer to byju’s kindness to animals essay.

Kids must refer to BYJU’S kindness to animals essay because it discusses the benefits of animal-friendly practices and philosophies. Animals need to be protected because they are an important part of our ecosystem. Also, when an animal becomes extinct, this could have a huge impact on the ecosystem.

Why should we protect the animals?

Animals are a precious part of our world, and we should protect them. There are many animals that have been endangered because of human activities, like the animals in Africa that have been killed by poaching. We need to protect these animals so that we can stop global warming and other environmental issues.

Register with BYJU'S & Download Free PDFs

Essay on Be Kind to Animals

Students are often asked to write an essay on Be Kind to Animals in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Be Kind to Animals

Importance of kindness.

Animals are a crucial part of our ecosystem. They deserve respect and kindness just like humans.

Ways to Show Kindness

We can show kindness by providing food, water, and shelter to animals. It’s also important to not harm them, physically or emotionally.

Benefits of Being Kind

Being kind to animals helps us develop empathy and compassion. It also helps maintain a balanced ecosystem.

Remember, every creature has a role in our world. Let’s respect and be kind to them.

Also check:

Paragraph on Be Kind to Animals

250 Words Essay on Be Kind to Animals

Introduction.

Kindness towards animals is a virtue that is not only ethically upright, but also has profound implications on our own humanity. The way we treat animals is a reflection of our empathy and compassion, two traits that are fundamental to our coexistence.

Animals’ Role in the Ecosystem

Animals play a pivotal role in maintaining ecological balance. They contribute to biodiversity, aid in pollination, and serve as a food source for other species. Disrespecting animals can disrupt these natural processes, leading to adverse effects on the ecosystem.

The Ethical Argument

From an ethical standpoint, animals, like humans, have the right to live free from suffering. Animal cruelty is a blatant violation of this right. By being kind to animals, we uphold the principles of fairness and justice, demonstrating our recognition of their intrinsic value.

Psychological Implications

Psychological studies suggest a positive correlation between kindness to animals and empathy towards fellow humans. Those who treat animals with kindness are often more empathetic, understanding, and cooperative. Hence, promoting kindness to animals can contribute to a more compassionate society.

In conclusion, being kind to animals is not just about animal welfare; it’s about preserving our ecosystem, upholding ethical standards, and nurturing our own humanity. By fostering a culture of kindness towards animals, we can contribute to a more compassionate, empathetic, and just society.

500 Words Essay on Be Kind to Animals

Kindness towards animals is not just a virtue but a responsibility that we, as the most intelligent species on the planet, must uphold. Their inability to communicate their needs and emotions like us does not make them any less deserving of compassion, respect, and love. This essay will explore the importance of being kind to animals, the implications of our actions, and how we can foster a more compassionate society.

The Ethical Imperative of Kindness

The moral compass of a society can often be gauged by its treatment of the voiceless and vulnerable. Animals, regardless of whether they are pets, farm animals, or wild creatures, are sentient beings capable of experiencing pain and suffering. Just as we recognize the need for kindness and empathy towards our fellow humans, it is equally crucial to extend the same courtesy to animals. Our ethical imperative to be kind to animals is a reflection of our commitment to empathy, respect, and justice.

Environmental Implications

Our actions towards animals have far-reaching implications on the environment. Industrial farming practices, for instance, often prioritize productivity over animal welfare, leading to inhumane conditions and significant environmental damage. By choosing to support ethical farming practices, we can contribute to reducing the environmental footprint of our food choices. Similarly, the preservation of wildlife through conservation efforts is integral to maintaining biodiversity and ecological balance.

Psychological Benefits of Kindness to Animals

Being kind to animals can also have profound psychological benefits. Interactions with animals have been shown to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. Pets offer companionship and unconditional love, while wildlife encounters can inspire awe and a sense of connection with nature. These experiences can foster empathy, compassion, and a greater sense of responsibility towards all living beings.

Creating a Compassionate Society

Promoting kindness to animals can have ripple effects on society. It can encourage empathy, respect for life, and a sense of responsibility towards the welfare of other beings. Schools and educational institutions can play a crucial role in this by incorporating lessons on animal welfare and ethics into their curriculum.

Moreover, legislation that protects animals from cruelty and exploitation is essential. However, laws can only work well if societal attitudes change as well. Each of us has a role to play in fostering a culture of kindness towards animals, whether it’s through our consumer choices, advocacy, or everyday interactions with animals.

In conclusion, being kind to animals is not just about treating them well. It’s about recognizing their inherent worth and right to a life free from suffering. It’s about making choices that reflect our values of compassion, respect, and justice. And most importantly, it’s about creating a society where kindness towards all sentient beings is the norm, not the exception. As Mahatma Gandhi famously said, “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” May we all strive to be kind to animals and, in doing so, become better humans ourselves.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

Essay on Be Grateful
Essay on Be a Good Listener
Essay on Basketball

Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .

Happy studying!

Making a better world through kindness to animals

Best Friends co-founder Francis Battista kissing Teddy the dog

Dr. Jane Goodall said it best: “You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” That resonates with me.

The vision statement of Best Friends is “A better world through kindness to animals,” which is to say that if we look to the well-being of the least empowered among us, we will cast a net that includes, well, the world. Many will say, and have said over the years, that this is a hopelessly naïve and out-of-touch dream that doesn’t square with the reality of power, money and the cutthroat politics that run the world.

But the world as we know it is the consequence of individual decisions that have been made over the course of millennia and continue to be made today, by each of us. However rigid and fixed the structures that hold things in place may seem, we all witnessed just how tenuous they really are when the COVID-19 pandemic almost brought the world to its knees.

Mule deer in Angel Canyon, in front of a red rock cliff

Where to start?

So, where do you start if you want to make a difference for the animals? By getting involved in animal welfare? Animal rights? Anti-vivisection? Becoming vegetarian? Becoming vegan? Is eating honey cruel to bees? Is wearing wool cruel to sheep?

There are a lot of potential pitfalls when trying to chart a compassionate path through life. Take those who practice Jainism, an austere religion from India that claims a tradition at least as old as Hinduism. The Jains wear masks to prevent them from accidentally swallowing flying insects and sweep the path in front of themselves as they walk lest they tread on crawling creatures, in their efforts to protect other living things from their impact on the world. But you don’t have to adopt an “ism” or go to extremes to take steps in your preferred direction, which, if you are reading this, I’m guessing has something to do with helping animals.

[ 7 priceless gifts pets give us ]

Being kind to animals is a great place to start, even if you really only care about your own dog, cat, bunny or bird. We have all taken great pleasure in making our pets feel at ease in their new home. We know what makes them feel frightened and what makes them feel relaxed and secure. Stomping around the house in a bad mood probably sends your pets into hiding. Not kind. Thinking about the effect that indulging in your bad mood will have on the animals in your household and taking a deep breath first to protect them from something they are powerless to deal with — well, that’s kindness, and not only that, it makes for a better household.

That’s a simplistic example, but in truth, the dogs and cats in my life have served as the most effective mirror for my own impact on others — more than I could ever have hoped for or feared. When you begin to observe your pets, independent of yourself, it opens up a rich and fascinating new world.

Listening to animals

It’s not hard to get into the skin of your animal friends. It begins with being quiet and watching and listening. They’re communicating with us all the time through vocalizations, body language, where they lie down, which way they face. What are they looking for in the relationship? It’s never just a meal. Is it the ability to trust? Is it approval, confirmation that they are doing the right thing? Is it the need to have a place in the perceived pecking order, to have a leader, a companion? Maybe, if they have been through a rough time prior to entering your household, it’s simply the need to feel safe.

Teddy, a highly animated, fuzzy white dog, was a wonderful friend who passed away a few years ago. He helped me realize how hard our animal companions work to get through to us. Relating to Teddy, a ridiculously cute Hurricane Katrina survivor, was like playing charades. “First word, two syllables, sounds like …” I could hear him thinking, “Geez, Francis, if you tried half as hard to communicate with me as I try to communicate with you, we’d be speaking French by now!” Somewhere along the way, Teddy decided that the best way to get through life was to be happy and to make everyone else happy as well. He taught me a lot.

[ Advocacy and action make 2021 a banner year for lifesaving ]

Taking a little time to see what’s going on reveals that, on their own terms, the animals have important things to attend to, sophisticated relationships, and they are motivated by the same concerns that drive us all. Their lives have depth and texture. They make decisions and they puzzle over and work out solutions to problems. It’s no longer a surprise when one of our dogs figures out the secret of doorknobs or when the squirrels defeat my most ingenious attempts to keep them out of the bird feeders.

Animal lovers get it. That’s why most people who have pets believe that they are part of the family, and why some defy fire and flood rather than abandon their pets in the face of a disaster. It was the great lesson coming out of Hurricane Katrina that led to the passage of the PETS Act, mandating evacuation protocols for pets in any community requiring federal aid during a disaster. But if we step off the kindness trail at the household pet turnoff, we will miss out on the larger and much more interesting story of what is going on all around us.

We are all connected

I have been privileged to live and work in Angel Canyon, the home and headquarters of Best Friends, since we arrived here 36 years ago and started shoveling sand to create the first iteration of the Sanctuary. I have a literal window on the natural world of the Colorado Plateau. It is a starkly beautiful but harsh and unforgiving landscape of red, pink and white sandstone cliffs, blown sand, sagebrush and juniper. This landscape is cut through with a life-giving creek fed by seeps and springs that support habitat for a variety of wildlife — from mountain lions, deer, coyotes and bobcats to eagles, owls, hawks and songbirds to lizards, bugs and spiders.

Watching and listening to these animals (not so much the secretive cougars and bobcats), I have come to appreciate the complexity of their lives and the struggle for survival that we all share. Even the ones I don’t particularly like — such as ants, whose seemingly chaotic activity is actually highly structured and role-oriented. Ants’ brains are 40,000 times smaller than ours, but they perform remarkable feats that boggle the mind. For example, a recent study determined that a species of desert ant navigates to and from food sources by “counting” their steps via some type of built-in pedometer.

Even if you don’t live “out in nature,” there is animal life worth watching all around, from squirrels and pigeons in the park to racoons in suburbia to the legendary “pizza rat” who took social media by storm a few years ago. Look and listen — it’s there.

[ 5 pet stories that are 100% guaranteed to make you smile ]

I have come to understand that there is no such thing as a small or unimportant life. Every creature, however small or strange, different or possibly repulsive to us, has a life that matters to them and should matter to us as we make our way through the world. It should matter to us because we are all connected and their fate is ultimately our fate.

We spend hundreds of billions of dollars searching for life in the galactic void, while failing to appreciate and protect the lives right in front of us, as we stomp around our own planet in a bad mood, driving species to extinction. As Dr. Jane Goodall observed: “Here we are, the most clever species ever to have lived. So how is it we can destroy the only planet we have?”

With kindness in mind, treating all living things as we would like to be treated, we can make life easier for our fellow earthlings. We can make a better world through kindness to animals.

This article originally appeared in Best Friends magazine. You can subscribe to the magazine by becoming a  Best Friends member .

No-kill could be the new normal in Grady County, Georgia

Birds, bunnies and snakes, oh my: 8 wild animal rescue stories

Best Friends Network partners awarded grants for their resiliency

Community in Mission

Blog of the Archdiocese of Washington

On Kindness to Animals and Why It Is an Important Virtue to Cultivate

This certainly applies to our treatment of animals. There are some extremists who would equate the dignity of animals with that of humans, failing to understand that human abilities are exceptional and unique due to the capacities of our soul, made in the image of God. Others think it immoral for us to make use of animals as beasts of burden or for necessary food. Still others think that animal companions can replace healthy human relationships (rather than merely augment them).

But whatever the extremes and errors of our time, our animals do have important roles in helping us to become more human. St. Thomas Aquinas set forth the paradoxical notion that animals can help us to be more humane and more human:

Blood was forbidden, both in order to avoid cruelty, that they might abhor the shedding of human blood, as stated above (3, ad 8) … For the same reason they were forbidden to eat animals that had been suffocated or strangled: because the blood of these animals would not be separated from the body: or because this form of death is very painful to the victim; and the Lord wished to withdraw them from cruelty even in regard to irrational animals, so as to be less inclined to be cruel to other men, through being used to be kind to beasts (Summa Theologica, I, IIae, 102, art 6, ad 1).

St. Thomas links the avoidance of excessive cruelty to animals with a greater respect and gentleness for human life. As any psychotherapist or exorcist will tell you, the penchant for cruelty to human beings in sadists and murderers often began (usually in childhood) with cruelty to animals. Further, kindness to animals can help augment kindness to fellow human beings.

While distinct from animals, we share many bodily similarities including sensitivity to pain and suffering. It is a grave defect of character to be insensitive to the suffering of sentient creatures, animal or human. It is a not a far journey from relishing inflicting pain on animals to enjoying doing the same to human beings.

On a more positive note, as we learn to be patient and gentle with animals (especially pets), we can acquire the skills to be patient and gentle with our fellow humans. Admittedly, though, human beings are far more complicated and far less innocent than animals, whose behavior we can easily excuse.

This also helps debunk a demand for equivalence that sometimes emerges. The usual complaint goes something like this: “You’re kinder to your dog than you are to me!” Perhaps on some level this may be true, but our relationship to our pets is different because we reasonably expect less from them. They do not have rational souls and cannot be expected to behave justly or reasonably. But fellow human beings need more correction and must answer to a higher set of standards. Thus we are reasonably harder on them, given the nature of our relationship with them and what is rightly expected of them. Correction of a human person who may one day merit Heaven or Hell is more important for him than it is for an animal, which has no such consequences attached to its actions. So, it makes sense that we are harder on one another and expect more than we do from our animals.

That said, learning to express patience and kindness to an animal does help us to learn the language of kindness and gentleness that can, and often should, be granted to fellow human beings. It helps to awaken and train a tenderness in us.

In the Summa Theologica , St. Thomas also comments on the prohibition of boiling a kid goat in the milk of its mother:

Although the kid that is slain has no perception of the manner in which its flesh is cooked, yet it would seem to savor of heartlessness if the [mother’s] milk, which was intended for the nourishment of her offspring, were served up on the same dish (Summa Theologica I, IIae, 106 art. 5 ad 4).

Although Thomas does state other reasons for the prohibition (e.g., that it is the practice of the pagans), the avoidance of cruelty is stressed.

Pointless cruelty is never a good thing to allow in the human person , even if it is (only) directed toward lower forms of life. It is too easily transferred to the way we regard and treat one another.

Kindness to animals, therefore, is an important virtue to cultivate. We need not embrace excesses such that we fail to make proper use of animals as God intended (to assist us and even to be food for us). Neither must we bestow rights on them that have no corresponding duties or presuppose qualities they do not have. But pointless cruelty to animals that does not recognize their status as sentient beings harms not only them but us as well.

The paradox, then, is this: Our humanity is partially nurtured by our treatment of and experience with animals, both wild and tame. Kindness to animals, even if a virtue subject to excessive and even bizarre applications today, remains an important virtue for us.

The picture at the upper right is of my cat, Jewel (a.k.a. Jewel the Kidda, L’il Girl, and The Queen of Sheba).

2 Replies to “On Kindness to Animals and Why It Is an Important Virtue to Cultivate”

God gives us dogs as examples of faithfulness and trust. God gives us cats to show that we’re not always in control, and that it’s entirely human to welcome mystery into our lives.

There is an aspect of animal cruelty that this post doesn’t touch on: factory farms. Pigs, in particular, from what I’ve read, are treated most cruelly on in thoses places.

Comments are closed.

Why Students Should Learn to Be Kind to Animals

As educators, we’re always looking for new ways to motivate our students and invigorate our teaching. In my class of English-language learners, students often, justifiably, are fearful being in a new country and having to make new friends. Naturally, not feeling comfortable in class can become an obstacle to learning.

But when I integrate humane education, teaching about kindness to animals, in my lessons, I see my students light up.

One of my students who was hesitant to speak in English found her voice when talking about the rabbits and chickens on her grandmother’s farm in Ecuador and how she missed playing with the animals outside. Her participation invigorated a discussion with the other students about animals.

The lowered stress level allows my students to open up, learning more English and engaging in their lessons in a deeper, more attentive way. The room immediately becomes a warmer and friendlier environment.

This learning framework, humane education, is character education that includes teaching about kindness to animals. Fostering compassion and empathy for others, including non-human animals, is one of its overarching goals.

But humane education is not about preaching. Instead, students are encouraged to problem solve. When students learn about the impact humans have on animals, they frequently want to use their voices to work toward a more just and fair world for all of its inhabitants.

Research supports what most teachers and parents know empirically—children are particularly engaged when learning about and interacting with animals. Building on that connection, schools across the country have implemented “reading to dogs” programs because of both the comfort and motivation the animals elicit.

However, the presence of a live animal may not always be feasible or appropriate. Just learning about animals, especially issues of animal welfare, can motivate students to engage with standards-aligned curriculum content and enhance their critical thinking skills.

While character education is unfortunately often viewed as a separate, standalone curriculum, humane education can and should be incorporated into the teaching of academic subjects. For example, math lessons about pet overpopulation teach multiples, readings on endangered species teach children about conflict and problem solving, and advances in testing for product safety allow for science teachers to teach the chemistry and technology behind animal-free testing methods.

For resources on humane education, see:

• The Institute for Humane Education’s teacher training • PETA’s Teach Kind lesson plans • Resource guides from Humane Education Advocates Reaching Teachers • The Humane Education Coalition’s list of state- and county-based humane education organizations

In my classes, students learn the academic language and writing format necessary to craft a business letter when they write to local politicians about animal-friendly legislation. They also employ reading, critical thinking, and reasoning strategies when researching the background of the bills. The topic of animals is the gateway to deliver the content you need to teach.

Unfortunately, most adults, let alone children, do not fully appreciate the impact humans cause to the world in which we live. We need to ensure that critical information is relayed to young people, all of whom are set to inherit a currently harmful legacy. Humane education can help future generations address the environmental issues they will face.

Recently, the federal government has opened the national parks to logging and drilling , weakened the Endangered Species Act and animal welfare requirements in organic food labeling , and allowed an increase to trophy hunting , affecting wild animal populations throughout the world.

Most alarmingly, Animal Welfare Act reports have been pulled from public record , making it harder for the public to learn which companies are violating even minimal AWA standards.

As students learn about protecting the habitats of non-human animals, they become aware of how our personal and national decision-making affects all species.

The Institute for Humane Education calls students who participate in humane education “solutionaries,” because when they learn about new topics, they are tasked with problem solving. This can mean problem solving on a global scale—how to protect wildlife habitats or slow climate change. But humane education also promotes interpersonal cooperation and conflict resolution.

In this way, humane education can complement schoolwide goals of social-emotional learning and antibullying initiatives. The framework asks educators and students to expand their definition of “others” to include non-human animals, teaching compassion.

Teaching about kindness to animals awakens the empathy that helps children improve all of their interpersonal relationships, and it develops children who will become change agents for a more positive future.

Sign Up for EdWeek Update

Edweek top school jobs.

A solitary woman is highlighted in a spotlight.

Sign Up & Sign In

Think Kindness

Inspiring Kindness In Schools Across The Country

Meet Our Sponsors
Our Mission
Meet The Founder
Meet The Team
Elementary School
Middle & High School

How animals inspire kindness

I admit it — I am a bona fide animal lover. One look in my house — with my two dogs, four cats, two frogs and a turtle — and it is hard to deny that I literally live in a zoo.

But you don’t need to be pet owner or animal lover to see how animals can inspire kindness in others.

Time and time again we hear stories about how our four-legged friends and other animals show random acts of kindness towards humans.

Take for example Binti-Jua, the gorilla who cradled an injured boy who fell into the gorilla enclosure in her arms, protecting him from the other animals until he could be rescued by a zookeeper. Or Oscar the therapy cat, who layed with and comforted nursing home residents while they took their last breaths.

We all have the opportunity to show kindness towards animals, just as they show kindness towards us.

Who hasn’t seen those TV commercials that show neglected and abused animals longing for someone to show them some simple act of kindness?

Even the toughest of hearts can’t help but be melted as their innocent eyes stare longingly while “In the Eyes of the Angels” plays in the background.

If there was ever an opportunity to practice kindness, volunteering with abused or homeless animals is it.

Whether you are a dog person, a cat lover, a horse fanatic, or even a reptile aficionado, there are ample opportunities to help those creatures that so badly need some kindness in their lives.

Filling out an application and taking a short class is all that is required to start making a difference at your local Humane Society or SPCA . And by making a simple phone call to an animal rescue organization, you can learn how you can help mistreated animals.

My children started volunteering at the Humane Society at a young age. They would walk dogs, brush cats, and spend time petting and socializing with the animals.

Although my daughter is grown and my boys are teenagers now, they still make time to visit homeless, abused and disabled animals. My youngest son even donates $15.00 every month to sponsor Minka, a disabled cat at the Feline Rescue of Northern Nevada (FRONN).

I believe my children’s acts of kindness towards animals is fostered by the kindness shown to them in return. Kindness will almost always be reciprocated when it comes to animals.

Academic Test Guide

Essay on Kindness to Animals for Students and Children

We are Sharing an Essay on Kindness to Animals in English for students and children. In this article, we have tried our best to provide a short Kindness to Animals Essay for Classes 8,9,10,11,12 in 200, 300,400 words.

Making kindness and justice to domestic animals an essential part of human virtue. Animals also claim our love and sympathy, not only because they are dumb and helpless but also because they are so serviceable to us. Cruelty to animals hardens our hearts and produces in us a callous and unfeeling, and unsympathetic nature which is a great punishment to a human being.

Some animals do us great service. The horse, the dog, the mule, the ox, the ass, and the camel are our faithful and hard-working servants. Even in this age of mechanical civilization, we cannot do without them. Yet how often do we come across the ugly sight of a driver whipping the horse hard or a farmer showering blows upon the stolid ox mercilessly, as if the latter were made of stone or wood, and not flesh and blood. Cruelty to animals is immoral.

In India the doctrine Ahimsa or no-violence, though often preached, is not always practiced, especially, by the young.

We must practice kindness to animals. We can show our kindness to them by providing proper food, water, and shelter to domestic and agricultural animals, by allowing them complete rest one day in a week, by sending them to veterinary hospitals when they are ill, by making them carry only so much load as they can carry with ease, by avoiding the use of sharp goads or heavy wooden cudgels, or leather whips to exact speedier work from them, by supporting public institutions for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, by reporting the cases of cruelty to animals to the nearest police station and thus bringing the offenders to book, by discouraging wanton slaughter of animals for food, and by discouraging hunting for mere sport.

It is our moral duty to treat animals with kindness and sympathy, especially when they are helpless and wholly dependent on our care and protection.

# Paragraph on Kindness to Animals

Dear viewers, Hope you like this article Essay on Kindness to Animals and Please let us know by commenting below.

Essay on Animals

Essay on Do Good Have Good

How to Be Kind to Animals

Last Updated: January 29, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS . Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years. There are 16 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 190,520 times.

Animals of all kinds enrich our lives. They can be our friends or inspire our imagination. Whether it’s a house pet such as a cat, a domesticated animal like a horse, or even a wild animal like an owl or alligator, animals deserve kindness from humans. By caring for pets and domesticated animals and respecting animals in the wild, you can show your kindness to any animal.

Caring for Pets or Domesticated Animals

Why do I want a pet?
Do I have enough time and money to care for my pet?
How well would an animal fit in my home? Am I allowed to have pets in my rental property?
Who will care for my pet if I am away, ill, or pass away?

Make sure your animals receive yearly vaccinations against rabies and other diseases. Schedule vaccinations as a part of your pet’s annual visit to the vet.
Groom your animals as necessary for their species. For example, brush your horses, dogs, and cats regularly. [3] X Trustworthy Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Leading organization dedicated to the prevention of animal cruelty Go to source
Watch for fleas and other pests like ear mites and treat them accordingly.

Step 3 Give animals a comfy personal space.

Prepare a cozy sleeping space with items like a pet bed, box with a blanket, or a nice pile of clean hay. Put a personal item in the space to remind her of your scent.
Create other spaces where your animals can eat, play, and go to the bathroom. Keep eating and bathroom spaces as far apart as possible because many animals won’t eat near where they defecate.
Allow smaller animals like cats and dogs to live inside with you.
Make sure smaller pets and domesticated animals that stay outside have proper shelter. For example, any animal needs a roof to protect it from rain, snow, or other bad weather. This is especially important for smaller animals because they are not able to regulate their body temperatures in extreme hot or cold. [4] X Research source
Keep your pets’ and animals’ spaces as clean as possible. For example, if you have turtles or fish, clean the tank once a week. Likewise, clean a kitty litter box every day. [5] X Research source

Give your animals food at the same times every day to establish a routine. [7] X Research source Ask your vet or conduct online research to figure out how often you should feed your pet for optimal health.
Feed your animals food that is appropriate for their species. For example, give cats and dogs a mixture of moist and dry foods and pigs vegetables and fruits. [8] X Research source You can ask your vet or local pet store or conduct online research to figure out what brands and types of food are best for your best. Aim to get the highest quality food you can afford to promote your pet’s health.
Make sure pets and other animals always have bowl of fresh and clean water in addition to their food. [9] X Research source Change the water at least once daily and more often if your pet drinks it or something like food falls in the bowl.
Avoid giving your pet or domesticated animal table scraps or other human foods like chocolate because these can harm their health and even be fatal. [10] X Trustworthy Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Leading organization dedicated to the prevention of animal cruelty Go to source Talk to your vet about what types of foods to absolutely keep away from your pets.
Reward your pet with treats when they are being good. Be careful not to feed your animals too many treats, which are often filled with sugar and can contribute to unhealthy weight gain.

Avoid moving or playing with your animal when she is sleeping, eating or drinking, and cleaning herself. Doing so may scare, stress, or annoy animals, which could result in an unpleasant reaction.
Avoid chasing pets because this can scare them. Although you might be tempted to show your animal love by following her and picking her up or interacting with her, this often goes against animal behavior. Allow pets and other animals approach you whenever they want. [11] X Research source
Position yourself at your animal’s height to appear less threatening. This can relax them and ensure they are comfortable getting your attention.

Pet or stroke and pick up your animals gently. Avoid squeezing your animal or pull her tail while you pet or stroke her. [13] X Research source
Reciprocate any affection your animal shows you. This helps form a bond of trust and love between you and your animal. Part of this includes talking to your pet and referring to her by name.
Play with your animal. Most pets and animals are naturally energetic and require play to stay happy and healthy. Give them toys, take them for walks, and do any other type of activity your animal enjoys.
Be patient with your animal if she makes a mistake. Don’t yell, hit, or do anything else retaliatory towards her. Pets learn best from positive responses and may learn to fear you if you yell at or hit them.

animals that are chained in yards without proper food, water, or shelter
hitting or kicking animals, or even screaming at them.

Handling Animals with Care

Consider putting yourself at the level of the animal to help calm it. [14] X Research source Kneel down to smaller animals such as dogs, cats, rabbits, or turtles. Avoid putting your face directly in front of an animal’s face, which may stress it and cause you harm.
Keep in mind that animals respond to you the way you treat them.

Avoid approaching an animal from its blind spots, which can startle it. This may traumatize the animal or could wind up in an injury for you.
Let dogs, cats, and other animals sniff you before you handle it. Extend your hand and let the animal smell you. It will decide if you can approach it more closely from here. Consider washing your hands if you are touching multiple animals as some pets may not like the smell of another species.
Give the animal a few seconds or minutes to approach you. Some animals may be naturally timid and need a little while to get used to your presence. Approaching them before an animal shows it wants your attention can cause it stress.

Place your hands under the animal’s legs or on the legs and belly. This provides a stable base so she feels safe. You can also gently move your arms underneath your animal if she is larger. Remember to stay calm and be patient so that you don’t startle your animal. If the animal shows any signs of not wanting to be picked up, allow it to go free and try again another time.
Use proper methods for larger animals. For example, if you need to pick up a horse, cow, or a pig, make sure you have the proper equipment such as a crane that supports the legs, head, and belly.
Stand up slowly once you have a good handle of your pet. This can minimize the risk of startling the animal and traumatizing it.
Avoid picking up an animal by its head, individual legs, or tail. No exceptions, otherwise you can seriously harm and traumatize the animal.

Keep your animal in a balanced position so that she feels safe. Avoid flipping animals, which can not only traumatize, but also harm them. [15] X Research source
Consider sitting down with your pet to help both of you relax. This may allow the animal to snuggle into you and further establish your bond of trust. Make sure you talk to your pet and stroke her while you are holding her.

Respecting Wild Animals

Step 1 Remember that wild animals are just that—wild.

Be aware that many species of animals, such as alligators, cannot be tamed and you shouldn’t make an attempt to tame them or their offspring. [17] X Research source
Be aware that it is often against the law to keep wild animals without a special permit. [18] X Research source

Avoid chasing, touching, or picking up wild animals.
Remain quiet and still when watching wildlife. Use binoculars and cameras to get close to wildlife with your eyes.
Keep your pets away from wild animals to prevent disease transmission or any unpleasant interactions.
Stay away from habitats or wild animal areas at mating times or when they are protecting their young.

Keep any food, including pet food, you have outside securely stored in containers with lids.
Place trash in secured bins or sealed bags. If you are camping, hiking, or taking a nature walk, look for areas designated for trash. Never throw garbage on the ground or leave it sitting in your yard or elsewhere.
Be aware that the salt from sweat on shoes or boots and scented toiletries can also attract wild animals.
Never use food to bait a wild animal to come closer to you.

Step 4 Allow animals to thrive in your area.

Use organic lawn and garden treatments. Not only can this protect wildlife, but also your pets.

Avoid swerving to not hit an animal on major roads. This can lead to major accidents and even human fatalities. Do your best to not hit the animal.
Never go out of your way to hit an animal with your car. It’s cruel and could get you in legal trouble if someone sees you.

Contact park rangers if you are in a natural park.
Call your local wildlife rehabilitator, conservation commission, or police department if you are not in a park. Your local humane society will also have information about who you can contact.

Step 8 Support animal conservation efforts.

Consider making an annual donation to conservation groups such as the World Wildlife Foundation. [21] X Research source Groups like this can use the money to protect threatened and endangered species around the world. However, if you want to help animals in your local area, make a donation to a local nature reserve or park.
Offer your time to a local part or animal facility. This can help them save administrative funds and divert them to important efforts such as vaccinations or rebuilding natural habitats.

Expert Q&A

It can take a little while for new pets and domesticated animals to approach you; don't be discouraged if it doesn't happen quickly. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Engaging an animal—by holding or petting, for example-- against its wishes may traumatize or harm them or you. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
If an animal appears agitated, leave the area and allow it to calm down. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

↑ https://online.uwa.edu/news/empathy-in-animals/
↑ https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/article/cats-secure-attachment/
↑ https://www.aspca.org/news/hair-comes-trouble-why-pets-need-regular-grooming
↑ https://animalfoundation.com/whats-going-on/blog/basic-necessities-proper-pet-care
↑ https://nap.nationalacademies.org/resource/10668/dog_nutrition_final_fix.pdf
↑ https://www.saugusanimalhospital.com/blog/2017/october/-what-kind-of-food-how-much-and-how-often-/
↑ https://www.msdvetmanual.com/dog-owners/routine-care-and-breeding-of-dogs/routine-health-care-of-dogs
↑ https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/people-foods-avoid-feeding-your-pets
↑ https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/why-punishment-should-be-avoided
↑ https://www.southernazvets.com/5-healthy-ways-to-show-your-love-for-your-pet/
↑ https://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/how-to-pet-a-dog
↑ https://www.ruralareavet.org/PDF/Animal_Handling.pdf
↑ https://www.eekwi.org/animals/leave-wild-animals-wild
↑ https://aldf.org/article/laws-that-protect-animals/
↑ https://www.gov.uk/report-dead-animal
↑ https://www.worldwildlife.org/

About This Article

To be kind to animals, always respect their personal space by allowing them to approach you when they’re ready. Additionally, try to avoid chasing or grabbing them, since that can be quite scary to an animal. When a domesticated animal approaches you, pet or stroke it gently so that it feels comfortable with you. However, if you encounter a wild animal, only admire it from afar so you don’t disturb it in its natural habitat. For more advice from our Veterinary co-author, including how to pick up and hold a domesticated animal, keep reading. Did this summary help you? Yes No

Send fan mail to authors

Reader Success Stories

Malachi Samuels

Oct 27, 2016

Did this article help you?

Arutla Hansika

Apr 10, 2017

Corey Smith

Nov 1, 2021

Priyankshu Ghosh

Jan 19, 2021

Akshat Singh

May 1, 2018

Featured Articles

Watch Articles

Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
Do Not Sell or Share My Info
Not Selling Info

wikiHow Tech Help Pro:

Level up your tech skills and stay ahead of the curve

Two juvenile African elephants in South Africa tend to a baby in their herd.

HEALTHY KIDS

5 ways animals can boost kindness in kids

Your child is already nice. Here's how observing animals might make your little ones even kinder.

Cat Larrison wasn’t feeling well when her five-year-old thought of a way to help. “He came up and licked my arm!” Larrison says. “It was as sweet as it was soggy.”

Her son was imitating one of his favorite animals: a dog. But a pooch isn’t the only creature that children might observe behaving “kindly.” And experts say that by observing and copying some of that behavior, kids can develop empathy, self-esteem, patience, and more.

The secret seems to be that kids naturally relate to animals. “Humans are complex, so their behaviors can have many layers,” says psychologist Hilary Kratz of La Salle University. “But when kids see an animal do something, it simplifies things in a way that’s more accessible: ‘If a dog can do this, I can do this.’”

It’s important to note that what appears to be “kind” behavior among animals might really be adaptive behaviors that help the animals to thrive. For instance, popular videos make it look like tortoises help overturn buddies, yet experts say this could actually be courtship behavior. Still, many new studies suggest animals’ emotions are a lot richer than scientists once thought .

And when your little critter understands an action as being kind, it might be enough to inspire good deeds—and the inner growth that goes with them. “Children often see traits in animals that they admire and want to emulate them—for example, being powerful like a lion or cute like a bunny,” Kratz says. “Seeing animals engage in positive social behaviors can encourage children to do the same.” Read on to discover five animal behaviors that might inspire your kids to kindness.

Nurture like an elephant.

Juvenile female elephants help teach younger ones to stand, walk, and swim; they’ll even respond to calves’ distress signals. (Any caregiving provided by nonparents is officially called “alloparenting.”) The extra mothering gives the calves a higher chance of survival, and the juveniles gain parenting skills. How your child can act like an elephant: Your kid doesn’t have to be babysitting age to express nurturing behavior. If your child sees another struggling with something, like reading, suggest they jump in and help. “One of my kids just learned to read, so she’s helping her little sister with sight words,” Kratz says. Or you can assign your kid a caregiving job for a pet, like a weekly brushing (or a doll’s bedtime routine for really young children). What kids will gain: When children care for another’s needs, they learn to think about how the other person is feeling and thinking. “That can promote compassion and patience,” Kratz says. A child who nurtures also learns responsibility, which builds confidence, says Jacqueline Rhew, licensed clinical professional counselor and cohost of the Successful Parenting podcast .

Caretaking can also promote empathy because the older child will be able to reflect on things that were hard for them when they were younger but no longer are. It can even help strengthen skills your kids might still be learning. “One of the best ways to consolidate learning is to teach a skill to someone else,” Kratz says.

Socialize like an orca.

When different pods of orcas meet in the ocean, they splash, roughhouse, and vocalize. Researchers think these friendly social interactions might help groups of orcas work out their differences to prevent fighting.

How your child can act like an orca : Encouraging kids to interact with children they might not normally hang around with can be overwhelming for them. So before setting them loose at the park with new kids, take some controlled first steps. That could mean attending a sports game at a friend’s school, taking part in a cultural event, or joining a community fundraiser. "My daughter actually attended a dog wedding," Rhew says. “It may sound silly but she loved it, and the event brought a lot of different children together.”

What they’ll gain: Rhew says getting children to socialize with kids from different social or cultural groups can be powerful for the child. “It shows that we can celebrate each others’ differences as much as the similarities,” she says. But connecting with others also helps people feel included—and that can be a huge boost for self-esteem. “It’s about being part of a larger community and being included,” Rhew says. “And the more you feel included, the better you feel about yourself.”

Console like a raven.

Ongoing research suggests that when wild ravens get into fights, other ravens send friendly calls to the loser, edge closer, and eventually groom them. Researchers call these “reconciliation behaviors,” and they appear to happen among ravens that know each other.

How your child can act like a raven: Encourage children to think about the positive things that have happened in a bad situation. For instance, if a friend drops a fly ball, encourage your child to think about something the friend did well. “Your child might say, ‘You had a rough day, but you’re getting better and better,’” Kratz says. Rhew also suggests complimenting someone on the losing side for things like working hard or being nice.

What they’ll gain: Being kind to a rival will teach a child empathy, but it can also help children deal with their own disappointment when things don’t go quite right; they’ll be able to see the brighter side because they've already shown it to others. “It reinforces the idea that there are more important things in life than winning,” Kratz says.

Team up like coyotes and badgers.

Scientists have observed coyotes and badgers working together to catch prey like ground squirrels. The badger can catch the squirrel when it runs underground from the coyote; the coyote can nab the prey if the badger is flushing it out. Although they don’t share the meal, both animals snag more meals when they hunt together. Videos like this one suggest that these hunting pairs actually become friendly to each other over time.

How your child can act like this animal duo: Children can get frustrated when a task seems overwhelming. Kratz suggests first pointing out that everyone, even grown-ups, face challenging tasks, then describe one of your own in which you needed help. Then acknowledge the child’s frustration, stay positive, and make a suggestion: “This was harder than we expected! But you’re doing great reading the instructions. Lila does an amazing job at finding supplies. I bet you ’ d work even faster if you teamed up.” Kratz adds: “Praise your child for taking risks, putting in effort, seeking support, and working collaboratively.”

What they’ll gain: Working as a team toward a common goal helps children learn to consider different ideas and points of view—and compromise when those ideas are different from their own. (Is tape better than glue? What about starting from the bottom instead of from the top?) “It helps kids appreciate that there are many ways of doing things,” Kratz says. “It fosters what we call cognitive flexibility—looking at things from all different angles.”

Share like a bonobo.

These famously social apes have been observed both in the wild and in captivity sharing food with each other. That makes sense if they’re helping troop members feed, but these apes have been known to share food with strangers —almost like they just want to be nice.

How your child can act like a bonobo: Both Rhew and Kratz emphasize the importance of giving kids opportunities to share versus “forced” sharing. This could be a providing a big bag of snacks that’s made for more than one person, or suggesting a game that involves turn-taking. And if they don't want to share sometimes, that’s OK. "It teaches that their wants and needs are important, too,” Kratz says.

What they’ll gain: Rhew says sharing helps children develop emotional regulation skills, which allow a child to control their feelings over something they really, really want. That means encouraging a kid to stay calm and patient when their sibling is holding a favorite doll or when their bestie is hogging the game controller. The more kids share, the better they’ll get at keeping cool in these situations.

And here’s another way Rhew says sharing is beneficial to your child: “If a child can share and show empathy, other children will want to be around that child.”

Animals ‘talk.’ Here’s how to get kids to listen.

Show kids the secret lives of animals this fall

Do this, not that: Keeping curious kids from disrupting wildlife

The do’s and don’ts of feeding birds

Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
Your US State Privacy Rights
Children's Online Privacy Policy
Interest-Based Ads
About Nielsen Measurement
Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information
Nat Geo Home
Attend a Live Event
Book a Trip
Inspire Your Kids
Shop Nat Geo
Visit the D.C. Museum
Learn About Our Impact
Support Our Mission
Advertise With Us
Customer Service
Renew Subscription
Manage Your Subscription
Work at Nat Geo
Sign Up for Our Newsletters
Contribute to Protect the Planet

The Benefits of Animals to Humans Essay

Why are animals important to humans? Find here the answer! This short essay on the benefits of animals to humans gives reasons why animal world is so important for human beings and environment.

Introduction

Importance of Animals to Humans

Reference List

Animals refer to all things that belong to the kingdom Animalia. They are eukaryotic hence are easily distinguished from other creatures. Some animals are domesticated while others are called wild animals. Domestic animals are those that live together with or are kept by human beings. Wild animals are those that are not kept by human beings. There are different types of animals, and they include the vertebrates and invertebrates. Vertebrates are those that have backbones while invertebrates lack backbones. The vertebrates comprise of mammals, fish, reptiles, amphibians, and birds. Invertebrates include spiders and insects. Animals differ, but they possess some similar characteristics. First animals are heterotrophic. Secondly, animals are multicellular, meaning that their bodies are differentiated into tissues. Most animals can move. Most of the animals reproduce sexually except for a few of them that reproduce asexually. Most of them do not have rigid cell walls.

Why Are Animals Important to Humans

The significance of animals to human beings cannot be overlooked. Animals affect one’s life in different ways despite our reactions towards them. Animals play social, personal, or business roles in the lives of human beings (Morris 2020). They are important to all of us whether we love, hate, eat, or protect them. The presence of the animals within the ecosystem is so significant that we cannot do without them.

The following are some of the reasons that make animals matter to human beings. They provide companionship: Some animals serve as pets, for example, dogs, cats, and guinea pigs. They live with us, and therefore we see them face to face daily as part of our companions (Prato-Previde, Ricci and Colombo 2022). They sometimes portray quietness when they are alone; happiness, when playing, can also become one’s best friend.

The most interesting part of the companionship is where a dog welcomes or greets the owner at the door. Some animals are used in rehabilitation, especially, pet animals such as dogs. A person intending to use them for this purpose must first seek authorization or certification from the relevant authority (Morris 2020). They are mostly used when carrying out rehabilitation at the social level.

Thus, the dog is permitted to visit people living in nursing homes or equivalents. In such a setting, they help restore what might have been lost. Animals can be used to teach child caretaking skills. When one has a pet, it must be fed and watered at different times of the day. The pet may also require bathing and training at some other times (Morris 2020). These duties can be delegated to a child occasionally, thus helping create in the child a sense of compassion to the pet.

As a result, the child develops a habit of being responsible. The child, therefore, learns to be responsible through the learning aid, which is the pet. They are useful in supporting human beings at work. Some are used to plow by pulling plows. Others are used in transportation where they pool wagons (De-Mello 2021). The best examples under this category are the horses and the oxen.

Today, horses are also used in winning awards by riding on them. Animals also serve the purpose of enabling individuals to earn a living especially farmers. Farmers do keep such animals as cows, goats, sheep, cattle, and other animals to enable them to earn a living (Prato-Previde, Ricci and Colombo 2022). When such animals are sold, the farmer obtains revenue, which he uses to acquire other essential goods and services required to earn a living.

This is helpful in increasing the standards of living of the farmers. The other significance of animals to human beings is that they are a source of food. Most animals that human beings keep are meant for food. For example, milk, eggs, meat, and other food items. Everyone consumes either animals or animal related products (De-Mello 2021). The food products are consumed directly or sold for money.

As a result, they contribute to a country’s gross domestic product. This means improved living standards. In some other cases, these products are also exported to other countries thus earning foreign exchange. Also, animals are also important in leisure and sports activities (Prato-Previde, Ricci and Colombo 2022). For example, dogs can be used to hunt other animals required as human food while some other animals are used as trackers.

In sporting, horses are used for horseback riding and polo, which are forms of sports. Research and inventions: animals are known to be used by scientists to test their experiments. When scientists discover a new thing that is to be used by human beings, the first experiment with its effects on animals (De-Mello 2021). If it adversely affects the animals, then it implies that it will also affect human beings in the same way.

Where no effect is manifested, then they would proceed to experiment it on human beings. Hence animals contribute to research and development of human beings. Animals serve to attract tourists into the country (Morris 2020). Many people come from their countries to other countries to come and see certain animals. When such tourists visit the country, they increase the country’s income.

It is a major source of revenue to the country thus enabling the country to provide goods and services to its citizens. They are a good source of security to human beings. Some animals protect man from invasion by other animals and even by human beings. For example, dogs are used to protect their homes at night (Knight 2020). Also, police officers also use dogs during wars as well as in the maintenance of law and order.

When going for their duties, police officers go with police dogs for protection. Clothing: Animal products are used to make clothes. Most of the clothes human beings wear are mostly made from products of animals (De-Mello 2021). For example, skins for making shoes while wool is used to make clothes. These clothes and shoes protect human beings from adverse weather conditions.

Finally, some animal products such as hooves and horns can be used as containers for making traditional drinking vessels. On the other hand, animal bones can be used to make such things as ornaments, weapons, and needles (De-Mello 2021). The horses were also used to produce insulin before the discovery of artificial insulin. In conclusion, animals play important roles in the lives of people.

It is upon people and society to ensure that animals, as well as their products, are handled properly. This is because they provide people with food, companionship, security, income, foreign exchange, and other benefits that have been discussed above. Thus, it is evident that animals matter to human beings. As a result, human beings need animals for their survival.

De-Mello, Margo. 2021. Animals and Society: An Introduction to Human-Animal Studies . New York: Columbia University Press.

Knight, John. 2020. Animals in Person: Cultural Perspectives on Human-Animal Intimacies . New York: Routledge

Morris, Brian. 2020. Animals and Ancestors: An Ethnography . New York: Routledge.

Prato-Previde, Emanuela, Elisa Basso Ricci, and Elisa Silvia Colombo. 2022. “ The Complexity of the Human–Animal Bond: Empathy, Attachment and Anthropomorphism in Human–Animal Relationships and Animal Hoarding .” Animals 12 (20).

Chicago (A-D)
Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2024, March 26). The Benefits of Animals to Humans Essay. https://ivypanda.com/essays/animals-importance-for-human-beings/

"The Benefits of Animals to Humans Essay." IvyPanda , 26 Mar. 2024, ivypanda.com/essays/animals-importance-for-human-beings/.

IvyPanda . (2024) 'The Benefits of Animals to Humans Essay'. 26 March.

IvyPanda . 2024. "The Benefits of Animals to Humans Essay." March 26, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/animals-importance-for-human-beings/.

1. IvyPanda . "The Benefits of Animals to Humans Essay." March 26, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/animals-importance-for-human-beings/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "The Benefits of Animals to Humans Essay." March 26, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/animals-importance-for-human-beings/.

Humans Are Not the “Last Point” in the Evolution of Vertebrates
Effect of Sound Waves on the Invertebrates Behavior
Benthic Macro-Invertebrates Diversity
Biology of the Invertebrates: Malaria
Principles of Nervous System in Animals
The Convenience of the Emergency Care System
Palaeontology. Interpreting Behaviour in the Fossil Record
Dedan Kimathi: Criminal or Heroic Pioneer
The Evolution of Vertebrae Teeth
Jean-Baptiste Lamarck's Views and Works
Aspects, Importance and Issues of Biodiversity
Hypocalcemia in Large and Small Animals
Bio Diversity and Future of Our World
Mescaline Peyote: Origins, Effects, and Uses
The Diffusion of a Cell

Be Kind to Animals: Encouraging Compassion through Humane Education

Book Links: October/November 2002 (v.12, no.2)

by Jeanette Larson

"If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow men." --Saint Francis of Assisi

Studies have shown that children learn cruel and violent behavior from those around them, and that animal abuse often precedes violence toward other people. Indeed, in almost every major act of violence, from the Columbine massacre to serial killings, authorities have found animal abuse in the perpetrator's background. This common origin of violence perpetrated against animals and against people makes it imperative that we teach compassion and demonstrate concern for all living things. By the time young people exhibit cruel behavior toward animals it is often very difficult to change that behavior, making it essential that adults in every part of the community help children learn to treat animals with kindness. While not every child who is cruel to a pet grows up to be a criminal, there is a strong correlation between cruel behavior toward animals and lack of empathy for human beings.

Fortunately, there are plenty of good books that offer opportunities for kids to feel empathy toward an animal, that allow them to read about helping animals, and that provide springboards for classroom discussions about compassionate behavior. Keep in mind that most abandoned-animal books for children have a happy ending-a pet is adopted from a shelter or a wild animal is saved from danger. Supplement this with a reality check by using nonfiction books and support materials from animal welfare organizations. Organizations like the National Association for Humane and Environmental Education provide curricula, support materials, and resources that encourage humane education in a positive manner yet demonstrate the realities of animal welfare and the continual need to improve how we interact with other species. Encouraging children to care about animals does not mean that we all must become vegetarians or shun leather. Rather, it means exploring topics that are already of interest to many young people: care of companion animals, animal welfare, respect for nature, humane heroes and activists, ethical farming practices, and responsible citizenship. Creating an environment that teaches compassion and builds kinder communities means providing resources that promote these qualities. Humane education reinforces tolerance, empathy, responsibility, and compassion-for all creatures. Fortunately, storytelling and reading are excellent ways to teach this. While Phyllis Reynolds Naylor's ever-popular Shiloh may be the best-known book dealing with animal abuse, as the titles below show, many other books offer opportunities for kids to feel empathy for and care about animals.

Picture Books

Best, Cari. Goose's Story . Illus. by Holly Meade. 2002. 32p. Farrar/Melanie Kroupa, $16 (0-374-32750-5). Preschool-Gr. 2. Meade's torn-paper collages grace this story of an injured Canadian goose that eventually loses a leg. The young narrator understands that the goose is a wild animal that must learn to survive on its own, but her empathy is authentic and tender, and the goose's perseverance will win reader's hearts.

DiSalvo-Ryan, DyAnne. A Dog Like Jack . 1999. 32p. Holiday, $16.95 (0-8234-1369-1); paper, $6.95 (0-8234-1680-1). Preschool-Gr. 2. A family adopt an older dog and then must deal with their grief when he dies. In this tender story, they remember the happy times they shared and imagine moving beyond their sadness enough to welcome a new dog into their home.

Fleming, Denise. Mama Cat Has Three Kittens . 1998. 32p. Holt, paper, $6.95 (0-8050-7162-8). Preschool-Gr. 1. Using her own cats as models, Fleming creates lush, richly colored illustrations that allow readers to appreciate the sheer joy of kittens and their antics. The sparse but strong text employs repetition to excellent effect.

Frost, Jonathan. Gowanus Dogs . 1999. 48p. Farrar/Frances Foster, $15 (0-374-31058-0). Gr. 1-4. With grace and kindness that belies his own predicament, a homeless man helps the stray mother dog and her puppies that he finds under the Gowanus Canal Bridge in Brooklyn. Happily, both the man and the dogs eventually find food and shelter-and a fresh start in life. Double-page black-and-white etchings capture the often harsh city environment in fine detail.

Graham, Bob. "Let's Get a Pup!" Said Kate . 2001. 32p. Candlewick, $14.99 (0-7636-1452-1). Preschool-Gr. 2. Even though Kate and her family want a puppy, it's hard to leave an older dog behind at the animal shelter. Eventually, they decide that two dogs are better than one. Graham creates a warm and heartfelt tale that describes how animals can pull on our heartstrings.

Hill, Frances. The Bug Cemetery . Illus. by Vera Rosenberry. 2002. 32p. Holt, $16.95 (0-8050- 6370-6). Preschool-Gr. 2. The neighbor-hood kids stage funerals for bugs, which they find to be great fun. But then one boy's cat dies and they experience the sadness of true personal loss. Hill deftly handles the subject, as the kids realize that their play might not have been appropriate and that "funerals aren't any fun when they're for someone you love."

Lasky, Kathryn. She's Wearing a Dead Bird on Her Head! Illus. by David Catrow. 1995. 40p. Hyperion, paper, $5.95 (0-7868-1164-1). Preschool-Gr. 3. This is a fictionalized account of the two women who established the Massachusetts Audubon Society in 1896 in reaction to the fashion trend of hats on which stuffed birds were perched. Ink-and-watercolor illustrations depict the fashionable ladies as caricatures and poke fun at the absurdity of the fad.

McNulty, Faith. The Lady and the Spider . Illus. by Bob Marstall. 1986. 48p. HarperTrophy, paper, $5.95 (0-06-443152-5). Gr. 1-4. Even the smallest creatures need help-so when a lady finds that her garden salad has been the cozy home for a spider, she finds the spider a new home.

Meggs, Libby Phillips. G o Home! The True Story of James the Cat . 2000. 32p. Whitman, $15.95 (0-8075-2975-3). Preschool-Gr. 3. Because he is wearing a collar, everyone assumes that a stray cat has a home. But after he survives a harsh winter, a family realizes that James needs a new home and adopts him, in this story about our need to belong.

Newman, Marjorie. Mole and the Baby Bird . Illus. by Patrick Benson. 2002. 32p. Bloomsbury, $16.95 (1-58234-784-0). Preschool-Gr. 2. This tender story opens with Mole taking home an orphaned baby bird. Despite his parents' admonishments that the bird is not a pet, Mole decides to build a cage and keep it. Eventually, Mole learns that loving his bird means letting him go. Benson's expressive art perfectly portrays this endearing tale, which will strike a chord with younger readers.

Rand, Gloria. A Home for Spooky . Illus. by Ted Rand. 1998. 32p. Holt, $15.95 (0-8050-4611-9). Preschool-Gr. 3. Based on a true story, this book tells of a young girl who eventually gains the trust of a bedraggled and starving stray dog. After keeping Spooky a secret from her family for a while, Annie realizes he is getting sicker and that she must go to her parents for help. Photos of the real-life Spooky support the book's message about helping animals in need.

Rylant, Cynthia. The Cookie-Store Cat . 1999. 40p. Scholastic/Blue Sky, $15.95 (0-590-54329-6); paper, $5.95 (0-439-07331-6). Preschool-Gr. 3. A baker finds a tiny kitten near his shop; he cares for her, while customers enjoy both his cookies and the cat. This companion to Rylant's The Bookshop Dog (Scholastic, 1996) concludes with seven delicious cookie recipes.

Simont, Marc. The Stray Dog . 2001. 32p. HarperCollins, $15.95 (0-06-028933-3). Preschool-Gr. 2. A scruffy dog endears himself to a family out on a picnic, but the family members must leave him at the end of the day. In this simple tale of puppy love, they later return to the park to adopt the dog (whom they barely save from the dogcatcher), and Willy gets a name and a home. Simont's expressive illustrations ably show the range of emotions the characters experience, from joy at finding the dog, to sadness and regret for leaving him, to, ultimately, happiness when bringing him home.

Smith, Maggie. Desser the Best Ever Cat . 2001. 40p. Knopf, $14.95 (0-375-81056-0). Preschool-Gr. 3. A girl shares a wonderful life with her beloved cat, Desser. When he grows old and dies, the girl selects another kitten from the pound, knowing that while the new cat can never replace Desser, they will make new memories together.

Viorst, Judith. The Tenth Good Thing about Barney . Illus. by Erik Blegvad. 1971. 32p. Simon & Schuster/Atheneum, $15 (0-689-20688-7); Aladdin, paper, $4.99 (0-689-71203-0). Preschool-Gr. 2. During a backyard funeral, a boy remembers the good things about his cat. In this children's classic, Viorst deals honestly with the difficult issue of death, which, for many children, is first experienced upon losing a beloved pet. Also see Robie H. Harris' Goodbye, Mousie (Simon & Schuster/Margaret K. McElderry, 2001).

Cox, Judy. Third Grade Pet . Illus. by Cynthia Fisher. 1998. 80p. Holiday, $15.95 (0-8234-1379-9). Gr. 2-4. At first, Rosemary thinks Cheese, the classroom pet rat, is creepy. But she soon comes to love him and creates havoc by taking him home to protect him from the class bully, in this funny farce. Also see Cox's Cool Cat, School Cat (Holiday, 2002), about a boy who hides a stray cat at school.

Harlow, Joan Hiatt. Star in the Storm . Illus. by Wendell Minor. 2000. 160p. Simon & Schuster/Margaret K. McElderry, $16 (0-689-82905-1); Aladdin, paper, $4.99 (0-689-84621-5). Gr. 4-7. In 1912 Newfoundland, 12-year-old Maggie hides her dog, Sirius, when a new law makes it illegal to have a nonshepherding dog. Sirius proves his worth when he is able to help save the passengers of a stranded ship. Filled with authentic details about life in a remote area, this book will appeal to dog lovers and adventurers alike.

Hart, Alison. Shadow Horse . 1999. 240p. Random, paper, $4.99 (0-395-80263-0). Gr. 5-8. Thirteen-year-old Jas lives in a foster home whose owner oversees a farm for rescued animals. There, she cares for Shadow, who helps her to deal with her grief over the mysterious death of her own horse, Whirlwind. Supporters of animal rights will appreciate the frank discussion of both the positive and the negative aspects of horse shows and riding competitions, and all readers will enjoy the satisfying mystery.

Himmelman, John. The Animal Rescue Club . 1998. 48p. HarperTrophy, paper, $3.95 (0-06-444224-1). Gr. 2-3. Whenever there is an animal in need-from a possum trapped in a drainpipe to a goose that swims in circles-the kids in the Animal Rescue Club are ready to help. With the help of a wildlife rehabilitator, the club members aid animals in their neighborhood, in this I Can Read chapter book.

Kehret, Peg. Saving Lilly . 2001. 160p. Simon & Schuster/Pulse, $16 (0-671-03422-7); Aladdin, paper, $4.99 (0-671-03423-5). Gr. 3-6. After learning about the cruel treatment circus animals often receive, two sixth-grade students convince their classmates to boycott a class field trip to the circus and instead raise money to buy a mistreated elephant and send it to a sanctuary. The end may be tied up a bit too neatly, but the story is engaging and the characters are believable. A note on animal welfare and the real-life elephant sanctuary depicted concludes the book.

Mills, Claudia. Standing Up to Mr. O. 1998. 160p. Farrar, $16 (0-374-34721-2). Gr. 4-7. Twelve-year-old Maggie's refusal to dissect a worm in her seventh-grade biology class pits her love of learning and her desire to please a favorite teacher against her convictions. Mills presents a balanced argument on the issue, with all viewpoints receiving equal discussion. The book, admirably, does not offer a pat solution.

Spinelli, Jerry. Wringer . 1997. 240p. HarperCollins, $15.95 (0-06-024913-7); HarperTrophy, paper, $6.50 (0-06-440578-8). Gr. 4-7. In Palmer LaRue's rural town, 10-year-old boys are given the job of wringing the necks of birds wounded but not killed in the annual pigeon shoot. Palmer doesn't want to participate (especially after a pigeon flies through his bedroom window and "adopts" him), but he doesn't know if he has the courage to refuse the role of wringer. The juxtaposition of the tender relationship Palmer has with his pet and the macabre town festival is thought-provoking.

Woods, Shirley. Kit: The Adventures of a Raccoon . Illus. by Celia Godkin. 2000. 96p. Groundwood, $14.95 (0-88899-375-7). Gr. 2-4. This story follows the life of a young raccoon from birth into adulthood as he faces natural and human threats to his well-being. This thoroughly researched title will entertain young readers as much as it informs.

Calmenson, Stephanie. Rosie: A Visiting Dog's Story . Photos by Justin Sutcliffe. 1994. 48p. Houghton, $16 (0-395-65477-7); paper, $5.95 (0-395-92722-6). Gr. 2-6. Calmenson uses her own dog's work as a visiting dog to demonstrate how animals can make a sad person smile or help a lonely person feel connected. Excellent photographs show Rosie at a hospital, at a nursing home, and in her own home.

Dewey, Jennifer Owens. Wildlife Rescue: The Work of Dr. Kathleen Ramsay . Photos by Don MacCarter. 1994. 64p. Boyds Mills, paper, $9.95 (1-56397-762-1). Gr. 3-6. Dewey describes the daily rescue work at a New Mexico wildlife clinic where injured birds, bears, and other animals are helped before being returned to their natural environments. The dedicated Dr. Ramsay is an excellent role model for students interested in wildlife conservation.

Goodall, Jane. The Chimpanzees I Love: Saving Their World and Ours . 2001. 80p. Scholastic, $17.95 (0-439-21310-X). Gr. 4-7. The most famous advocate for chimpanzees and other primates documents their emotions, family relationships, and other "human" qualities and explains the dangers they face. Attractive color photographs and extensive back matter comprising additional factual information, maps, and information about Goodall's organization Roots and Shoots (whose local chapters sponsor student environmental preservation activities) round out the title.

Goodman, Susan E. Animal Rescue: The Best Job There Is . 2000. 48p. Simon & Schuster, $15 (0-689-81794-0); Aladdin, paper, $3.99 (0-689-81795-9). Gr. 2-4. John Walsh, a member of the World Society for the Protection of Animals, loves his job! Three of his efforts-helping animals rescued from a flood, an earthquake-damaged building, and a war-torn zoo-offer a look at the variety of ways to help animals.

Jackson, Donna M. The Wildlife Detectives: How Forensic Scientists Fight Crimes against Nature . Photos by Wendy Shattil and Bob Rozinski. 2000. 48p. Houghton, $16 (0-395-86976-5); paper, $4.95 (0-618-19683-8). Gr. 3-7. Special scientists track down those who commit crimes against wild animals, including poaching, killing elephants for ivory, and stealing sea turtles for soup, in this engaging title. Color photographs clarify the text, which reads much like a mystery novel. Another title from the Scientists in the Field series, Project UltraSwan by Elinor Osborn (Houghton, 2002), follows scientists who are trying to help trumpeter swans relearn migration routes in the eastern U.S.

Johnston, Tony. It's about Dogs . Illus. by Ted Rand. 2000. 48p. Harcourt, $16 (0-15-202022-5). Preschool-Gr. 3. Short poems and bright illustrations provide insight into an amazing assortment of canine companions. From silly wordplay ("My dog's name is Mutterly. / He makes my heart melt, butterly. / I love the mongrel utterly.") to sly cultural allusions ("Who knows what pilfered prizes / lurk / in the yards of men? / Shadow knows."), this collection will have broad appeal.

Lasky, Kathryn. Interrupted Journey: Saving Endangered Sea Turtles . Photos by Christopher G. Knight. 2001. 48p. Candlewick, $16.99 (0-7636-0635-9). Gr. 3-6. After one Kemp's ridley turtle's voyage to the Sargasso Sea goes awry, dedicated volunteers ensure it remains protected until it can resume its journey. Dazzling photographs show these awe-inspiring creatures in their beautiful ocean environment.

Leedy, Loreen. Measuring Penny . 1998. 32p. Holt, paper, $6.95 (0-8050-6572-5). Gr. 1-3. Lisa learns about mathematical measurements and dog care when she uses standard and nonstandard units of measure to calculate information about her dog, Penny, and other canine friends. Leedy uses an innovative technique to help explain the concept of measurement-something that kids often find difficult to master.

Murphy, Stuart J. Pepper's Journal: A Kitten's First Year . Illus. by Marsha Winbom. 2000. 40p. HarperCollins, $15.95 (0-06-027618-5); HarperTrophy, paper, $4.95 (0-06-446723-6). Gr. 1-4. In this book in the MathStart series, Murphy uses events in the first year of a kitten's life to introduce calendar concepts. Readers learn about both time and how we measure it, while learning facts about cats and caring for them.

Swinburne, Stephen R. In Good Hands: Behind the Scenes at a Center for Orphaned and Injured Birds . 1998. 32p. Sierra Club, $16.95 (0-87156-397-5). Gr. 3-6. A 16-year-old volunteer helps to rehabilitate birds at the Vermont Raptor Center, where orphaned or injured birds of prey are cared for. Solid information on rescuing these birds accompanies a poignant story of volunteerism.

Swinburne, Stephen. R. Once a Wolf: How Wildlife Biologists Fought to Bring Back the Gray Wolf . Photos by Jim Brandenburg. 1999. 48p. Houghton, $16 (0-395-89827-7); paper, $5.95 (0-618-11120-4). Gr. 5-8. Swinburne chronicles 25 years of work by dedicated people to reintroduce the gray wolf to Yellowstone Park and other areas of North America, a controversial issue in the field of wildlife conservation. The gray wolf has long been seen by ranchers as a threat; the book's protagonists attempt to show the gray wolf's value as a part of nature.

Hold a Plush Pets Animal Parade for favorite stuffed animals. Give prizes for longest tail, cutest nose, fluffiest, and other fun categories.
Research your state and city laws regarding cruelty to animals. If laws don't protect animals, children can write to local leaders to ask that animal welfare laws be passed or strengthened. Ask a speaker from a local animal welfare organization to talk to kids about what to do if they witness animal cruelty.
Contact a local animal shelter and ask for its wish list of desired items. Have students create posters and fliers to solicit donations; maintain collection bins; sort the items; and deliver them to the shelter.
Ask the school cafeteria to include healthy vegetarian alternatives in the lunch menu on a regular basis.
Celebrate events that focus attention on the needs of animals. These can include Spay Day USA in February, Animal Cruelty Prevention Month in April, Be Kind to Animals Week in May, Adopt a Cat Month in June, or the Blessing of the Animals in honor of St. Francis of Assisi's Feast Day in October. Check with local shelters and humane organizations for specific dates and activities.

Web Connections

The National Association for Humane and Environmental Education (NAHEE) publishes KIND (Kids in Nature's Defense) News . Subscriptions are available online at http://www.nahee.org and include a teacher guide with calendars, lesson plans, and reproducible materials. Other information includes lists of books, movie reviews, research, and other resources.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) Web site at http://www.aspca.org offers tools for teaching humane awareness, including teacher tips, activities, information on animal welfare laws, and more. The children's bibliography section features a searchable database of excellent animal-related literature for kids, as well as information about the Henry Bergh Award, an award named for the organization's founder that honors books "that promote the humane ethic of compassion and respect for all living things."

The Be Kind to Animals (BKA) Contest is an annual event sponsored by the American Humane Association (AHA) to honor young people who make a difference in the lives of animals. Nominees are divided into two age groups (6-9 and 10-13). Winners of the BKA Contest are announced during Be Kind to Animals Week in May. Grand-prize winner receive a $5,000 college scholarship. Contact the AHA at 63 Inverness Dr. East, Englewood, CO 80112-5117; 800-227-4645; or visit its Web site at http://www.americanhumane.org .

Jeanette Larson is the youth services manager for the Austin Public Library in Austin, Texas. A vegetarian for more than 15 years, she shares her home with several rescued dogs and cats.

Share This Page

Essay on “Kindness to Animals” for Kids and Students, English, Paragraph, Speech for Class 8, 9, 10, 12, College and Competitive Exams.

Kindness to Animals

Like human beings animals are also the creatures of God. Animals are equal sharers of natural gifts with men. But it is a pity that men treat animals cruelly. They kill animals to eat their meat. They kill certain other animals to conduct medical experiments. They use animals like donkeys, horses and oxen some animals as beast of burden. They put some animals and birds in a cage for the sake of fun. These animals and birds are doomed to lead a solitary life.

People should know that animals are also living beings. They feel like human beings. The same life runs through them all. Life is as dear to as to human beings. They also love to move and live freely. They as human beings do when they are tortured. They too have physical needs which they want to satisfy. Men should be thankful to them for what they do for them.

People should show kindness to animals just as they do to their pets. They take a lot of care of their dogs, cows and cats. They give them bath and feed them at regular intervals. They clean their place of living. They try to give them comfort. Whenever the pets fall ill, they take them to veterinary hospital. People should give the same type of treatment to other animals also. They should stop eating meat. They should not hunt them for fun and enjoyment.

Some people express the view that if animals are not killed, they will attack human beings. But such people are not right in holding this view. All animals are not dangerous. Nor do all animals kill human beings. Life will become impossible without animals. They must be protected at all costs. Special forests should be made to protect animals. Birds should be kept in sanctuaries for security and safety. Hunting and killing of animals should be prohibited.

Absolute-Study

Hindi Essay, English Essay, Punjabi Essay, Biography, General Knowledge, Ielts Essay, Social Issues Essay, Letter Writing in Hindi, English and Punjabi, Moral Stories in Hindi, English and Punjabi.

Why did you use the word men instead of person

This was helpful and helped me write a good nice essay enough to be said excellent by my teacher.

bhai very very thanks bhai ap ki vazase menea exam pe 100/100 💯 marks melatha very very thanks bhai

Very very nice essay

I EAT MEAT AND I ALWAYS WILL BUT THAT DOSEN’T MEANS I AM CRUEL TO ANIMALS !!!!!!!! BTW good essay except for the meat part

It’s true I also eat meat but I love animals

this essay is good but the meat part is not true

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

FREE SHIPPING ON ANY ORDERS TO: AUSTRALIA, CANADA, NEW ZEALAND, SINGAPORE, UNITED KINGDOM, IRELAND, MALAYSIA & UNITED STATES.

Item added to your cart

Being kind to animals: why it matters and how you can help.

Animals play a vital role in our ecosystem and have been our companions for centuries. They provide us with food, clothing, and entertainment; many have become our beloved pets. Despite animals' important role in our lives, they are often subjected to mistreatment and cruelty. That's why it's important to be kind to animals and treat them with the respect and dignity they deserve.

Animals are living beings that feel pain, fear, and happiness just like we do. They have their own unique personalities and emotions and deserve to be treated humanely. Unfortunately, many animals are subjected to abuse, neglect, and abandonment, which can cause them immense suffering. Some are used for experiments, entertainment, or for their fur or other body parts. These practices are cruel and inhumane and should be stopped.

We can be kind to animals and help them in many ways. Here are some tips:

Adopt, don't shop : If you're looking for a new pet, consider adopting one from a local animal shelter or rescue organization. There are many animals in need of a loving home, and adopting one can save a life.
Support animal welfare organizations: Many organizations are working to protect animals and end animal cruelty. Consider donating to one of these organizations or volunteering your time to help.
Be an informed consumer: When buying products, choose ones not tested on animals and made from sustainable, cruelty-free materials. Read labels and research to ensure the products you purchase are animal-friendly.
Treat your pets with love and care: If you have pets, ensure they are well taken care of and treated with love and respect. Please provide them with proper food, water, shelter, and veterinary care, and spend time with them regularly.
Speak up for animals: If you witness animal cruelty, speak up and report it to the appropriate authorities. You can also educate others about the importance of being kind to animals and how they are mistreated.

Being kind to animals is a fundamental part of being a responsible and compassionate person. By taking small steps to show kindness and respect to animals, we can make a significant impact on their lives and help ensure they are treated with the dignity they deserve. So let's all work together to be kind to animals and make the world a better place for all living beings.

Please note, comments need to be approved before they are published.

Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh.
Opens in a new window.

Featured Topics

Featured series.

A series of random questions answered by Harvard experts.

Explore the Gazette

Read the latest.

Two models pose during the fashion show.

Everything, everywhere, all at once (kind of)

Acclaimed poet receives Arts Medal

DuVernay on exploring racism, antisemitism, caste in ‘Origin’

Illustration by Katie Edwards

‘There they are, on our dinner plates’

Manisha Aggarwal-Schifellite

Harvard Staff Writer

Philosophy professor’s book asks humans to rethink their relationships with animals

In her new book, “Fellow Creatures: Our Obligations to the Other Animals,” Arthur Kingsley Porter Professor of Philosophy Christine Korsgaard makes the case that humans are not inherently more important than animals and therefore should treat them much better than we do.

Korsgaard, Ph.D. ’81, has taught at Harvard for almost 30 years and is an expert on moral philosophy. The book is a departure from her previous theoretical work on moral philosophy, as it deals with more practical ethical questions.

Drawing on the work of Immanuel Kant and Aristotle, she argues that humans have a duty to value our fellow creatures not as tools, but as sentient beings capable of consciousness and able to have lives that are good or bad for them.

The Gazette spoke to Korsgaard about her book, the future of animal rights, and writing accessible philosophy.

Christine Korsgaard

GAZETTE: What made you decide to pursue this topic?

KORSGAARD: Western moral philosophy is now more than 2,000 years old, and in all of that time very few moral philosophers have said anything about the treatment of animals. Animals are sentient beings and some are capable of interacting with us, but on the other hand there they are, on our dinner plates, pulling our wagons, hunted by us, and made to fight with one another for our amusement. It just seems like an obvious moral issue, and yet moral philosophers haven’t often asked questions like: Is this all right? Why is it OK to do these things?

I’ve had a personal belief for a long time that we should be treating other animals better and in particular that we shouldn’t eat them. I’ve been a vegetarian for more than 40 years and a vegan more recently. At the same time, I’m an advocate of the moral philosophy of Immanuel Kant, who celebrates the value of humanity and rational nature and is one of the few philosophers to have said right out, “We have no duties to the other animals and we can use them however we please.” So I was trying to understand how to put these different positions together.

GAZETTE: This is a personal subject for you, so was your approach to writing this different from your previous work?

KORSGAARD: Writing about practical questions is really difficult. People talk as if the way you solve a practical problem is that you take a theory and then just apply it to a case, but it’s not like that. It takes a lot of work to put the whole battery of ideas involved in a theory to work on a practical question. In that sense, the book represents a kind of work I haven’t done before, at least not to this extent.

GAZETTE: Were there issues that were particularly challenging for you to write about?

KORSGAARD: One difficult thing was to articulate a position in the face of knowing that there’s a passionate but often inadequately argued objection out there to what I’m saying. If I say, “We shouldn’t experiment on animals, because we have no right to use them as mere means to our ends,” that will be met with a heated defense of the practice. People say, “We should never give that up, because it does so much good to humans.” To me that doesn’t seem to meet the point, so I am at cross-purposes with my opponents.

Another difficult thing about this book was to get the audience properly in focus. I wanted to make a book that nonphilosophers could understand and think about, at least if they are willing to bear down a little on the arguments, but I also wanted to convince my colleagues in philosophy that there’s a serious philosophical topic here.

“Some people think that humans are just plain more important than other animals. I ask: More important to whom?”

GAZETTE: “Tethered importance” or “tethered goodness” is an integral element of your book. Can you explain more about that?

KORSGAARD: The idea of good or importance being “tethered” is based on the idea that anything that is good is good for someone; anything that is important is important to someone. Kant’s idea is that when we pursue things that are good for us, we in effect make a claim that those things are good in an absolute sense — we have reason to pursue them and other people have a reason to treat them as good as well, to respect our choices or pursue our ends. But if we think that way, we have to say that things that are good or bad for any creature for whom things are good or bad, including animals, are good or bad in an absolute sense.

Some people think that humans are just plain more important than other animals. I ask: More important to whom? We may be more important to ourselves, but that doesn’t justify our treating animals as if they’re less important to us, any more than the fact that your family is more important to you justifies you treating other people’s families as if they are less important than yours.

GAZETTE : With the growing popularity of “impossible” plant-based meat and meat grown from animal cells, do you think more people are coming to a moral realization about how to treat animals?

More like this

Houses and city skyscrapers on back of whale.

Raising the profile of animal law to match the stakes

Scientist Irene Pepperberg with African grey parrot, Griffin.

Brainy birds

KORSGAARD : I’m not very optimistic about people coming to care more about animals and what’s good or bad for them. But the issue of how we treat animals overlaps with two issues that people care a lot about, even if it’s only for the sake of human beings: climate change and biodiversity. Factory farming is one of the major causes of global warming, and biodiversity is something people are concerned about too, even if [just] for the sake of having a healthy environment for human beings.

If we got rid of factory farming, that would help animals. Biodiversity is related to that too because one of the main reasons why so many species are dying out is because of lack of habitat caused by factory farming in general and the production of meat. Many people care about the preservation of species, but that’s not the same as treating individual animals in an ethically correct way. But thinking about these issues has brought attention to the ways that we treat animals, and so there’s some room for hope that people will think more about these things.

This interview has been condensed and edited for length and clarity.

Share this article

When math is the dream

Dora Woodruff was drawn to beauty of numbers as child. Next up: Ph.D. at MIT.

Seem like Lyme disease risk is getting worse? It is.

The risk of Lyme disease has increased due to climate change and warmer temperature. A rheumatologist offers advice on how to best avoid ticks while going outdoors.

‘Harvard Thinking’: Forgiving what you can’t forget

Wronged and can’t move on? In podcast, a theologian, a psychologist, and a public health expert discuss why and how to heal.

Photo by Fiona Goodall/Getty

Why you should eat meat

Not eating animals is wrong. if you care about animals, then the right thing to do is breed them, kill them and eat them.

by Nick Zangwill + BIO

If you care about animals, you should eat them. It is not just that you may do so, but you should do so. In fact, you owe it to animals to eat them. It is your duty. Why? Because eating animals benefits them and has benefitted them for a long time. Breeding and eating animals is a very long-standing cultural institution that is a mutually beneficial relationship between human beings and animals. We bring animals into existence, care for them, rear them, and then kill and eat them. From this, we get food and other animal products, and they get life. Both sides benefit. I should say that by ‘animals’ here, I mean nonhuman animals. It is true that we are also animals, but we are also more than that, in a way that makes a difference.

It is true that the practice does not benefit an animal at the moment we eat it. The benefit to the animal on our dinner table lies in the past. Nevertheless, even at that point, it has benefitted by its destiny of being killed and eaten. The existence of that animal, and animals of its kind, depends on human beings killing and eating animals of that kind. Domesticated animals exist in the numbers they do only because there is a practice of eating them. For example, the many millions of sheep in New Zealand would not begin to survive in the wild. They exist only because human beings eat them. The meat-eating practice benefits them greatly and has benefitted them greatly. So, we should eat them. Not eating them is wrong, and it lets these animals down.

Of course, the animals we eat should have good lives, and so the worst kind of factory farming is not justified by this argument, since these animals have no quality of life. Life is not enough; it must be life with a certain quality. But some farmed animals do have good lives overall, and sheep farming in New Zealand is an example. Perhaps a minority of meat produced in the world today involves such happy animals. But it is a significant minority, one that justifies much eating of those happy animals. If demand shifted to these animals, there would be fewer animals in existence than there actually are. But that is OK, since the argument is not a maximising one, but an appeal to history.

Yes, there is the day of the abattoir, and the sad death of the animal, which is not usually as free from pain and suffering as it might be. And there is other pain and suffering in the lives of those animals, such as when mothers are separated from their young. However, the pleasure and happiness of animals also matters, and it may outweigh pain and suffering – something usually overlooked by most of those who affect to care for animals. The emphasis among the defenders of so-called ‘animal rights’ on animal pain and suffering while ignoring animal pleasure and happiness is bizarre and disturbing. Human beings suffer, and their deaths are often miserable. But few would deem their entire lives worthless because of that. Likewise, why should the gloomy and unpleasant end of many of the animals we eat cast a negative shadow over their entire lives up to that point?

I suspect that the pleasure and happiness of animals is overlooked because they are not of our species. This is a kind of speciesism that particularly afflicts devotees of ‘animals rights’. All lives have their ups and downs; and this is true for animals as well as human beings. Both ups and downs are important.

I t is this ongoing history of mutual benefit that generates a moral duty of human beings to eat animals. Were the practice beneficial only to one of the two parties, that would perhaps not justify persisting with it. But both benefit. In fact, animals benefit a lot more than human beings do. For human beings could survive as vegetarians or vegans, whereas very few domesticated animals could survive many human beings being vegetarians or vegans. Indeed, if many human beings became vegetarians or vegans, it would be the greatest disaster that there has ever been for animals since the time that an asteroid strike wiped out the dinosaurs and many other species.

Vegetarians and vegans are the natural enemies of domesticated animals that are bred to be eaten. Of course, not all vegetarians and vegans are alike. Quite a few vegetarians and vegans are not motivated by animal rights or welfare, but by a feeling of taboo or pollution – a revulsion at the idea of eating animal flesh. For such vegetarians and vegans, roadkill is off the menu. Unlike the appeal to animal rights or the welfare of animals, this is a reason I respect. But such vegetarians and vegans should admit that acting on these feelings is bad for animals.

Do the motives of carnivores and farmers matter? Typically, they are not high-mindedly concerned with the welfare of animals. But if there are beneficial effects on animals as a side-effect of impure motives, we might think that is all that matters. Or: we might follow Immanuel Kant in distinguishing between treating humans or animals as a means, which may be acceptable, and treating them merely as a means, which is not. So long as carnivores and farmers have the former motives, not the latter, there is no complaint against them.

Small-scale farming in which animals have good lives does not harm the environment much

It is because history matters that we should not eat dogs that were originally bred to be pets or for work. The dog-human institution licenses only the behaviour that is in accordance with its historical function . Eating dogs would violate that tradition. The reason that these domesticated animals exist makes a difference.

Carnivorous institutions do not exist in isolation. Whatever may be the benefit or harms to the animals and human beings that are its participants, there are also further effects of the practice that may be considered. First, consider some positive effects. There are the gustatory pleasures of human beings. There are some health benefits to human beings. There is employment for many who work in the meat industry. There are the aesthetic benefits of countryside with charming grazing animals in elegant, well-maintained fields.

However, the big negative, for many people is climate, and the effects, mostly, of cattle burping and farting. Does not climate give us reason to be vegetarian or vegan? Well, since the problem mostly comes from cows, one option would be to move to eating other kinds of animals in greater numbers. Moreover, the climate damage is mostly due to very intensive factory farming, which I do not defend because the animals do not have good lives. Indeed, the evidence is that small-scale farming in which animals have good lives does not harm the environment much, and it may even benefit it.

T he argument from historical benefit does not apply to wild animals, which are in an entirely different category. Human beings did not create these animals with a purpose, and so we do not owe them anything in virtue of that relationship, although, as sentient beings, their lives deserve respect. Can we hunt them for food if we are hungry, or kill them if they harm us? Probably yes, depending on the degree of need and the degree of harm. Can we hunt them purely for sport? Perhaps not. They have their conscious lives, and who are we to take it away from them without cause?

The lives of wild animals are an endless cycle of trauma, pain and death. Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s phrase about nature ‘red in tooth and claw’ hardly begins to do justice to the extent of the hunger, fear and agony of the lives and deaths of animals in the wild. They kill and eat each other relentlessly, by the billion. This awful truth about wild animals is concealed from children in the vast majority of children’s books and films in which fictional animals of different kinds are represented as chummy friends, instead of ripping each other apart for food. Where they get their food is usually glossed over. Most of what adults tell children about animals is a spectacular lie.

In nurturing animals that we raise for food or other purposes, human beings seem to do better than God

The ‘problem of evil’ is a standard problem for belief in God’s existence, and the usual focus is on human suffering. But the suffering of wild animals should also be a major headache for God, and perhaps more of a headache than human suffering. Why would an all-good, all-knowing and all-powerful god make animals suffer so much? The nature and extent of animal suffering makes an even more compelling argument against God’s existence because the usual replies in the human case, especially the appeal to the value of free will, are not available for animals. If there is a good god, we might well wonder why such bloody horror was unleashed on these creatures.

Human beings are in fact a rare light in the darkness of the animal kingdom when we nurture some animals in order to eat them. Many domesticated animals are bred and raised for food in conditions that should be the envy of wild animals. The daily life of some of the animals we eat is almost like a spa! If vegetarians and vegans are the natural enemies of domesticated animals, carnivorous human beings are their natural friends. Indeed, in nurturing and caring for animals that we raise for food or other purposes, human beings seem to do better than God.

D oes this pro-carnivorous argument apply to eating human beings? Does it imply that we should enslave, kill and eat some human beings if it is to their benefit? No. For one thing, the situations are entirely different. Domesticated animals, such as cows, sheep and chickens, owe their existence to the fact that we prey upon them, whereas human beings do not owe their existence to being preyed on. As far as I know, there are no human beings who owe their existence to a cannibalistic meat-eating practice. And even if there were, they could survive without it, if liberated, which is radically unlike domesticated animals. The situation of human beings and domesticated animals is entirely different.

More fundamentally, human beings have rights of a kind that animals lack. Having rights does not just mean that the lives of human beings and animals matter – of course they do. It means something more specific, which implies that it would be wrong to kill and eat human beings against their will, even if the practice were to benefit them. So, for example, when one human being innocently goes for a hospital checkup, a doctor should not cut them open for the purpose of harvesting their organs for transplants that will save the lives of five other human beings. But a veterinary surgeon may , I believe, cut open one innocent ownerless dog who wanders in off the street to save five other ownerless dogs. In that sense, animals do not have ‘rights’. These rights mark a moral line between human beings and animals. Suppose, though, that we are less particular about how we use the word ‘rights’, and animals having ‘rights’ just means that their conscious lives matter. In that case, we respect those ‘rights’ when we kill and eat domesticated animals. Indeed, if we did not do that, there would be no such animals to have rights.

What, then, is the source of these rights, which human beings have and that animals lack? Along with many others, I think that source is our ‘rationality’, where that is an ability to think things, do things or make decisions, for reasons. Of course, we do not always reason as we should. But all that rationality means here is that we often do or think things because we think it was the right thing to do or think. The philosopher Christine Korsgaard seems to have got this right with her idea that reasoning, or at least the kind of human reasoning that is self-conscious, involves what she calls ‘normative self-government’. This is more than the ability to think about our own thoughts (often called ‘metacognition’) but is also the ability to change one’s mind, for instance, in forming beliefs or intentions, because we think that our mindset demands it. In reasoning, of the more self-conscious kind, we apply normative concepts to ourselves and change our minds because of that.

We should kill and eat them, so long as their lives are good overall before we do that

It is true that human babies cannot yet use reason, and that there are adult human beings who cannot reason, due to a mental disability. Rationality theorists have stumbled over these cases. But they can easily be finessed if we say that human beings have reasoning as their nature or telos , as the ancient Greeks might have said. Being rational is a function of human beings, which they do not always fulfil, just as not all hearts pump blood and not all coffee machines make coffee. We may say that dogs have four legs even though there are a very few unfortunate dogs with only three legs who have had an accident or were born with a genetic deformity. Likewise, we may say that human beings are rational animals, despite human babies and adult human beings with mental disabilities that preclude reasoning, because mature human beings often have reasons for what they think, do and decide.

In 1780, Jeremy Bentham said of animals: ‘The question is not, Can they reason ?, nor Can they talk ? but, Can they suffer ?’ I agree that the suffering of animals is important, but, as I have complained, so is their pleasure and happiness. And I would also like to complain that just because suffering is important does not make reasoning unimportant. Perhaps both are important, in different ways. If, unlike Bentham, we admit rights (he thought they were ‘nonsense upon stilts’), then the question is very much ‘Can they reason?’ Because they reason, human beings have rights, whereas animals lack rights because they cannot reason. Since they lack rights, we can paternalistically consider what is good for them. And this good dictates that we should kill and eat them, so long as their lives are good overall before we do that. They have no rights standing in the way of the mutually beneficial carnivorous practice.

Someone might wonder whether we should rest all of our special worth, and our right to protection from intraspecies predation, on our rationality. We have other impressive characteristics that might also generate rights. However, one of the advantages of the appeal to rationality is the way that it embraces many other aspects of human life that we think are important and valuable. Consider our impressive knowledge or creative imagination – these might also be intrinsically valuable in such a way as to generate distinctive rights, including the right not to be eaten against our will. These valuable characteristics also seem to be distinctive of human beings. However, many of these characteristics depend on rationality. Knowledge, of the extent, and acquired in the way that much human knowledge is acquired, is also possible only for reflective rational beings. The scientific project, for example, is predicated on a certain self-reflectiveness about methods and evidence – especially measurement.

So, these phenomena seem still to be within the orbit of rationality. What about the creative imagination? Many Surrealists thought that excessive rational thought was responsible for the horrors of the First World War, and as a response they valued creative imagination over rational deliberation, as in André Breton’s Manifesto of Surrealism (1924). However, what is human creative imagination? Do animals imagine in this way? Perhaps a pet dog can imagine being taken for a walk. But this is not like the creative imagination of human beings who invent interesting or beautiful works of art or literature, who revolutionise scientific theories or who envisage novel ways of living. Only the reflective rational mind can have creative imagination of this sort. Thus, it seems that many phenomena of human beings that seem special and distinctive, and that are of moral significance in the sense of having potential to generate rights, turn out to depend on rationality.

W ith this conception of rationality in hand, let us now turn the spotlight on the minds of animals. Let us begin with our close cousins – apes and monkeys. Do they share the rational capacities of human beings? The research on apes and monkeys is currently inconclusive. Researchers do not agree. There is some evidence suggesting that some such creatures can engage in a kind of reasoning, or at least that they have modes of thought continuous with human reasoning. In fact, the best evidence for primate reasoning is a kind of upside-down evidence, that some apes and monkeys appear to suffer from irrationalities similar to those besetting human beings. The psychologists Laurie Santos and Alexandra Rosati argued this in an article in 2015. And surely: if the animals are reasoning badly, then they are reasoning. The conclusion that they reason is controversial but, if it were right, it would mean that such animals should be protected by moral rights like those of human beings in virtue of their rationality. However, at present, we do not know enough to go one way or the other with full personhood rights for apes and monkeys.

By contrast with these cases, the research is less ambiguous concerning most of the domesticated animals that we eat: cows, sheep, chickens, and the rest. Hardly any researchers think these animals reason. They are conscious, they have pleasures and pains, and they show intelligence of a kind when they use tools, for example. They can pursue means to an end. However, many highly intelligent species, such as elephants and dogs , pursue means to an end, but only inflexibly, so that they carry on pursuing the means when the two are visibly disconnected. Such inflexibility suggests that the psychological mechanism in play is association, not reasoning. And if elephants and dogs are not reasoning, it is unlikely that cows, sheep and chickens do better on this score.

We do not have to wait to see what the research turns up; we may proceed directly to the dinner table

Even Lori Marino , who is an enthusiastic advocate for the sophistication of the minds of domesticated animals does not suggest that these animals have anything like the self-conscious reasoning that is characteristic of human beings. There just seems to be no evidence suggesting that cows , sheep and chickens can reason in Korsgaard’s self-reflective sense; and that means that they lack rights. Of course, lacking rights does not mean that their lives have no value, unless one deploys a uselessly obese notion of rights. Their consciousness matters. But that is exactly why we should kill and eat them. With these animals, we are doing them a favour if we kill and eat them. The exceptions among the animals that we breed to eat are pigs, whose surprisingly adept operation of computer joysticks demonstrates cognitive flexibility that may indicate reasoning.

In all, the state of play of the evidence in animal psychology suggests different degrees of certainty for different animals. There is uncertainty concerning our nearest relatives – apes and monkeys – while there is more clarity about most of the domesticated animals that we breed to eat. Apart from pigs , it is clear that farmed animals cannot reason reflectively, and therefore they lack the rights that would prevent us eating them for their benefit. With cows, sheep and chickens, we do not have to wait to see what the research turns up; we may proceed directly to the dinner table.

A chicken may cross a road, but it does not decide to do so for a reason. The chicken may even be caused to cross the road by some desire that it has; and the chicken may exhibit intelligence in whether or not it crosses the road. But the chicken makes no decision to follow its desires, and it makes no reasoned decision about whether or not it is a good idea to cross the road. We can ask: ‘Why did the chicken cross the road?’ but the chicken cannot ask itself: ‘Why should I cross the road?’ We can. That’s why we can eat it.

History of ideas

Reimagining balance

In the Middle Ages, a new sense of balance fundamentally altered our understanding of nature and society

A marble bust of Thucydides is shown on a page from an old book. The opposite page is blank.

What would Thucydides say?

In constantly reaching for past parallels to explain our peculiar times we miss the real lessons of the master historian

Mark Fisher

A man and a woman in formal evening dress but with giant fish heads covering their faces are pictured beneath a bridge on the foreshore of a river

The environment

Emergency action

Could civil disobedience be morally obligatory in a society on a collision course with climate catastrophe?

Rupert Read

An early morning view across an old bridge towards the spires of a historic medieval city partially obscured by fog

Return of the descendants

I migrated to my ancestral homeland in a search for identity. It proved to be a humbling experience in (un)belonging

Jessica Buchleitner

Economic history

Credit card nation

Americans have always borrowed, but how exactly did their lives become so entangled with the power of plastic cards?

Sean H Vanatta

Metaphysics

The enchanted vision

Love is much more than a mere emotion or moral ideal. It imbues the world itself and we should learn to move with its power

Mark Vernon

Essay on Kindness

500 words essay on kindness.

The world we live in today has been through a lot of things from world wars to epidemics, but one thing which remained constant throughout was resilience and kindness. Moreover, it was the spirit to fight back and help out each other. Kindness must be an essential and universal quality to make the world a better place. Through an essay on kindness, we will go through it in detail.

Importance of Kindness

Kindness towards nature, animals and other people has the ability to transform the world and make it a beautiful place for living. But, it is also important to remember that kindness towards you is also essential for personal growth.

Kindness is basically being polite, compassionate and thoughtful. Every religion and faith teaches its followers to be kind. Most importantly, kindness must not limit to humans but also to every living creature.

Even nature has its own way of showing kindness. For instance, the trees grow fruits for us and provide us with shade. One must not see kindness as a core value but as a fundamental behavioural element. When you are kind to your loved ones, you create a stable base.

As people are becoming more self-centred today, we must learn kindness. We must try to integrate it into ourselves. You might not know how a small act of kindness can bring about a change in someone’s life. So, be kind always.

Kindness Always Wins

There is no doubt that kindness always wins and it has been proven time and again by people. Sid is a greedy man who does not share his wealth with anyone, not even his family members.

He also does not pay his workers well. One day, he loses his bag of gold coins and loses his temper. Everyone helps him out to search for it but no one finds it. Finally, his worker’s little son finds the bag.

Upon checking the bag, he sees all the coins are there. But, his greed makes him play a trick on the poor worker. He claims that there were more coins in the bag and the worker stole them.

The issue goes to the court and the judge confirms from Sid whether his bag had more coins to which he agrees. So, the judge rules out that as Sid’s bag had more coins , the bag which the worker’s son found is not his.

Therefore, the bag gets handed to the worker as no one else claims it. Consequently, you see how the worker’s son act of kindness won and paid him well. On the other hand, how Sid’s greediness resulted in his loss only.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Conclusion of the Essay on Kindness

It is essential for all of us to understand the value of kindness. Always remember, it does not cost anything to be kind. It may be a little compliment or it can be a grand gesture, no matter how big or small, kindness always matters. Therefore, try your best to be kind to everyone around you.

FAQ of Essay on Kindness

Question 1: Why is it important to be kind?

Answer 1: It is important to be kind because it makes one feel good about oneself. When you do things for other people and help them with anything, it makes you feel warm and that you have accomplished something. Moreover, you also get respect in return.

Question 2: Why is kindness so powerful?

Answer 2: Kindness has a lot of benefits which includes increased happiness and a healthy heart . It slows down the ageing process and also enhances relationships and connections, which will indirectly boost your health.

Customize your course in 30 seconds

Which class are you in.

Travelling Essay
Picnic Essay
Our Country Essay
My Parents Essay
Essay on Favourite Personality
Essay on Memorable Day of My Life
Essay on Knowledge is Power
Essay on Gurpurab
Essay on My Favourite Season
Essay on Types of Sports

Download the App

Ambassadors

Why Be Kind?

You know the warm glow you feel after an act of kindness? There are so many benefits of doing good for the body and soul.

Kindness boosts your serotonin levels, a chemical that makes you feel happy and calm.

It also stimulates oxytocin, the ‘love hormone’, which helps to lower your blood pressure and improves heart health, as well as making us feel more optimistic and confident.

Endorphins reduce pain, stress, anxiety and depression. Helping others can also increase your energy levels, and even make you live longer!

Kindness is teachable to others, and it’s contagious.

By witnessing you performing an act of kindness, others will feel good and will be inspired to do something kind too!

Source : Randomactsofkindness.org

Why Be Kind to Animals?

Animals feel a range of emotions such as love, joy, grief and fear. They also have complex ways of communicating.

… and that’s only the beginning!

By getting to know animals, it’s clear that each one is an individual who wants to live a meaningful and happy life, regardless of their species.

So why do we treat farmed animals and marine life differently to cats and dogs?

The answer is simply because they look different.

We hope to change that – but we need your help!

Please join our kindness revolution by making the kindness pledge today.

"If we could live happy and healthy lives without harming others, why wouldn't we?"

Animal Stories

Meet the animals whose lives have been transformed by kindness.

How to Get Involved

Here are some simple ways to get involved in Be Kind to Animals Week and make the world a kinder place for our furry, feathered and finned friends.

Make the Pledge

Pledge to be kind and get daily tips and delicious recipes.

Spread the Kindness

Share Be Kind to Animals Week with your family and friends on social media using #bekindtoanimalsweek

Access Free Resources

Watch a virtual story time, learn more about animals, and get inspiration for parties and lunch boxes.

Share full article

A photo illustration of a bison smiling.

How Do We Know What Animals Are Really Feeling?

Animal-welfare science tries to get inside the minds of a huge range of species — in order to help improve their lives.

Credit... Photo Illustration by Zachary Scott

Supported by

By Bill Wasik and Monica Murphy

Bill Wasik is the magazine’s editorial director and Monica Murphy is a veterinarian and writer.

April 23, 2024

What makes a desert tortoise happy? Before you answer, we should be more specific: We’re talking about a Sonoran desert tortoise, one of a few species of drab, stocky tortoises native to North America’s most arid landscapes. Adapted to the rocky crevices that striate the hills from western Arizona to northern Mexico, this long-lived reptile impassively plods its range, browsing wildflowers, scrub grasses and cactus paddles during the hours when it’s not sheltering from the brutal heat or bitter cold. Sonoran desert tortoises evolved to thrive in an environment so different from what humans find comfortable that we can rarely hope to encounter one during our necessarily short forays — under brimmed hats and layers of sunblock, carrying liters of water and guided by GPS — into their native habitat.

Listen to this article, read by Gabra Zackman

This past November, in a large, carpeted banquet room on the University of Wisconsin’s River Falls campus, hundreds of undergraduate, graduate and veterinary students silently considered the lived experience of a Sonoran desert tortoise. Perhaps nine in 10 of the participants were women, reflecting the current demographics of students drawn to veterinary medicine and other animal-related fields. From 23 universities in the United States and Canada, and one in the Netherlands, they had traveled here to compete in an unusual test of empathy with a wide range of creatures: the Animal Welfare Assessment Contest.

That morning in the banquet room, the academics and experts who organize the contest (under the sponsorship of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the nation’s primary professional society for vets) laid out three different fictional scenarios, each one involving a binary choice: Which animals are better off? One scenario involved groups of laying hens in two different facilities, a family farm versus a more corporate affair. Another involved bison being raised for meat, some in a smaller, more managed operation and others ranging more widely with less hands-on human contact.

Then there were the tortoises. On screens along the room’s outer edge, a series of projected slides laid out two different settings: one, a desert museum exhibiting seven Sonoran specimens together in a large, naturalistically barren outdoor enclosure; the other, a suburban zoo housing a group of four tortoises, segregated by sex, in small indoor and outdoor pens furnished with a variety of tortoise toys and enticements. Into the slides had been packed an exhausting array of detail about the care provided for the tortoises in each facility. Only contestants who had prepared thoroughly for the competition — by researching the nutritional, environmental, social and medical needs of the species in question — would be able to determine which was doing a better job.

“Animal welfare” is sometimes misused as a synonym for “animal rights,” but in practice the two worldviews can sometimes be at cross purposes. From an animal rights perspective, nearly every human use of animals is morally suspect, but animal-welfare thinkers take it as a given that animals of all kinds do exist in human care, for better or worse, and focus on how to treat them as well as possible. In the past half century, an interdisciplinary group of academics, working across veterinary medicine and other animal-focused fields, have been trying to codify what we know about animal care in a body of research referred to as “animal-welfare science.”

The research has unlocked riddles about animal behavior, spurred changes in how livestock are treated and even brought about some advances in how we care for our pets: Studies of domestic cats, for example, have found that “puzzle feeders,” which slow consumption and increase mental and physical effort while eating, can improve their health and even make them friendlier. The discipline has begun to inform policy too, including requirements for scientists receiving federal grants for their animal-based research, regulations governing transport and slaughter of livestock, accreditation standards for zoos and aquariums and guidelines for veterinarians performing euthanasia.

Contest organizers hope to help their students, who might someday go into a range of animal-related jobs — not just as vets but in agribusiness, conservation, government and more — employ data and research to improve every aspect of animal well-being. Americans own an estimated 150 million dogs and cats, and our policies and consumption patterns determine how hundreds of millions of creatures from countless other species will live and die. The Animal Welfare Assessment Contest tries to introduce students to that enormous collective responsibility, and to the complexity of figuring out what each of these animals needs, especially when — as in the case of reptiles living in a shell — their outlook differs radically from our own.

The effort to improve the lives of America’s animals began more than 150 years ago. As it happens, a hundred or so turtles figured in one of the most important events in the early history of animal activism in America. It was May 1866 — the heyday of turtle soup, a dish so beloved at the time that restaurants in New York would take out newspaper ads, or even maintain special outdoor signage, declaring the hour at which the day’s batch would be ready. And so this group of unlucky sea turtles, after being captured by hunters in Florida, was brought to New York upside down on a schooner. To further immobilize them, holes were pierced through their fins with cords run through them.

The turtles would have assumed a tranquil, passive demeanor under such conditions, perhaps making it possible for the ship’s crew to believe that the creatures weren’t suffering. But there is every reason to believe they were. Evolution has equipped the marine turtle for a life afloat, with a large lung capacity filling the space beneath the shell, to enable long dives. When the turtles were on their backs, the weight of their organs would have put pressure on these lungs, forcing their breathing to become deliberate and deep.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals started up the month before. Its president and founder, a Manhattan shipbuilding heir named Henry Bergh, spent its early weeks focusing on domestic species — above all, horses, the rough treatment of which in 19th-century streets was the main inspiration for his activism. But when he became aware of these suffering sea turtles for sale at Fulton Market, he decided to extend his campaign to a wildlife species that then barely rated more consideration than a cockroach, if not a cabbage.

Bergh made a case that the infliction of prolonged pain and distress upon sea turtles bound for the soup pot was illegal as well as immoral. As with other “mute servants of mankind” providing labor, locomotion, meat or milk to human beings, the turtle was entitled to be treated with compassion. But when Bergh hauled the ship’s captain in front of a judge, the defense argued (successfully!) that turtles were not even “animals,” but rather a form of fish, and thereby did not qualify under the new animal-cruelty law that Bergh succeeded in passing earlier that year.

Still, the case became a media sensation — and signaled to New Yorkers that Bergh’s campaign on behalf of animals was going to force them to account for the suffering of all animals, not just the ones they already chose to care about.

It’s perhaps no accident that Bergh turned to activism after a failed career as a dramatist. There’s something irreducibly imaginative in considering questions of animal welfare, regardless of how much science we marshal to back up our conclusions. George Angell of Boston, his fellow titan of that founding generation of animal advocates, pirated a 13-year-old British novel called “Black Beauty” and turned it into one of the century’s best-selling books, touting it as “the ‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin’ of the Horse” — though its real innovation was its use of an animal as a first-person narrator, thrusting readers into a working horse’s perspective and forcing them to contemplate how the equines all around them might see the world differently.

But how far does imagination really get us? The philosopher Thomas Nagel famously explored this problem in an essay called “What Is It Like to Be a Bat?” which took up that question only to dramatize the impossibility of answering it to anyone’s satisfaction. “It will not help,” he wrote, “to try to imagine that one has webbing on one’s arms, which enables one to fly around at dusk and dawn catching insects in one’s mouth; that one has very poor vision, and perceives the surrounding world by a system of reflected high-frequency sound signals; and that one spends the day hanging upside down by one’s feet in an attic. Insofar as I can imagine this (which is not very far), it tells me only what it would be like for me to behave as a bat behaves.”

In the case of chelonians like turtles — and their encarapaced brethren, the tortoises — we may know even less about how they experience the world than we do about bats. Take their vision, for example: Among those species that have been studied, scientists have found evidence of broad-spectrum color vision, sometimes including ultraviolet wavelengths invisible to the human eye. And while chelonians can see well beyond their pointed beaks, where edible vegetation or predators may await notice, their brains process these visual signals slowly — a quality of certain animal brains that might, some experts have theorized, result in a sped-up perception of time. (In chelonian eyes, do grasses wave frenetically in the breeze and clouds race across the sky?)

Next to vision, smell is probably the sense turtles and tortoises rely upon most. Their sensitive nasal epithelium, distributed between two chambers, can detect odors diffused in a warm desert breeze or dissolved in a cold ocean current. Chelonian ears are where you’d expect them to be, but buried beneath their scaled reptilian skin. They hear well at low frequencies, even if they don’t register the high notes of twittering birds, humming mosquitoes or the whistling wind. Some chelonians seem to have the power of magnetoreception, which means that somewhere in their anatomy — perhaps their eyes, or their nervous systems, or elsewhere — there are chemicals or structures that allow them to sense the earth’s geomagnetic field and navigate by it.

The chelonian sense of touch presents fewer mysteries. Specialized receptors in the skin and on the shell detect mechanical, temperature and pain stimuli and send messages to the nervous system — just as they do in humans and a wide variety of other species. Recognition of pain, in particular, is considered a primordial sense, essential to the survival of animals on every limb of the evolutionary tree. But even here, there are differences separating species: What does the nervous system do with signals from its nociceptors? Does the desert tortoise withdraw its foot from the scorpion’s tail only reflexively, or does it consciously register the pain of the sting? What suffering does a turtle endure when its shell is struck by the sharp edges of a boat propeller?

As Nagel argued, there is no way to meaningfully narrow the gulch in understanding that exists around “what it is like to be” such a creature. The strategy of animal-welfare science is to patiently use what we can observe about these other kinds of minds — what they choose to eat and to do, how they interact with their environments, how they respond to certain forms of treatment — looking for objective cues to show experts what imagination cannot.

Upstairs from the banquet hall, student competitors nervously milled around carpeted corridors. One by one they were called into conference rooms to face a judge, who sat at a table beside a digital chronograph. In one room, a neatly dressed young woman in owlish glasses took a breath as the display began counting up hundredths of seconds in bright red digits. Catherine LeBlond, a second-year student at Atlantic Veterinary College at Canada’s University of Prince Edward Island, began her presentation about the bison scenario.

She was allowed to refer only to a single 3-by-5 index card, which she had packed with information based on a “summary sheet” of takeaways that she and her teammates worked up together, with key phrases emphasized and sources cited, all of it broken down by category: social behavior (“Bison are a very social species with strong matriarchal divisions”), handling guidelines (“Prods should not be used to move bison unless safety is an issue”), facility design (“Ensure that there is a sufficient number of gates within facilities to slow the animals”), euthanasia (“The recommended euthanasia method of a bison is gunshot”) and more.

LeBlond began by declaring her choice: The wilder facility provided a more humane environment for its animals. She felt it was helping bison “live a more natural life”: The more spacious grounds would support wallowing behavior, she reasoned, and allow the animals to choose their social grouping, an important policy given bisons’ strong sense of social structure. She also praised the operation for enabling bison to avoid “aversive life events,” by using drones, rather than ranchers on horseback, to monitor the animals in the field, and also by slaughtering the animals on-site to avoid the distress they experience in transport. As she ran through her presentation, she took care to hit two important rhetorical notes that judges look for: “granting” some areas in which the other institution excelled and offering positive advice about how it might improve.

One way to think about her reasoning is through the lens of “the five freedoms,” a rubric that animal-welfare thinkers have long embraced to consider all the different obligations that humans have to the animals in their care. They are: 1. the freedom from hunger and thirst; 2. the freedom from discomfort; 3. the freedom from pain, injury or disease; 4. the freedom to express normal behavior; and 5. the freedom from fear and distress. In fact, it was arguably the articulation of these five freedoms — in the Brambell Report, a document put out by a British government committee in 1965 to assess the welfare conditions of the nation’s livestock — that inaugurated the whole field of animal-welfare science.

What made this list of “freedoms” so influential, in retrospect, was that it created a context for other, more targeted thinking about how a species might experience each freedom or its violation. What sort of environment will offer “freedom from discomfort” to a beef steer, on the one hand, and a freedom “to express normal behavior” on the other? Trying to answer such questions in a rigorous way involves considerations of veterinary medicine but also of evolutionary history, behavioral observation, physiology (scientists have begun using proxies like cortisol levels as an indication of animal stress), neuroscience and more.

In her bison presentation, by citing “a more natural life” and avoiding “aversive life events,” LeBlond was emphasizing Freedoms 4 and 5, the freedom to express normal behavior and the freedom from distress. In the scenario about tortoises, though, Freedoms 4 and 5 seemed to be at odds. When LeBlond addressed the judge for that category, she awarded the edge to the zoo — weighing its better health outcomes and stimulating enrichments over the more naturalistic setting at the museum. She zeroed in on the zoo’s visitor program, which gave the tortoises a novel method of choosing whether or not they wanted to interact with humans: Staff put out a transport crate, and over the course of 20 minutes, tortoises could decide to climb into the crate to be taken to the human guests, and later receive a special biscuit for their service.

And she linked this to a behavioral difference, illustrated by a set of charts comparing how readily each set of tortoises moved toward a “novel object” (like an enrichment toy) or a “novel person” in their midst. The numbers showed that the zoo’s tortoises were far more drawn to interactions with people. “This indicates that they have less fear of humans,” LeBlond pointed out, “which could be because they are given a choice about whether or not they get to participate in educational programs, and those that do are positively reinforced with high-value rewards.”

Most of the students followed a similar logic and chose the zoo. The judges, however, disagreed. As one of them explained later at the awards ceremony — at which LeBlond took second place among vet students — the facility may have seemed to be offering their tortoises a consensual choice, but it was more accurate to see it as heavy-handed operant conditioning, which lured them into submitting to human contact with the promise of a biscuit. In scenarios involving domestic animals, a documented comfort around humans is a sign of positive treatment, but when it comes to wild animals, the goal is the opposite: to acclimate them as little to human contact as possible. Another way of putting it is this: Biscuits might make a desert tortoise “happy,” insofar as we can even imagine what that means, but happiness isn’t ultimately what humane treatment is about.

Each year at the contest, competitors are asked to perform one “live” assessment: a situation with real animals in it. This time, the species of choice was the laboratory rat. We joined Kurt Vogel, head of the Animal Welfare Lab at University of Wisconsin-River Falls, on a tour of the scenario that he and a colleague, Brian Greco, had constructed in a warren of rooms a few buildings over from the competition site.

They had brought a great deal of brio to the task. In the first room, where several rats snoozed in containers, Vogel and Greco had left a panoply of welfare infractions for eagle-eyed students to find. One cage was missing a water bottle, while others housed only a single rat, a violation of best practices (rats prefer to be housed in groups). Feed bags sat on the floor with detritus all around, and a note in a lab journal indicated that pest rodents had been observed snacking on it.

In subsequent rooms, the horrors became more baroque. A euthanasia chamber had the wrong size lid on it, and a nearby journal described a rat escaping in the middle of its extermination. Paperwork in an office laid out the nature of the study being performed, which involved prolonged deprivation of food and water, forced swimming and exposure to wet bedding. Diagrams showed that the rats’ brains were being studied through physical implants, and students could see that the operating room was a nightmare, littered with unsterile implements and the researchers’ food trash (the remnants of Vogel’s bagel sandwich, deliberately left behind). None of the abuse was real — Vogel and Greco were even taking care to cycle the rats in and out of the fake scenario, in order to avoid undue stress from the parade of students who came through taking notes.

Happiness isn’t ultimately what humane treatment is about.

Rodents did not always play the role in labs that they do today. In the late 19th century, experiments were carried out on a whole host of species, including a high proportion of dogs — a fact that animal-welfare activists publicized to turn the “vivisection” debate into a political issue, to the point that even some prominent doctors became galvanized to restrict or ban the practice. In the 20th century, as research shifted to carefully bred rats and mice, optimized for predictability and uniformity, animal experimentation receded as an issue in the public discourse. Today animal-welfare advocates struggle to motivate their base on the matter of rodents: the Humane Society’s website illustrates its section on “Taking Suffering Out of Science” (which sits at the very end in its list of the group’s current “fights”) with a picture of a beagle in a cage, despite the fact that roughly 95 percent of all lab mammals are now rats or mice.

Lab rodents are maybe the most vivid example of a species whose suffering is hard to know how to weigh against the benefits it provides us. Studies using rat and mouse models have sought to answer basic scientific questions across diverse fields of inquiry: psychology, physiology, pathology, genetics. Look into any new advance in human health care, and you’re likely to find that it’s built on years of experimentation that consumed the lives of literally thousands of rodents. We may now be on the cusp of innovations that could allow that toll to be radically reduced — by essentially replacing animal models with some combination of virtual simulations and lab-grown tissue and organs — but it’s hard to imagine a world anytime soon where human patients would be subject to therapies that have never been tested on hundreds of animals. No one even reliably counts how many rodents are killed in U.S. labs every year, but the estimates range from 10 million up to more than 100 million.

This question of scale especially haunts the problem of livestock, which is an area where many of the contest’s student competitors will eventually find jobs. America is currently home to roughly 87 million cattle and 75 million pigs: populations that exceed those of dogs and cats in scale, but the welfare of which commands so much less of our moral attention.

When the practice of centralized, industrialized livestock management began in earnest after the Civil War, the treatment of the animals, especially during slaughter, could be barbaric. Pigs were simply hoisted up and their throats cut, and after some point were assumed to be dead enough to dump into boiling water so that the sharp bristles on their skin could be scraped away. There was little doubt that some of them were still conscious at the point that they were plunged into the water, as was reported in a broad exposé in 1880 by The Chicago Tribune: “Not infrequently,” the reporter noted, “a hog reaches the scalding-tub before life is extinct; in fact, they sometimes are very full of life when they reach the point whence they are dumped into the seething tub.”

After 1906, when Upton Sinclair’s “The Jungle” exposed the industry’s unsanitary practices, a series of reforms did lead to significant improvements in the lives and deaths of American livestock. Thanks to the Humane Slaughter Act of 1958, federal law now requires that animals be “rendered insensible to pain” before the act of killing; with pigs, this is generally done either with electrocution or by suffocation in a carbon-dioxide chamber, while with cattle, the method of choice is the captive-bolt gun. And since the 1970s, animal-welfare science has led to some considerable reforms. Perhaps the most transformational work has been done by Temple Grandin, the animal behaviorist whose research into how food animals experience and respond to their environment — particularly during transport and slaughter — has changed the way that meat and dairy producers operate.

Still, despite years of promises to end the practice, many sows are still kept almost permanently in 7-feet-by-2-feet “gestation crates,” too small to turn around in. And the rise of concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) has doomed millions of pigs, cattle and chickens to lives spent cheek to jowl in the stench of their own waste — waste that also threatens the health of nearby communities and ecosystems.

At the contest, many attendees were excited about the gains that artificial intelligence could bring to the animal-welfare field. Pilot studies have indeed shown great promise: For example, with A.I. assistance, 24-hour video surveillance can help pinpoint sick or injured animals much more quickly so they can be pulled out for veterinary care. Last year, a group of European researchers announced that based on 7,000 recordings of more than 400 pigs, they had made significant progress in understanding the meaning of their grunts. “By training an algorithm to recognize these sounds, we can classify 92 percent of the calls to the correct emotion,” one of the scientists remarked.

That well may be, but given what we know about pigs — specifically, their remarkable intelligence, which rivals (if not exceeds) that of a dog, to the point that a group of scientists recently trained some to play video games — there is no amount of A.I.-driven progress that can reconcile their short, crowded life as an American industrial food animal with any definition of what a “good” life looks like for such brainy creatures, all 75 million of them.

The laying hen, among the four species considered at the contest, is the one that lives among us in the largest numbers: There are an estimated 308 million of them in the United States alone, or nine for every 10 Americans. In a backyard flock, these hens could be expected to live six to eight years, but a vast majority of them toil in industrial operations that will slaughter them after only two to three years, once their productivity (six eggs a week) declines — and chickens, notably, are not covered by the Humane Slaughter Act. Poor air quality, soiled litter, nutritional stress and conflict with other chickens can contribute to dietary deficiencies, infectious diseases, egg-laying complications, self-mutilation, even cannibalism. And even in the best laying-hen operations, including the “cage-free” ones imagined in the contest scenario, these are short lives spent under 16 hours a day of artificial lighting in extremely close quarters with other birds.

More than in the other scenarios, the organizers had made the laying-hen choice a straightforward one. The corporate farm offered fewer amenities for the birds, which were also observed rarely to use the dirt-floored, plastic-covered “veranda” that was supposed to serve as a respite from their long hours laying in the aviary. The more commodious verandas of the family farm, covered with synthetic grass, proved more popular with their chickens, and in warm weather, its birds made use of a screened “garden” as well.

In her presentation, Catherine LeBlond correctly picked the family farm, for many of the same reasons that the judges did. Again, she “granted” some positive qualities of the corporate farm and offered it some advice — reflecting, after all, the values of the veterinary profession that she was training to enter, a field that takes on the advising of everyone who has animals in their care, not only the most conscientious.

Even so, at the very end, LeBlond briefly stepped back to ask a true ethical question, one that troubled the entire premise of a multibillion-dollar global industry: “whether or not it is ethical to keep these hens for the sole purpose of egg-laying, only to have them slaughtered at the end.” Among the scores of students we watched over the course of a weekend, LeBlond and her teammates from the Atlantic Veterinary College were the only ones who, in the final seconds of their talks, raised deep questions about the scenario’s entire premise — about whether, in the end, these fictional animals should have been put in these fictional situations in the first place.

It was a question that the judges of the Animal Welfare Assessment Contest had no doubt considered, but it also was one that seemed to lie outside the contest’s purview: In its either-or structure, the contest is helping train future professionals how to improve, rather than remove, the ties that bind animals into human society. Unless the day arrives when there is no need for laboratory rats, or poultry barns, or facilities to house desert tortoises and other captive wildlife, the animals of North America will be in the hands of veterinarians and animal scientists like LeBlond and her classmates, to help shape their situations the very best way they can.

Parts of this article are adapted from “Our Kindred Creatures: How Americans Came to Feel the Way They Do About Animals,” by Bill Wasik and Monica Murphy, published this month by Knopf.

Read by Gabra Zackman

Narration produced by Krish Seenivasan and Emma Kehlbeck

Engineered by Lance Neal

Explore The New York Times Magazine

Donald Trump’s Rally Rhetoric : No major American presidential candidate has talked like he now does at his rallies — not Richard Nixon, not George Wallace, not even Trump himself.

The King of Tidy Eating : Rapturously messy food reviews are all over the internet. Keith Lee’s discreet eating style rises above them all .

What Are Animals Really Feeling? : Animal-welfare science tries to get inside the minds of a huge range of species — in order to help improve their lives.

Can a Sexless Marriage Be Happy?: Experts and couples are challenging the conventional wisdom that sex is essential to relationships.

Lessons From a 20-Person Polycule : Here’s how they set boundaries , navigate jealousy, wingman their spouses and foster community.

Opinion Dogs are our greatest creation. And we might be theirs.

Tommy Tomlinson is the author of “ Dogland .” He lives in Charlotte with his wife, her mother and a cat named Jack Reacher.

The dog is humankind’s greatest invention. The wheel, the lightbulb, concrete — all amazing. Top of the line. But nothing in human creation has been as essential and adaptable as the countless descendants of the ancient gray wolf.

How did we do it? I spent three years following the traveling carnival of American dog shows — like a Grateful Dead tour with Milk-Bones — in search of the answer. My journey culminated in the dog world’s most prestigious event: the Westminster Dog Show. Show dogs are bred from the purest stock, culled from litters at just a few weeks old, trained with the dedication of Olympic gymnasts — and groomed like supermodels. They’d be unrecognizable to their ancient kin — and to ours.

The American Kennel Club, arbiter of bloodlines, now recognizes about 200 breeds, while tracking crossbreeds like goldendoodles, and even mutts. From the most massive mastiff to the tiniest teacup chihuahua, all dogs trace back to the same common ancestors.

Scientists think this weird and powerful companionship of humans and dogs might have started somewhere between 15,000 and 30,000 years ago. Humans of that era were mainly hunters traveling in camps. They ate meat by the fire. The cooking meat attracted wolves who were drawn to the aroma but stayed safely out of range of the flames. Every so often, a human would fling a bone into the darkness. The wolves gnawed on the bones. They trailed the humans to the next campsite, still keeping their distance. There was an unspoken arrangement. The wolves alerted the humans to intruders, and the humans fed the wolves well.

Over time the wolves crept closer. One fateful night a curious wolf came all the way into the firelight. The humans didn’t chase it off.

Slowly, the humans mingled with the wolves. After days or months or generations or centuries, a wolf curled up at a human’s feet. Maybe got its belly rubbed. That was the first dog.

As far as we can tell, dogs are the first animals that humans ever tamed. The wolves that hung out with humans found themselves changing inside and out. They developed shorter muzzles and smaller teeth. Their instinct to run became a desire to stay close. With time, dogs were manufactured through breeding to meet different human needs. We made huskies to pull sleds and Newfoundlands to pull fish nets and dachshunds to catch badgers.

Dogs taught humans the early science of designer genes. In the mid-19th century, as we moved off the farm and into the factory, we created dogs we could bring indoors at the end of a workday. And we created dogs we could bring to work: French bulldogs (now the most popular breed in America ) started out as literal lap dogs for lace-makers in France. We molded dogs to be friends, companions, playmates and unofficial therapists.

So dogs are not just humanity’s greatest invention but also its longest-running experiment.

That’s one way to look at it.

Now switch out the frame. Swap the subject and the object. Change the verbs.

Here’s another view:

Around the time early humans evolved, Neanderthals also walked the planet. At some point — roughly 40,000 years ago — humans started to thrive while Neanderthals died off. And this is about the time when those first curious wolves began to evolve into dogs. Some scientists believe the timing is not a coincidence. Maybe the dog was the key advantage in the triumph of humankind.

Dogs enabled humans to settle down and stop their endless wandering. Dogs protected humans at this vulnerable transition from nomadic to settled life. Dogs did work that humans did not have the strength or stamina to do: guarding, herding, hunting, pulling sleds. They created time for humans to build and think and create without having to focus every moment on the next meal or the next threat.

We domesticated dogs, and they domesticated us.

Today, dogs provide not just companionship but also an uncomplicated kind of love in an ever more complicated world. And for those restless souls wandering from town to town, chasing job after job — nomads again — a dog can be an anchor, something to hold on to on a lonely night.

From the gray wolf by the ancient fire to a coifed Pomeranian prancing around the show ring, dogs have been with us nearly as long as we have been human.

They might be our greatest creation. And we might be theirs.

About guest opinion submissions

The Washington Post accepts opinion articles on any topic. We welcome submissions on local, national and international issues. We publish work that varies in length and format, including multimedia. Submit a guest opinion or read our guide to writing an opinion article .

Opinion | ‘Kristi, darling, I understand completely,’ by Cruella De Vil April 29, 2024 Opinion | ‘Kristi, darling, I understand completely,’ by Cruella De Vil April 29, 2024
Opinion | The wartime outrage in Israel that no one is talking about April 29, 2024 Opinion | The wartime outrage in Israel that no one is talking about April 29, 2024
Opinion | Is another Trump coup case really necessary? Yes. Arizona matters. April 28, 2024 Opinion | Is another Trump coup case really necessary? Yes. Arizona matters. April 28, 2024

IMAGES

10 lines on Kindness to animals
Kindness to Animals Essay
Short Essay on Kindness to Animals [100, 200, 400 Words] With PDF
How to Be Kind to Animals: 10 Ideas for Kids with Free Printable
9 Ways to be Kind to Animals Around You
Kindness To Animals Essay in English// Essay on Kindness To Animals in

VIDEO

Essay on endangered animals/endangered animals essay
Be kind to animals they are better than humans
Alla ögon på mig
5 Lines on Animals in English || 5 Lines Essay on Animals
Cruelty To Animals
Be Kind Animals Also Have Filling 🥺 #shorts #viral #youtubeshorts #animals

COMMENTS

Short Essay on Kindness to Animals [100, 200, 400 Words] With PDF
Short essay on Kindness to Animals in 400 Words. All living beings on this planet were created and given life by the same divine force. All of us, whether it is human beings, plants or animals, have the right to live and be free. In the olden days, most kings and emperors spent their free time going on hunts to kill animals like deer, tigers ...
Essay on Kindness to Animals for Children
Kids must refer to BYJU'S kindness to animals essay because it discusses the benefits of animal-friendly practices and philosophies. Animals need to be protected because they are an important part of our ecosystem. Also, when an animal becomes extinct, this could have a huge impact on the ecosystem. Q2.
Essay on Kindness to Animals
Kindness to animals also has profound effects on human society. It fosters empathy, compassion, and respect for all life forms, qualities that are fundamental to a more peaceful and inclusive society. Moreover, research has shown that cruelty to animals is often a precursor to violence against humans, indicating that promoting kindness to ...
The Power of Kindness: Why We Should Treat Animals with Compassion
Let us all strive to be kind to animals and to help create a more compassionate and sustainable future. Kindness. Animal Rights. Animals. Animal Welfare----1. Follow. Written by Musfira.
Essay on Be Kind to Animals
Being kind to animals can also have profound psychological benefits. Interactions with animals have been shown to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. Pets offer companionship and unconditional love, while wildlife encounters can inspire awe and a sense of connection with nature. These experiences can foster empathy, compassion, and a ...
Making a better world through kindness to animals
That resonates with me. The vision statement of Best Friends is "A better world through kindness to animals," which is to say that if we look to the well-being of the least empowered among us, we will cast a net that includes, well, the world. Many will say, and have said over the years, that this is a hopelessly naïve and out-of-touch ...
On Kindness to Animals and Why It Is an Important Virtue to Cultivate
That said, learning to express patience and kindness to an animal does help us to learn the language of kindness and gentleness that can, and often should, be granted to fellow human beings. It helps to awaken and train a tenderness in us. In the Summa Theologica, St. Thomas also comments on the prohibition of boiling a kid goat in the milk of ...
Why Students Should Learn to Be Kind to Animals
Just learning about animals, especially issues of animal welfare, can motivate students to engage with standards-aligned curriculum content and enhance their critical thinking skills. While ...
How animals inspire kindness
But you don't need to be pet owner or animal lover to see how animals can inspire kindness in others. Time and time again we hear stories about how our four-legged friends and other animals show random acts of kindness towards humans. Take for example Binti-Jua, the gorilla who cradled an injured boy who fell into the gorilla enclosure in her ...
Essay on Kindness to Animals for Students and Children
In this article, we have tried our best to provide a short Kindness to Animals Essay for Classes 8,9,10,11,12 in 200, 300,400 words. Essay on Kindness to Animals for Students and Children. Making kindness and justice to domestic animals an essential part of human virtue. Animals also claim our love and sympathy, not only because they are dumb ...
How to Be Kind to Animals (with Pictures)
Be careful not to feed your animals too many treats, which are often filled with sugar and can contribute to unhealthy weight gain. 5. Interact at the right times. Just like people, animals often enjoy having some space to themselves. Allow your pet or animal to sleep in peace, which can build trust and shows kindness.
Animal Essay for Students and Children
Answer 1: All animals play an important role in the ecosystem. Some of them help to bring out the nutrients from the cycle whereas the others help in decomposition, carbon, and nitrogen cycle. In other words, all kinds of animals, insects, and even microorganisms play a role in the ecosystem.
5 ways animals can boost kindness in kids
It's important to note that what appears to be "kind" behavior among animals might really be adaptive behaviors that help the animals to thrive. For instance, popular videos make it look ...
The Benefits of Animals to Humans: Essay Example
They are a good source of security to human beings. Some animals protect man from invasion by other animals and even by human beings. For example, dogs are used to protect their homes at night (Knight 2020). Also, police officers also use dogs during wars as well as in the maintenance of law and order.
Make a Resolution to be Kind to Animals: 21 Ways to Help Animals in 2021
2. Make sure your pet has identification and encourage others to do the same. In case the unforeseen happens and your pet gets lost, make sure they have a collar and identification tags. Also, have your pet microchipped and keep your address and phone number up-to-date to help get your pet back home quickly and safely. 3.
Be Kind to Animals: Encouraging Compassion through Humane Education
The Be Kind to Animals (BKA) Contest is an annual event sponsored by the American Humane Association (AHA) to honor young people who make a difference in the lives of animals. Nominees are divided into two age groups (6-9 and 10-13). Winners of the BKA Contest are announced during Be Kind to Animals Week in May.
Essay on "Kindness to Animals" for Kids and Students, English
Animals are equal sharers of natural gifts with men. But it is a pity that men treat animals cruelly. They kill animals to eat their meat. They kill certain other animals to conduct medical experiments. They use animals like donkeys, horses and oxen some animals as beast of burden. They put some animals and birds in a cage for the sake of fun.
Be Kind to Animals: Why It Matters and How You Can Help
Being kind to animals is a fundamental part of being a responsible and compassionate person. By taking small steps to show kindness and respect to animals, we can make a significant impact on their lives and help ensure they are treated with the dignity they deserve. So let's all work together to be kind to animals and make the world a better ...
Harvard professor: Animals are just as important as people
In her new book, "Fellow Creatures: Our Obligations to the Other Animals," Arthur Kingsley Porter Professor of Philosophy Christine Korsgaard makes the case that humans are not inherently more important than animals and therefore should treat them much better than we do. Korsgaard, Ph.D. '81, has taught at Harvard for almost 30 years and ...
If you care about animals, it is your moral duty to eat them
This is a kind of speciesism that particularly afflicts devotees of 'animals rights'. All lives have their ups and downs; and this is true for animals as well as human beings. Both ups and downs are important. It is this ongoing history of mutual benefit that generates a moral duty of human beings to eat animals.
Essay On Kindness in English for Students
500 Words Essay On Kindness. The world we live in today has been through a lot of things from world wars to epidemics, but one thing which remained constant throughout was resilience and kindness. Moreover, it was the spirit to fight back and help out each other. Kindness must be an essential and universal quality to make the world a better place.
Why Be Kind
There are so many benefits of doing good for the body and soul. Kindness boosts your serotonin levels, a chemical that makes you feel happy and calm. It also stimulates oxytocin, the 'love hormone', which helps to lower your blood pressure and improves heart health, as well as making us feel more optimistic and confident.
Four Ways You Can Be Kind To Stray Animals
Image credit-The Author. We play an important role in building our society safe not just for humans, but also for the birds and animals living in our society with us. Ignoring them can never be a ...
How Do We Know What Animals Are Really Feeling?
From an animal rights perspective, nearly every human use of animals is morally suspect, but animal-welfare thinkers take it as a given that animals of all kinds do exist in human care, for better ...
Opinion
Scientists think this weird and powerful companionship of humans and dogs might have started somewhere between 15,000 and 30,000 years ago. Humans of that era were mainly hunters traveling in camps.