Karen de Klerk – “Exploitation? what exactly was the cruelty? Are you blind? Cruelty is cruelty and most people agree on that. why train elephants? They are wild, not domestic as dogs are!” Karen as I suggested in my brief comment of the other day I think you did not understand some of the points I made and again I would ask you to reread my post of the 23 July. Animal rightist are very quick to accuse anyone who uses, works with or interacts with an animal/s, especially if the animal is non domestic, of exploiting the animal/s, abuse and cruelty. The point I was making was that animal rightists in my opinion exploit not only animals but also the public by using perceived cruelty or abuse to sway public thinking with the aim of either fulfilling their agenda (among others “I don’t like “wild” animals in captivity”) or more importantly financial gain (if you have time scroll down and read my “fairy tale” on the Tuli Elephants). The concept of cruelty is subjective based on how we perceive or interpret it. Our perception is based on a whole host of factors from race, religion (spiritual beliefs), culture, where we find ourselves on Maslow’s hierarchy of needs etc. all the way to our own personal experiences. Two brief examples would be the western concept of cruelty is world apart from the eastern concept. Secondly looking at the comments on the Pigeon racing “victory” post, you and I both commented on, on the NSPCA Facebook page, a horse rider believes in her right to train and ride horses as to her mind horse riding its not cruel. She however wont afford a pigeon fancier the same right to fly his pigeons as her perception of pigeon racing is that its cruel. I asked the question where was the cruelty in the NSPCA Carte Blanche Boswell video? Various interpretations have been put forward with, as I understand, the consensus being its cruel because they are in captivity and are “wild” animals. “Wild” in itself is open to different interpretations. I don’t see a captive non domestic animal as being wild. Nor do I see a trained habituated animal as being wild. Much like “wild” what defines a “domestic animal” is also open to different interpretations. Is it a; F1, F7 or is it a F101? Or is it an animal that readily breeds in captivity? Or is it a tame animal? Why not train elephants! The training of domestic or non domestic animals is not cruel. Most animals including elephants have been trained for thousands of years. If the training of an animal is cruel then the training of a child must be cruel. If early man had the same view as some modern man we would still be walking hunter gathers as there would be no such thing as a domestic animal. Another point I was making is obviously the NSPCA can not show cruelty in their video clip as firstly why did they not act immediately to the alleged cruelty but waited months after the fact to go public and secondly as of today, just short of a year since this video footage was made, Boswell has not been charged or interviewed by anyone (in authority) for committing acts of cruelty. The NSPCA for their own agenda and cause has used the public and media to perpetuate their myth of cruelty. Karen de Klerk – “Emotive wording no - chained is the right word, as the elephants are chained. Is there a problem with this word? Most watching a circus would not inflict a beating on a dog or horse and to suggest such is an extraordinary display of ignorance of the animal/human link. Beating any animal is a human control method. For those who know no better, lack intelligence to link with an animal mind and understand the animals needs. Elephants are not cattle and do not need to be herded by humans. Cattle and cattle, elephants are elephants - find out the difference.” Animal rightist use emotive language and similes to help groom the public by making them more emphatic to their way of thinking to help further their agenda. Among others the use of non domestic animals in captivity is likened to slavery with animals referred to as slaves, captives or prisoners. The correct term is “tethered”! However it does stir up felling of shock and horror as “chained” so is not animal rightist friendly. There is a video clip out there of a Boswell circus protester with her placard etc. and her “chained” dog with his placard around his neck. Like there is a very good reason why the dog was on a leash, if nothing else to stop him being a road kill, there are very good reasons why elephants and other animals are tethered. The groom in the video hits or slapped the elephant however again this would not get the same reaction as the word “beating”. The slap the elephant received was no worst than what 99% of dog owners, horse owners or parents would give their dog, horse or child if it misbehaves. To deny this is not only an extraordinary display of ignorance of the animal/human link but also of the animal/animal and human/human link. Even humans are herded why should elephants (wild elephants herd other members of their own herd) be any more special than other animals? Karen de Klerk – “Footage of animal cruelty does not need to be new or old - if it is at your hands, it is on your conscience. If it has been recorded, who cares how old it is.” Why use old footage which has nothing to do with these elephants or Boswell to illustrate a point unless there is no point to illustrate except to fuel your agenda. Do you think its ethical for a producer doing a documentary on lets say poor white Afrikaner squatters living in squatter camps on the outskirts of Pretoria to used old footage of holocaust victims to deceive the viewer into believing these are the squatters and the conditions they live under? Karen de Klerk – “You can fight the NSPCA and their followers and supporters ...all you like. They may support the NSPCA but put any animal welfare issue worldwide in front of these people and they will fight for animal welfare and rights.” Karen I have no interest in fighting with NSPCA supporters and followers, I was one myself before I understood the nature of the beast, their agenda and read their Statement of Policy. All I ask is for these supporters to educate themselves on what they are supporting. The pigeon race issue is a case in point; how many NSPCA supporters ever thought pigeon racing is “cruel”? How many pigeon racers are supporters of the NSPCA? Is pigeon racing cruel or is it a perception of cruelty that the NSPCA is trying to cultivate. I read comments on some of these pagers and look at the posters profile photograph and notice the poster is into some or other animal use yet are outspoken and quick to criticize someone elses passion or interest. As I pointed out to a Kathy Wiles – “What makes you believe in the eyes of the NSPCA the horse industry is less cruel than the pigeon industry?” If one took the time to study the NSPCA and their “Statement of Policy” document the horse industry, be it riding, show jumping or endurance riding etc. in the NSPCA’s opinion is cruel! Be it the training of the horses or the riding practice – this applies to other animal uses as well. I am the first to fight animal cruelty/welfare issues but don’t confuse animal rights with welfare or cruelty. First they came for the hunter and I did not speak out because I was not a hunter. Then they came for the circus and I did not speak out because I was not into circuses Then they came for horse racing and I did not speak out because I was not into horse racing Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak out for me. Maybe we should not be so quick to condemn others passions as maybe we are next. We should take deed of the words of Voltaire “Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.” Karen de Klerk – “You need to be at peace at night that you have had the intelligence in yourself to link to the minds of the animals you keep captive and ask yourself honestly if this is the right thing to do. Is it right for me to keep wild animals in a circus even if I have bred them in captivity. the world of animal welfare is not a bad place” I have peace at night as I know I don’t abuse any animal. Is it wrong to keep animals both domestic and non domestic in captivity? Is it wrong to “use” animals both domestic and non domestic? In my opinion no, from an animal welfare point of view no, from an animal rightist point of view HELL YES. I agree “the world of animal welfare is not a bad place” however the world of animal rights can be a very dark deceptive place which more often than not has nothing to do with the welfare or interest of animals. Unfortunately because of the nature of man, animal, child, human etc. welfare is an integral part of society. Karen de Klerk – “- and you will find that once you actually link with the animals you keep captive, and understand that they really do not want to do tricks in the circus, but want their own God given freedom, you will understand the reason why so many people fight the circus and ask that the animals be released, into sanctuaries and places of safety where they can thrive under their own instincts.” Again even the concept of freedom is subjective and best left for elsewhere, not even man is “free”. I suspect I and others in my industry have a far greater link to animals than most animal rightists. Our very wellbeing and those around us is dependent on having a “six” sense of what the animal is thinking and what the animal is going to do even before the animal itself knows what its going to do. Karen de Klerk – “Many of the people who visit the circus have absolutely no idea about the lives of the animals. Some walk away questioning and they seek answers while others are so ignorant to the animal world, they accept. Just as they accept a thousand other things that humans get up to, in the name of human rights and lifestyle.” Many leading animal lovers, researchers, doctorates, scientist etc. world wide after a visit to a zoo, circus or close encounter with tame animals kindled their love and careers choices because of this encounter. For all you and I know the next David Attenborough might be a 5 year old kid at Boswells Circuses next show. Many people who support animal rights have absolutely no idea about the lives of the animals or the natural world. I have met some that don’t even like or care for animals much. I have met many that are afraid of animals both domestic and non domestic. Very few question the emotive drivel and misinformation they are feed by their gurus or the latest “cause”, they just go with the flock. They are outspoken through naivety and a lack of understanding of how animals are trained. A peach for me was a comment I read on the NSPPCA’s page the other day (I should have saved it as I’m to lazy to try and find it) where the poster commented along the lines of; one can only imagine the cruelty and abuse inflicted on circus lions trying to crate them if one thinks how difficult it is to box ones domestic cat for a visit to the vet – trust me it’s a breeze which does not involve cruelty or abuse. I will concede your average domestic kitty cat can be a handful for the simple reason that in most suburban households they rule the roost. Why are animal warriors saddled with this arrogance in believing that because they are limited in their own ability and understanding to assume that the only way animal trainers can get an animal to “perform” is by inflicting cruelty. Karen de Klerk – “I dont expect you to understand - I expect a backlash, but I just hope that within my life, animals will find freedom from human injustice and cruelty. Next time you bank money from a show, earned by your animals, look skywards and ask God if you have done the right thing.” Karen I understand better than you think. As a mentioned in my previous brief comment, why a backlash? You made some very interesting points and you are entitled to your opinion. The only point you made which I thought was disappointing was “Next time you bank money from a show, earned by your animals”. This seems to be of concern with many animal warriors yet you have no issue with animal rights organizations including our very own NSPCA racking in millions through the emotive exploitation of animals based on perceived cruelty and abuse. From a business point of view the naivety of Boswell and Co banking money blows me away. In South Africa before the authorities authorize one to keep non domestic animals they roll boulders in your path, a path that is littered with hoops. One of the hoops one has to jump through over and over again before moving on is “how will the applicant sustain the animals in their care?”. Business plans and financials later if you lucky they might issue the legal permits. Do you have any idea how much it costs per month to care for non domestic animals? All the expenses you spend on your mutt per month times it by at least a thousand for an elephant. I wont question your intelligence by listing some of the expenses. I can assure you the NSPCA make far more money than Boswell without many overheads – their return on investment is far greater. When pressed on what should happen to Boswell’s elephants the standard reply is send them to a sanctuary. Good idea, as we forget how the sanctuary, with the blessing of the NSPCA and Co, will now exploit the elephants – usually “send us donations to look after these poor abused animals” and “come stay at our lodge. Even though we charge you substantially more than any of the surrounding lodges you have the peace of mind knowing that your inflated fee goes towards the upkeep of these poor abused animals” while the sanctuary owner pontificates animal cruelty through the open window of the latest luxury vehicle. God forbid the animals should die while enjoying their “freedom”. Animal rightist will exploit them further, even in death, with “at least they died free. Send more money as we have another cause.” As I’ve suggested in the past instead of being so outspoken, critical and pushing the “like” button where are the animal warriors getting together and committing X amount per month to Boswell for the remainder of these poor “abused” elephants lives to go into retirement on Boswell’s 1000 acre sanctuary. Fortunately knowing Boswell he would not compromise the welfare of his animals regardless of the financial pressure he must be under. This painted “cruel man” would rather take the food off his own table to ensure his animals wellbeing. The animal rightists sit and debate (some in their luxury vehicles) the “cruelty” yet no one thinks of the cruelty they are guilty of and inflicting on these animals by the financial strain their boycotts, “likes” and “share” have on the welfare of these animals. The NSPCA are racking in millions on the back of this cause. The press and media are helping them rack in the money. If I look at the funder/owner of the Boycott Brian Boswell’s Animal Circus Facebook page I ask myself what has young Jaryd achieved in life, what role has he played in conservation? Personal I think his greatest achievement thus far in life has been that it is only recently he learnt to tie his own shoelaces. While he strokes his ego with 8000 plus “likes” on his Facebook page I hope one day he will understand his part in committing acts of cruelty by placing financial stress on the wellbeing of these animals. Karen unfortunately the only suggestion I can offer you on the utopia you seek is move to Disneyland. Take care.
Posted on: Wed, 30 Oct 2013 14:14:36 +0000
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