Expert: Tina Volpe - 6/14/2010

Question
QUESTION: how can studying anthrozoology, the study of the human-animal bond/interactions, help a person become a better activist?

ANSWER: Hi Nuyo,

I believe that the more knowledge we have, the more ammunition we have against the typical American response to animals and their rights.  So, studying these types of animal subjects only makes you a better activist because you have further knowledge of how incredible animals are.

Tina Volpe

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you for answering my question but i would like to know if you could help me a little bit with an argument. the argument is to stop people from declawing their cats and i wanted to use an argument with the point that cats are our friends and help people through the tough times like when we are lonely, and we should in turn not put them through this torture. First believe that this is a good point and that this could make a valid arguement. Also do you have any advice on how i can convince people that this is true and how i can get my point across.

Answer
Hi Nuyo,

I can't tell you much about the declawing of cats, I don't know enough about it - but if you use the argument in any animal cruelty situation that these animals feel pain, joy, sadness - all of the same emotions as human animals do - and that they have a right to go through their lives without being  cut, tortured, demeaned, hurt and declawed - all for the convenience of humans, because it is barbaric to do so.  We are the animal's stewards and friends and we owe them the respect to stop killing,and torturing them.  Let them be for gosh sakes - and first and foremost, stop eating tortured animals!  

Sorry, got a little carried away here :)

Tina Volpe