1. ACIS 2201 Learning Journal
Learning Journal Assignment #1
Kasandra Keenan
Student Number: 10060902
ACIS 2203- Issues In Animal Care & Welfare
Professor: Keri Semenko

2. ACIS 2201 Learning Journal
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Learning Paper
The title of the chapter I have chosen is called Zoos and the Rights on animals. This is
chapter 68, page 522. Based on this title I believe this chapter is primarily on how animals are
treated in the zoos. I also believe this chapter is about their rights and freedoms inside a zoo,
and the differences from captivity to the wild. When I saw this title I instantly thought about
repopulating many species of animals and how they would not become extinct.
I have some knowledge on this topic, from what I learned in my animal legislation and
ethics class. What I know about animal rights is they are property and not their own self. There
haven’t been many changes in the animal law, and when being charged with a crime against
animals, it’s not the same as humans. Therefore if you kill a human you may face life in jail; if
you kill an animal you possibly may get a couple of months in jail, and /or a fine. Animals have
the right to shelter, food and water. My knowledge of zoos is somewhat limited. I do know
that zoos are used for breeding facilities to help repopulate species. Zoos are also used to help
educate people on many different kinds of species.
The strategies I used to help me read the chapter were using the bold sub titles to tell
me what that section was about. I also skimmed over the article after I read it to make sure I
didn’t forget any key points.
I came across some unfamiliar words when reading this chapter.
-Discontinuity: I believe this word means that something is not continually happening

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-Perpetuation: I believe this word meant something that is done over time
- Prerogatives: To me this word means it’s your choices on certain things
-Dissent: I though this meant where you came from, where you were brought up
- Taxon: I though this meant to be above a person, higher then another living being
-Altruism: I though this meant your own rights, and your choices to do something
The chapter is based on:
- Animals having rights, and how every person views rights differently.
- How we believe animals should be treated.
- How the media portrays zoos and aquariums.
- The continuation of animals and the commitment to keep them from extinction.
- Animals are involuntarily used to recreate their species.
An important fact that supports the idea of animals having rights and how every person
views rights differently is stated by Rowan. He says that 80 percent of the public believe that
animals should have respect from humans. The remaining percentage is to believe that only
humans have rights and animals shouldn’t. Animal rightist believe that animals feel pain and
suffer, and they deserve the same rights as humans. Humans have equal rights. It does no
matter what their race, class or gender is, therefore rightest believe animals should to.

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The rights moment is helping animals achieve rights. The University of Texas Tech posted an
article in a college newspaper. After the printing the university received over 10,000 letters
from people protesting the use of animals in their research lab. Vancouver, British Columbia,
Canada closed down Stanley Park Zoo, after 54 percent of their citizens voted to close it down.
There are many people that believe in animal’s rights and there are others that don’t believe or
feel the same. The rights movement is giving more animals freedom.
Utilitarianism, Singer, and deontologist, Tom Regan, views are used to support what is
considered right in the use of animals. Utilitarianism theory believes animals should be treated
based on consequences; they must outweigh the harmful consequences. Whatever causes the
greater good of animals without causing pain, unless it is mandatory, is their belief.
Deontologist do not believe that this is the proper way to judge how an animal should be
treated. They believe that it depends on the individual and not the consequences. Therefore if
the animal has the same qualities as a human, they deserve to be treated and respected the
same as a human. This doesn’t work properly though if used. The chapter goes on to explain
that if a human kills a human it’s morally wrong. If an animal kills another animal for food it is
morally right. Only humans are capable of knowing what’s morally right and wrong, therefore
animals are like infants or mentally challenged people because they do not have the ability to
be accountable for their actions. Euthanasia is an example of animals not being responsible to
act for themselves. Regan believes that humans have the right to do for animals what they

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cannot do for themselves. With that being said if the animal is suffering and in the final stages
of a disease, humans are allowed to end their misery.
The media portrays zoos and aquariums in certain ways based on how society portrays
them. They are in the lime light, and must answer to the public for everything they do.
The fact is if an animal become hurt or something happens that is unfortunate, the zoo or
aquarium is scrutinized. This forces zoos to look at the way they run their facilities. They must
look at their actions in unique ways and be prepared for anything that the media throws at
them. The media is strong voiced and will single them out exclusively. Animal rightest have
different views then zoos and aquariums. Rightest don’t agree with the way zoos and
aquariums are run, therefore zoos/aquariums always have protests against them. Zoos run
breeding facilities to help rare or endangered species. However rightest believe that a rare
species has no higher status then a common species. Regan states “that an individual animal is
among the last reaming members of a species confers no further right to that animal and its
right not to be harmed must be weighted equitably with the rights of any others who have this
right”(p.527). Regan therefore believes that a rare or endangered species does not deserve
special treatment. Animal rightest are not against the idea of saving endangered species but
they also don’t give that species special treatment. They believe in letting the species be.
However zoos are for saving a species, instead of just the survival of an individual. Due to the
different ways zoos are run, this is why they run into so many conflicts.

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The continuation of endangered animals can be argued by stopping the extinction of many
breeds. Animals are taken into captivity to help preserve the species. Therefore animals depend
on humans for food, shelter, psychological, and physical health. Morally, humans must treat the
captivity animals with respect. It is questioned though if it is morally right to take the animal
from the wild and put them in captivity. The chapter states that all life forms struggle to
survive. Some fail and become extinct. Therefore “we do for it what it cannot do for itself”
(p.527), and bring it into cavity to help the species strive again. It is stated in this chapter that
some believe bringing animals into captivity can be harmful towards the breed. At some point
their right to freedom is invoked to insure the survival of that species. The problem with this is
by bringing the species into cavity, it has not volunteered itself to do so. Which brings up the
question is it morally right to volunteer an animal without their consent? Norton states that it is
morally wrong to do this because the individual does not voluntarily accept the request to do
so. . Thus animals are being involuntary used to recreate their species.
Opinions that were used in the article include a deontologist name Tom Regan. He states,
“That an individual animal is among the last remaining members of a species confers no further
right to that animal, and its right not to be harmed must be weighed equitably with the rights of
any others who have this right”(p.527)
There are not facts to support his idea or argument on his statement, but it states that many
people believe in just letting nature be, and do what it’s supposed to do.

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Also stated by Tom Regan “Do for them what they cannot do for themselves” (p.525)
Regan’s opinion is supported by the means of ending an animal’s misery. An animal that is in a
lot of pain and in the end stages of a disease is suffering. It is not morally right to keep them
going when they are suffering. Thus euthanasia is a morally acceptable way to stop an animal’s
suffering.
The tone of this piece of writing is suggested to be opinions of Singer, Tom Regan, and
Norton. Therefore it is an opinionated chapter based on the rights of animals and how zoos are
looked at through everyone’s eyes.
After I read this piece I started thinking about how animals do not get to choose if they
want to be used for breeding programs, or to repopulate their species. They don’t get the
choice of what they are used for. It started to open up my eyes. I proclaim myself for giving
animals rights and making them their own individual!
What open up my eyes was that even though people are fighting for the rights on
animals, some of the rights they are fighting for I don’t believe in. It makes me question myself,
Is what I believe in even right?
I also started to reflect on how many people do not have the same beliefs as me. I do
believe in repopulating a species that is almost extinct and being one sided. I thought many
people had the same beliefs as me. After reading this chapter I have come to realize my opinion
is just one opinion. Many others have their own thoughts on this.

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I believe that if a species is almost extinct and there is a couple left of that species they should
breed them to recreate them. This made me reflect on animals rights. Animals should have
rights and be an individual. With that being said is it fair to make them enter into breeding
programs to better our earth?
I would summarize this piece of writing by saying it’s mainly on the thoughts of three
philosophers. One advocates for utilitarianism and another who believes in deontology views
with animals. Animals do have rights, and how every person views the rights differently. They
also discussed how we as humans believe animals should be treated, how the media portrays
zoo/aquariums and their decision making. The piece of writing also went over the continuation
of animals and the thoughts for keeping a species from becoming extinct.
Animals being involuntarily used to be captive and used to recreate their species was
also discussed in this writing. Animal rights are talked about in this piece and pertain to them
being in captivity, being used in breeding facilities, being brought in from the wild, and putting
animals in a hierarchy based on their species and intellectual standards.
Some questions about this topic after reading this piece are if people are fighting for
animals than why aren’t they not for breeding facilities? If done properly, it will help the
animals. Another question I have is why does an animal whose species is almost extinct have
equal rights with any other that has rights? My view is they should have more rights. If they
have more protective rights then we can help repopulate them.

9. ACIS 2201 Learning Journal
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Some sources I could use to learn more about the topic or my questions are
- Wood, J. T. (2014). Communication in Our Lives (7th
ed.). Toronto, ON: Nelson
Education Ltd
- Armstrong, S.J. & Borzier, R.G. (2008). The Animal Ethics (2nd
ed.). Abingdon, Oxon:
Routledge- Chapter 68, Zoos and Animal rights (p.522)